SAVE America Act! (Save Us from What?)

The latest meme from the President regarding the Save America Act  (H.R. 7296) lists several purposes that are contained in the act and two items tossed in as teasers for his devotees.

Let’s examine them, without the shouting capitalization so enamored by the President and fifteen-year-olds suffering their first breakup.

1. All Voters must show Voter ID (Identification)
   1. I have always had to show an ID when I voted or provide proof with mail-in ballots when I used them
2. All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote.
   1. This is a bit of a tautology, but I’ll just leave it here for you to decide
3. No Mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military, or travel.
   1. How does one define travel?
4. No Men in Women’s sports
   1. Assuming this were a widespread phenomenon, how would men in women’s sports detract from America or the voting process?
   1. More importantly, how does this affect voting since this is NOT included in the text of the legislation?
5. No transgender mutilation surgery for minors
   1. Am I to understand that, in some parts of the country, people are dragging their male/female child to the voting precinct, producing an ID to vote, then, before entering the booth, dropping their child off for a quick add-a dictomy or dickectomy?

Since the 2020 election and the January 6^th insurrection, Mr. Trump and his disciples have been screaming about voter fraud. They haven’t establish any evidence that such fraud exists at levels that affect election results, but they are certain it is there.

The Trump campaign went so far as to hire a reputable and respected data research individual named Ken Block to examine the problem. Ken produced a book called, Disproven. I’ll leave it to you to deduce what was disproven.

Since one has to produce identification to register to vote, this seems a bit of sound and fury signifying nothing. But I have no issue with encouraging the states to require ID at the point of voting.

But the President, and his lapdogs in Congress, need to remember the states control and manage elections. The forefathers were well aware of the danger of centralizing the control of the ballot box with the Federal government.

And here’s how to solve, or minimize, the use of mail-in ballots. Have the election process last a week. Allow nationwide early voting right up to election day. Almost every other democratic country in the world makes voting convenient. Why wouldn’t we?

In some countries, voting is mandatory. Failing to vote carries a fine. Not sure we need to go that far, but it makes more sense than trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist (in meaningful numbers) or pass legislation that could be interpreted to disenfranchise some voters.

I do, however, heartily endorse no mutilation surgery for transgender minors. Surgery that is necessary, performed by competent medical professionals, is beneficial. Surgery that mutilates patients is not something we need. However, any surgeons who mutilate their patients does open the pool of candidates for Surgeon General or Secretary of Health and Human Services for this administration.

This President seems to be on a course to overturn the system of checks and balances between the three co-equal parts of our government. And his supporters seem all too willing to accommodate him.

The history of leaders with unlimited power, absent checks and balances controlled by the governed, is rife with abuse and virtually bereft of any altruism. Couple this with the dangerous underpinnings of Christian nationalism, it’s like a desire to return to 13th century philosophy complete with the twisted morality and unbridled brutality by those in power.

Making voting more difficult is not a solution to any problem, it is a path to a theocratic oppression and fascism. If we are not careful, Trump may be the last president and the first dictator.

America might need to be saved, but people are blind to what we really need to be saved from and need to open their eyes.