I really appreciated the warm response to my inaugural post for Meet the Flongs! Only two fellow bloggers expressed an interest in a blog link-up, though, so for now this is just a fun monthly interview series for Belle Brita.
This month, Dan and I answer questions about politics!
What is your earliest political memory?
Dan: I’ve had political memories for as long as I can remember because my family constantly yells and argues over politics. It’s usually over a game of euchre, or, heaven forbid, a game of UNO. My earliest distinct memory of a specific political event was attending a Ron Paul rally in Columbus, Ohio. This was in 2008.
Yes, my memory really is that bad.
Brita: When my family still lived in California, I only remember one thing from the 1992 presidential election. My mom told me that she and my dad had voted differently. She also told me that she regretted her vote, that Dad had voted for the better candidate. I have no idea who voted for whom.
Even at the young age of 5, I learned something from that presidential election. I learned that two people in a relationship do not need to vote the same way. I also learned that it’s possible to learn more information and regret your vote later. Even today, I find great value in people who are willing to change their minds when presented with new information.
If you were elected president, what would be on your agenda for your first 100 days in office?
Dan: I would first call another constitutional convention. I really appreciate all the wisdom and forethought that the founding fathers put into the original Constitution. However, I do realize it needs an update for modern times. I think the Bill of Rights could be expanded, and I think a lot of the language could be updated with input from the vast diversity of Americans today.
The second thing Emperor President Dan would do is throw out the entire tax code. Something everyone would be able to agree upon is the tax code is beyond broken. I personally would propose replacing it with a consumption tax to discourage wasteful spending and encourage saving and investment.
Third, I would change the way we vote. “First past the post” needs to be replaced with something mathematically better that allows the opinions of the nation to be accurately gauged.
Brita: First of all, I would wear a fabulous outfit to my inauguration. I’m sure some journalists would still ask me about my designer, so I would only wear clothing and accessories from ethical brands. Then I would redirect the conversation towards fair-trade wages and the problems with fast fashion.
I would submit a balanced budget to Congress with small cuts to almost everything. (Exceptions would be for highly efficient programs like WIC, SNAP, etc.). I would also encourage legislation to allow government agencies to roll over their budgets to avoid frivolous end-of-year spending.
I would work to update the FBI definition of rape to include forcing someone to penetrate. About 1 in 21 men have experienced this form of sexual assault, but the federal definition of rape does not include this.
Who is your favorite historical political figure? This does not need to be an American!
Dan: William Henry Harrison!
Just kidding.
I really like Grover Cleveland. Not only is he named after a famous character from Sesame Street (I’m allowed to make up facts, right?), he’s the only president so awesome, the American people decided they screwed up by not having him run a second term. He’s the only president to win two terms non-consecutively. How awesome do you have to be to realize the incumbent has a huge advantage, and to win again NOT being the incumbent? In addition to all of that, I also appreciate his focus on small government.
Brita: Queen Elizabeth I, one of the best politicians of all time! She was only the third woman in English history to rule in her own right. AND she did a pretty spectacular job of it, all things considered.
What is one thing that any American can do to improve our political system?
Dan: Don’t let other people tell you who to vote for. Not your friends or your family. Not the media or the polls. Not even Brita’s blog. Voting only works if it reflects your true opinion, even if the way we currently vote makes most votes insignificant.
Brita: Vote in local elections. Yes, the presidential election matters, but so do the presidential primary elections. And local primary elections. And the midterm elections. Not to mention any special election your state might have.
October’s theme will be Autumn! If you’d like to join Dan and me, questions will be:
- What are your favorite scents of autumn?
- How did your family celebrate Halloween when you were growing up?
- Ignoring the calendar, when does it actually feel like autumn where you live?
- What foods do you associate with autumn? Bonus: share a recipe!
If you’re a blogger and want this to be a link-up, let me know. Starting now, I will post these interviews on the last Tuesday of every month. Next one will be October 25th.
How do you feel about politics? Is it a recent interest, or a lifelong passion? Regardless of your political preferences, I’m interested in your political upbringing!
