Warning! This rant may be offensive to some. It is about human behavior which is frequently offensive. Humans! Sigh.

My friend Farley says there is always a simple answer, and it is usually wrong. The world is just too complex and rarely explained simply. Despite this I am going to attempt to address the outcome of the recent U.S. election. Specifically, the question of why more than half of voters opted for a candidate who according to his victims, his closest advisors, and a jury of his peers is a misguided misogynistic megalomaniacal miscreant. Unlike the schoolyard name calling used by the winning candidate these accusations are all supported by facts. But his shortcomings are not what I want to talk about. I want to keep this discussion brief. I justwant to examine the reasoning of those who voted for him.

I'm guessing the voters felt his policies were more important than his character. Or else they just weren't paying attention. I don't want to believe the majority actually approves of criminal behavior, turning our backs on allies or treating women and minorities as second-class citizens.

An article in the Wall Street Journal suggested that the Democrats' loss was because they undervalued the two issues most critical to most Americans. These two issues were the threat of immigrants flooding into the country and the state of the economy.

The article is probably right that these issues played a critical role, but it is beyond ironic that these would be of concern in a nation that was built by immigrants and enjoys an economy that is one of the strongest on the planet. The question becomes, how did these issues become so prominent?

Perhaps it is because the threat posed by illegal immigrants was greatly over exaggerated and completely misrepresented by the Republicans. Fear tactics to promote an us-against-them mentality. A mentality easily manipulated into blaming the incumbents for not doing enough to protect the citizenry.

The majority of immigrants are not killers and drug smugglers. Most are in fact decent poor people fleeing oppressive governments and seeking a better life. The type of people who made this country great.

Illegal immigrants are not a drain on the welfare system but in fact greatly contribute to American society by doing the work that others refuse to do. They are the field hands, hotel maids, and other manual laborers without which society would greatly suffer. And although their employers withhold taxes from their wages, the illegal immigrant workers cannot file tax returns to get a refund. They also cannot benefit from the government programs like welfare that are only provided to legal residence. The Republicans blatantly lied and implied there is an invasion of criminals on our southern borders that are overburdening our welfare system.

The complaints about the economy are equally ridiculous. The problem is not the economy but a society that always wants more and thinks it is the government's job to provide it. Americans' failure to properly instill a work ethic and a sense of accountability in their children, are partly responsible for this mind set. It is also a mindset reinforced by an irresponsible media and a failing educational system.

America has gone from a leader who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," to candidates who will say anything to get elected including promising to lower taxes while increasing benefits. An absurd promise that should easily be recognized as such. Any time a politician promises to give you something for nothing, run away!

Wrapping up, I guess Farley is right. The answer is not that simple. 

Ultimately the people are going to get the president they deserve. A president that fails to keep any of the ridiculous promises he made and instead of improving the lives of everyone, the rich will continue to get richer, and the poor will continue to get poorer. I guess that is Darwin's survival of the fittest in action. If the majority is too dumb to see this coming, they deserve what is coming to them.

I apologize for the lack of humor in this rant. It seems humans prefer to see their jokes in political office. I just hope we can continue to laugh at them.

As Farley also says, "Stay hopeful and kind."