The election is over. 63% of the eligible voters were too apathetic or demoralized to bother to vote. Of the minority who did, Republicans got a few more. Now they're claiming a mandate? Before the GOP takes over Congress completely, let's take a look at the recent history of the party.

Less than 20 years ago, they embarked on an Impeachment Crusade in search of an offense. (The real offense of President Clinton was having a -D after his name.) The Whitewater investigation didn't pan out, so they settled for a tawdry sex scandal that was none of their business. Fortunately that didn't work for them, either, so a President whose successful Administration gave us peace, prosperity, lower crime, a balanced budget and respect in the world wasn't kicked out of office.

But this insane crusade preoccupied the nation, diverting it from the looming threat of Al Qaeda. 9/11 was our punishment for foolishness. I truly believe we may have detected and prevented the plot if not for what the Republicans did.

In 2000, the GOP stole the election in Florida using several forms of skulduggery, primarily kicking thousands of valid voters off the rolls (a strategy expanded to other states since). Because we allowed them to get away with it, we ended up with a usurper President who deliberately sabotaged regulatory agencies, which helped cause the Great Recession and the botched Katrina response. [Read "The Wrecking Crew" by Thomas Frank to find out more.] Plus he started an unnecessary war under false pretenses, one that destabilized a stable country. What could possibly be worse than that? How can that possibly be forgivable?

When Barack Obama was elected President, they frantically tried to delegitimize his victory by insisting he was not born in the USA. (And that he was a secret Muslim.) No amount of documentation could satisfy that kind of mentality. Mitch McConnell, now incoming Senate Majority Leader, announced that their Number One objective was making Obama a one-term President. NOT making things better, or doing what's right for America. No, Republicans put party first, America be damned! They obstructed everything they could. They even shut down the government, costing us $24 billion in GDP. They also threatened to default on the National Debt, which would plunge the world into a global Depression. All this should have disqualified them permanently, but no.

Obama took office with the economy in freefall. He saved us from a Depression and got us out of the Great Recession. Consistent job gains, GDP growth and the DOW going from under 7000 to over 17000. But the Middle Class continues to stagnate economically, and they blamed not the boss, not the company, but the government-- particularly the Democrats, who care about the Middle Class. So they gave their votes to the Republicans, who don't.

America rewarded the party whose policies are solely responsible for their economic frustrations. Despite all the awful stuff the GOP have been doing. The same party that's bought, paid for and servile is to the Big Money interests and their secret contributions of shadow money. (Thanks to the infamous Citizens United decision, made possible by Bush's radical-ideologue Court appointments.) Heed my words: The Republican Party will do nothing for ordinary Americans. The rich will get richer, and you will get nowhere. Prof. Jonathan Gruber was right when he said the American voter is stupid.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

Dorian Johnson was walking with Michael Brown when he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson. Johnson recounts the shooting that took Brown's life that August 9 in Ferguson, Missouri.

Tale No. 1. “Wilson used profanity telling us to get off the street. He opened the door of the patrol car hitting Brown. Then he grabbed Brown by the neck. It's like a tug-of-war. He's [Wilson] trying to pull him in [the patrol car]. He's pulling away. That's when I heard, 'I'm gonna shoot you.'”

Johnson continues: “After the first shot wounded Brown he ran and Wilson chased him. Wilson then shot Brown in the back. Brown stopped, turned with his hands up and said, 'I don't have a gun, stop shooting!' As Wilson stood face-to-face with Brown, the officer shot him several more times.”

Tale No. 2. Officer Wilson's story is decidedly different. He says that Brown reached into the patrol car and wrestled with him for his pistol. A shot is fired inside the cab wounding Brown. Brown and Johnson run. Officer Wilson exists the car and orders Brown to stop. Brown, 6'4” and 300 pounds, turns and charges the officer. Wilson, in fear of his life, fires repeatedly at Brown hitting him five times, one fatally in the head. Brown falls dead just three feet from Wilson.

Before Brown's body was removed, crowds gathered, their hands held high imitating Brown's surrender stance and echoing his alleged last words, “Don't shoot. Don't shoot.” Soon after they were waving placards: “Wilson Is A Murderer,” “Stop Police Brutality,” “Hands up. Don't Shoot.”

That was four months ago. Since that time the Ferguson grand jury has scrutinized the coroner's report, the report of the medical examination of Officer Wilson's facial injuries, the forensic evidence gathered from inside the patrol car, even the clothing worn by Brown and Officer Wilson at the time of the shooting, and the testimony of witnesses.

Finally, the grand jury's decision was released together with all the evidence upon which it was based. The grand jury's conclusion does not support Johnson's testimony; it actually refutes it. All the evidence and testimony supports and verifies Officer's Wilson's deposition. Officer Darren Wilson will not stand trial.

The question is this: Do facts matter? The surprising answer is, yes, but not in the way you might think.

A series of studies by researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people were given the correct facts, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they became even more entrenched in their misguided beliefs.

In Ferguson, the minds of many were made up within hours after the death of Brown. Long before any facts were known their opinion was set in concrete: Brown was the victim of a white, racist police officer, period.

Facts be damned they will wave their signs and shout their slogans with yet more conviction: “Wilson Is A Murderer,” and “No Justice, No Peace.”

Their mentality is not different from a post Civil War lynch mob except for the color of the victim's skin. “No Justice. No Peace,” they chant. But it's the mob's version of justice, a mobocracy, or what the founding fathers called democracy.

In fact, the term “democracy” is nowhere to be found in the Constitution, the Declaration Independence, or even in any state constitution.

We live in a republic, a constitutional republic. It is a form of government based on laws, not men, not justice, not the majority, not expediency, and not the morals of the moment. The mob in Ferguson would subvert this republic to a mobocracy that guarantees the rights of no one while endangering the lives and property of all. Though we may live a thousand miles from Ferguson, what happens there affects us here.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” For a time this seemed to be true. But when the facts don't matter, the past does not guarantee the future.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

You can't tell anymore which season it is or what money grabbing advertiser gets his display up before the other merchants.

When I was growing up, television was new. Radio and newspapers were the in thing so we could keep up with storms or floods, but never holidays. The calendar told us when Thanksgiving was, then followed Christmas and then the highlight to end the year and turn the calendar page into a new year was New Years Day.

The nice part of growing up in my day, when the leaves turned colors and fell, we anticipated Thanksgiving as a way to give thanks for the year, to meet with family and be together at one large meal. Not to be talking about "Black Friday"; heck the most we talked about was deer season and picking names from a hat for a gift for the Christmas season.

So in case I am too busy listening to Punksatauny Phil and ground hogs day and how long spring will take to get here, send me a note when the Easter parade will be. I am sure St. Patty's day will be here soon too.

To me this rushing the holidays gets old fast. The world seems to be spinning at the same rate, 365 days per year.

Please send me a note (in the news paper) in case I am out of town when the Easter parade will be.

Sincerely.

Peter A. Seman

Thompson, PA