Billion Dollar Bust 2012-W45

We now settle into a quieter, more peaceful time for the next 18 months or so.  Until it's time to rev up the 2014 campaigns for Congress et cetera.  Meanwhile, like most people, I'm glad the constant information churning and flaming rhetoric are now behind us.

Whether or not you are satisfied with the outcome(s), you ought to feel this election was a victory of sorts for all Americans.  Why?  Because a handful of Billionaires tried to buy this election and they failed.  Yes, they made the race closer than it probably would have been otherwise.  Yes, SuperPAC money was spent on both sides—although in fact, it made up about 40% of the Republican's billion spent while only 12% of the Democrat's.

Plutocrats (awesome $20 word, right?) like Sheldon Adelson, Foster Freiss, and the Koch brothers poured out millions and yet were unable to buy the White House.  Time may show that in fact their efforts in the primaries did more harm than good.  How reassuring that a handful of wealthy men proved unable to impose their will on the rest of the country.  How lucky were we to avoid a return to politics as usual... in pre-Industrial England.  The keys still belong to We, the People.

As the electoral dust settles, it comforts me to think that my humble vote as a Thousandaire counts just as much as the vote of a Billionaire.  And regardless of how you voted, that ought to be comforting to you as well.  But if not, here's a soothing painting.  Peace!

Morocco Blue Door