Thinking Citizen Blog — The Pendulum: Looking Forward To 2026 And 2028
Thinking Citizen Blog — Sunday is Political Process Reform, Campaign Strategy, and Candidate Selection Day
Today’s Topic: the Pendulum: looking forward to 2026 and 2028
First, a recap of recent posts for those new to the blog. Last time (3/9) a look at a few historical precedents for DOGE (the Department of Governmental Efficiency), namely the Keep Commission under Theodore Roosevelt, the Grace Commission under Ronald Reagan, and the National Partnership for Reinventing Government under Al Gore. Two weeks ago (3/2) a little look back at “independent agencies” from Woodrow Wilson to Humphreys Executor versus US (1935) to Sellia Law versus Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2020). Three weeks ago (2/23) “Union Joe’s” record and JD Vance’s “Paul Revere.” Four weeks ago (2/16) the Donald Trump-Andrew Jackson analogy. Five weeks ago (2/9) Kash Patel — Trump’s nominee for Director of the FBI.
Today, a little perspective on the application of Newton’s Second Law (for every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction) to American political history.
Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
FROM COOLIDGE AND HOOVER TO FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT — THE ELECTION OF 1932
1. President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff on June 17,1930.
2. During the Great Depression US exports and imports declined by 67%.
3. Smoot was a Republican Senator from Utah. Hawley a Republican Representative from Oregon.
FROM LYNDON BAYNES JOHNSON TO RICHARD M. NIXON — THE ELECTION OF 1968 WAS BAD BUT THE ELECTION OF 1972 (BELOW) WAS WORSE (FOR THE DEMOCRATS)
1. Nixon won 60.7% of the popular vote in 1972.
2. McGovern won 37.5%.
3. In 1976, Carter won 50.1% of the popular vote, Gerald Ford, 48%.
FROM JIMMY CARTER TO RONALD REAGAN (1980) — but remember Reagan was the tough guy who stood up to the Evil Empire
1. In 1984, Walter Mondale won even fewer electoral votes than Carter did — just carrying Minnesota (and DC). That year Reagan won 58.8% of the popular vote. Mondale 40.6%.
2. In 1980, Reagan won 50.7% of the vote, Carter 41.0%, and John Anderson 6.6%.
3. In 1988, George HW Bush won in the electoral college 426 to 111 with 53.4% of the popular vote versus 45.7% for Michael Dukakis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1932_United_States_elections
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_United_States_presidential_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_presidential_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_United_States_presidential_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_United_States_presidential_election
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
My spin — then periodically review, re-rank, and exchange your list with those you love. I call this the “Orion Exchange” because seven is about as many as any human can digest at a time. Game?
LAST FOUR YEARS OF POSTS ORGANIZED THEMATICALLY
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, (11/17/20)
NB: Palestine Orion (Decision) — let’s exchange Orions, let’s find Rumi’s field (“Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. Meet me there” Rumi, 13 century Persian Sufi mystic)
YOUR TURN
Please share the coolest thing you learned in the last week related to political process or campaign strategy or 2020 candidate selection or anything else for that matter.
This is your chance to make someone else’s day or change their thinking. Or to consolidate in your own memory something worth remembering that might otherwise be lost. Or to clarify or deepen your own understanding of something dear to your heart. Continuity is key to depth of thought.
