Lame Duck Day? Yes, this is a real thing

I fully intended to keep this blog strictly (ok, mostly) about Charleston and my time here.  Sadly, I can't say much about the second full week in Charleston.  The refrigerator is still not working, despite three different visits by repair experts.  If this was my fridge, it would have out on it's non-cooling butt ages ago. Lucky for it, it's not my refrigerator, it belongs to the apartment.  The repair guys are set to come back out again today, for their fourth visit.  At this point, I don't know what's left of the fridge to replace.  I think its cursed.  Or possibly possessed.  I jokingly told our property company they should send an old priest and a young priest next time.  I don't think she got my reference.

Fridge woes aside, in sticking to Charleston, exceptions must be made from time to time.  When I found out today is officially "Lame Duck Day", I knew this had to be one of those times.  In my own defense, I could argue that the fridge definitely falls into this category.  There, relationship to Charleston established! Now, how I missed that this day even exists in the first place is beyond me.

Lame Duck Day is celebrated on February 6th of each year.  It has nothing to do with injured animals, but actually refers to the Twentieth Amendment to the US Constitution.  A "Lame Duck" human is a person who is in a position of some kind, and will soon be "shown the door". The best example is an incumbent politician who lost in the November elections. They usually remain in office until the beginning of January.

The Twentieth amendment reduced the amount of time between Election Day and the beginning of Presidential, Vice Presidential and Congressional terms. Originally, the terms of the President, the Vice President and the in-coming elected Congress began on March 4, four months after the elections were held. This served a practical necessity in the past.  A newly-elected official might require several months to put affairs in order only to undertake an arduous journey from his home to the national capital.

This time eventually had the effect of impeding the functioning of government in the modern age. Because there were some that no longer felt accountable to their constituents and took advantage of their position during the long lame duck session, the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Lame Duck Amendment, was passed to shorten the length of the lame duck term. This amendment went into effect on February 6th, 1933.

Now, Lame Duck Day is unofficially set aside to give recognition to people whose tenure in a position is running out. While aimed mostly at politicians, "Lame Duck" may also apply to leaders, managers, etc, who are retiring or whose term of office is up.  During this interim period, a Lame Duck is usually far less effective, and frequently ineffective. After all, loyalties will soon shift. It's impossible to rally the troops to one more cause or project.

So today, On Lame Duck Day, if you are a Lame Duck, enjoy these final days. Bask in the warm glow of your successes, and the joys and rewards the position provided to you. Kick back a little and have some fun both today and in the remaining days.

If you know a Lame Duck, provide recognition and support. Non-supporters can cut the Lame Duck a little slack today. After all, they will be gone soon.

Lastly, and most importantly, if you are a duck and you are lame, please seek medical attention immediately.