Just got a text news flash that Hillary Clinton has locked up enough delegates to be the Democratic nominee. I'm annoyed at this…and not because she seems to have won. Like I said five and a half hours ago here, I voted for Bernie. Still, I'm fine with Hillary as the nominee. I think she's a lot more capable and honest than her detractors think or will ever believe. She's also a lot saner and more knowledgeable than her Republican opponent. But then again, so is Screwy Squirrel.
No, why I'm annoyed is that she clinched it today. Tomorrow is the California Primary…and the first time in recent memory we were going to get to vote on primary candidates before one of them had the nomination sewn up. I voted under the impression that my vote mattered on this and now, apparently, it doesn't. It's often that way on Election Night too, as they announce the results across the country from east to west. It's either settled before they get to California or they just award its electoral votes to the Democrat before the counting starts.
I'm waiting for the election where they're counting and counting and there's real doubt as to who'll win until they get to my ballot. That's how Democracy is supposed to work…right?
Hey, while I've got you here, I highly recommend this week's episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The segment on Trump University is great and then he savages those companies that buy up old debt and torment old debtors until they pay. And before I say the other thing about this I wanted to say, I need to insert one of these…
At the end, Mr. Oliver announces that his show has opened a debt collection agency and bought up old debt, which he then "forgives" and calls it a $15 million giveaway. But is it really? Jordan Weissmann says it isn't.
The practice Oliver denounces is really odious and dishonest. I know folks who've gotten caught up in it and it often winds up being a case where someone who has no right to harass you harasses you until you give them money to go away. 'Tis one of those things you can't believe is legal but it apparently is, at least in some states.