Fed Up With Politics As Is

I've had it. As an American voter, I've hit the limit. I've passed some dark point of no return. I am officially at the stage of being ready for election day next Tuesday, not because I'm anxious to vote and to see election results, but because I want relief from the endless sewage of ugly, mean-spirited campaign ads. It is a complete affront and embarrassment. It makes me ashamed to be a part of this political system.

I hear people say that it has to be this way just because it's the nature of politics. That's pure unadulterated horse manure. Lack of statesmanship exists because we are willing to tolerate the alternative and we're willing to elect people who have no moral compass when it comes to the end justifies the means. There's no "that's just the way it is" about this gutter level mess. It is the way it is because we've allowed it to get to this point.

I am voting for one candidate in our region with any level of enthusiasm. This is not a person I would otherwise support based on politics alone. (I'm an independent voter, so that's a pretty wide range.) However, this individual has waged a campaign, as far as I can tell, without negativity or any comment at all about the person's opponent. Ads have been focused on the candidates record, background, and basic philosophy of government alone. I am casting a vote for this candidate based on the integrity of advertising alone. Beyond this individual, I have no enthusiasm for any race at all, regardless of political party. Based on the character exemplified in what they're willing to put on the airways with their name on it, do we really want ANY of them representing us for ANYTHING?!? I'm tempted to just start writing in names of people I know. I'm aware of plenty of people in our region who have character, solid values, compassion, commitment, leadership skills, and even Christ-centeredness; way more than I see most present candidates exemplifying.

And if I'm one of those whose default position is, "This is all George W. Bush's fault," or "This is all Barack Obama's fault," I need to get a grip on reality. It's the fault of all of us. If I really believe either of those simplistic fantasies, then I'm more part of the problem than I am part of the solution.

From the political curmudgeon of the day, I'll see you around the next bend in the river.