(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . If Practicable [1] ['Grey Panther', 'Chitown Kev', 'Belinda Ridgewood', 'Chloris Creator', 'Thom Hartmann', 'Bumper Monster'] Date: 2026-09-15 Lincoln’s Tomb nose polished by tourists. shiresteve Civil War buffs and historians know the phrase “… , if practicable.” This was an addendum to a command sent by General Robert E. Lee to General Richard Ewell near the end of the first day’s battle at Gettysburg. It wasn’t the only time Gen. Lee added if practicable, simply the most written about. Lincoln practiced a politics of ‘if practicable’, we might call it pragmatism. His often quoted letter to William Lloyd Garrison saying he would free all, some, or none of the slaves to preserve the Union is an example of his political pragmatism. It is also an example of his manipulation of public opinion. When he wrote the letter he was determined to issue the emancipation proclamation but needed a Union victory. The union of Lincoln’s United States was not yet forged like steel. He was juggling interests. Our under educated president was a great student. He acquired knowledge by absorbing the books available to him. He learned politics by navigating the wrangling within the new state of Illinois. Experience taught him that lofty goals were pursued by first doing what could be accomplished. No one in American politics has ever crafted better speeches than Mr. Lincoln. Yet, he understood not all who read or listened would truly hear or heed his words. The noblest cause must incorporate the pettiness of humanity. I live in Illinois. I can assure my fellow citizens, we will send a Democratic Senator, Juliana Stratton. Governor Pritzker will be elected to a third term. Political pundits often say there is much that could happen between now and November, but there isn’t much ‘between now’ left. I can’t remember when I last saw a Pritizker Sucks sign. As we drool over the possibility of returning sanity to America, we must realize some noble goals aren’t practicable. Let’s address the Supreme Court. I often hear people call for term limits. Term limits would require a constitutional amendment. Adding four justices to be more in line with the number of circuits, only requires legislation. With control of Congress and a Democratic president it would quickly add reform. This is a more practicable goal. The same is true with campaign finance reform (a long forgotten phrase from the previous century). With a rogue SCOTUS in charge, sensible legislation will be negated. Many of the justices are under the thumb of the oligarchs. A law for rebuttal could counter ad spending. If a candidate is attacked in ads, even third party PACs, legislation could require the attacker to pay for time to allow rebuttal. One third of the time used by the attackers ad made available to respond. It wouldn’t infringe on the SCOTUS’ ludicrous definition of free speech. Other legislation could return effective power to the regulation of elections. Has Muskrat ever been penalized for his election manipulation? Everyone is aware of the corruption of money in the political system. MAGA knows because we are all leading quiet secure lives on our Soros bucks. Democratic control of the House will allow public investigation of the corruption and cronyism. Control of the Senate could add removal of impeached cabinet members. Public disclosure of the graft is the surest method to build the political will to dismantle Trumpism. A new Democratic Congress should legislate the end of districts drawn by partisans. Requiring neutrally drawn Congressional districts would not interfere with local control. No more stock trading by members of Congress, staff, or family. These acts would be popular and draw support from moderates, independents, and ex-Republicans. Another practical approach would be for the Democratic Party to build a social network platform for Democrats. Stop the top down gimmicks and telemarketing; build a community of change within each Congressional district. This Fall overwhelming turnout can defeat Oligarch money and their AI generated attack ads. We must insist a new majority take practical steps towards political reformation. The old ways are insufficient for our current challenges.The next two years can build toward major reform when we have full control with a new Democratic president. Turning a moment to my personal tasks that seem overwhelming. I am trying to turn my family home into a practical residence. There are a few issues. It could be a good home. I wanted to move the house and build a new basement. I had a pasture location with a better well and no neighbors. I, like Dolly Parton’s father, wanted no neighbors close enough to prevent pissing off the front porch. The cost of moving the house was prohibitive for me. I couldn’t justify it as a legacy for my family. The market for expensive houses in Forgottonia is not slow; it is glacial. Grandparent and my parents home shiresteve My grandfather bought a nice brick bungalow at auction in 1952 (price around $14,000). This house was my grandparents and then my parents house, not my boyhood home.The house is a century old. Unfortunately the basement is prone to flooding. It was built in a prairie swamp. Smithshire was a depot town established by the Santa Fe railroad in 1888. The farmhouse I lived in as a child is best described as ramshackle. I have many good memories from my childhood there. I must confess it was a bit of an embarrassment. Being judged by people as poor is not what Americans aspire to. I did not suffer from many judgmental interactions. We were not poor by farm country standards. I was a bit of a backward rube and remain so. My family left water dripping and rust stains appeared shiresteve I bought a water filtration system: rust filter, oxidizer, water softener, and then reverse osmosis for drinking water. It is a drilled well about 240 feet deep. I did this before the big flood, but the new system is intact and working. One of the large rains in June caused a return of the basement flooding. The sump pump float did not kick on. I waded with water above my knees, then gave the float a tap with my toe. Indoor skinny dipping is legal. Washer and dryer on platform were ruined as well as an upright freezer in another room. shiresteve Over the third step shiresteve I needed a water solution. I’ve contracted with a basement mitigation company. More pumps, troughs to pits, and dehumidifiers. I am trying to make this full basement usable without platforms. A lot of money wasted if it doesn’t work. I believe it will. Old Smithshire hands are getting ready with, “Welp ya shoulda known this is Smithshire.” Trailers filled by clean out crew. shiresteve I hired a clean out crew. They did a great job. Two trailers of once good stuff, once good around 1955. The 1950’s chest freezer was a bear as some might say when facing a tough task. Seventy five years of accumulation damaged by water on many occasions. The old coal furnace never used while my grandparents owned the house was a hundred years old. I will remove an old sink to make it jack hammer ready for trenches, pits, and then pumps. I wanted to end on a more attractive note. This is a trail cam photo from the timber I’m dedicated to saving. White tail buck in winter shiresteve — Nancy photographed me hiking off into the mists shiresteve shiresteve I hope people will find Tuesday morning on Street Prophets a step back from the abyss. ShireSteve.Substack.com I write short stories and have written three novels. The latest Will It Require Pants may soon be fit to earn the title, a novel. My life goal is to preserve my timber and the land surrounding. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/15/800097623/community/if-practicable/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/