Ah yes - the temperature is a bit cooler, the air is crisp; leaves are beginning to turn, and the annual crop of campaign signs is blooming all over the place.
Must be Campaign Season!
And I, for one, can't wait for it to be OVER.
We all complain about how awful our political leaders are, but why would a nice guy ever want to put himself through the gauntlet of campaigning? Not one of us are perfect (last time I checked, the only perfect One was resurrected some 2000+ years ago) and thus anyone who tosses his hat into the ring of politics must be prepared for some other yahoo to point out - loudly and in technicolor - every little pimple on his public keister.
And while we collectively complain about campaign mudslinging, too many of us secretly like it. Oh sure, we SAY it offends our tender sensibilities - but we consistently listen to and vote for the guy who throws the most mud. What's wrong with this picture? Is it any wonder that we can't get a "good" guy to run for public office?
Now I'm not suggesting that we be kept from knowing about serious breaches of the public trust or other items truly pertinent. What I am saying is that it would sure be great if we could somehow convince those running for public office to do so only on their merits for the job - and not on how awful the other guy is/might be.
Wouldn't that be amazing if every candidate refused to do anything but speak of his/her qualifications for the job? If every candidate turned a deaf ear to those who would encourage him to dish the dirt on his opponent(s)? Wow - just think of it. . . we might actually be able to cast our vote by basing it on who we truly feel would best fit the job - what a concept!
Where I live, one of the candidates for local office has put out a little brochure that he hands out at campaign stops. This guy is a truly viable candidate for the job he seeks - but he uses very little of this printed material to explain his qualifications. Most of the print is used in drumming up fear or concern over the other guy(s) who are running. Very unnecessary, and lowers my level of respect for him.
Another guy has publicly stated (I heard it myself) that he is going to "take the high road" in his campaign, and plans to stick to his qualifications when he goes out to talk with people. I just hope he doesn't allow himself to be goaded into anything less than that by his constituents. Time will tell.
All of the crapola that I hear from one candidate about another makes my head hurt. Nov. 3rd can't come fast enough for me.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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