Reflections on Elections

You wouldn't have to look very hard to find a political cartoon to make fun of that candidate whom you just love to hate. It's easy to drag the skeletons out of the closets of those individuals who are running for or already hold public office. Nothing is off limits. All embarrassing family secrets would be dragged out in the open to air out a bit and perhaps for a few people to spit on as they pass by with their nose in the air secretly thanking benevolent mercy that their secrets are not the ones display.

After election day we then take the time to complain and moan about the results as they are never to our liking, at least not 100%. Then we diatribe against the crooks on the other side who are the solitary reason for the holes in the hull of the sinking ship we are all riding to the bottom of the ocean floor.

George Washington is often considered the greatest president we have ever had. Indeed the people of Washington's day were aware of the issues affecting them, they knew the implications of their voting actions and so, selected wisely. Contrast that with today and many people don't even know who is in the race, much less what they stand for, their history and their platform. Many people miss out on voting altogether for reasons that could have easily been avoided. I know people who did not vote because they went instead to the movies, or at least that is what they told me. Forget the notion that a movie only lasts at most 3 hours and you have no less than 3 additional hours bookending the movie in which to cast your ballot.

Garry Willis said: "(In an election year) we get the presidents we deserve. A great people is what you need for a great president. Washington was the greatest president because the people were at their most enlightened and alert. America right now is escapist. It wants to be soothed, and told it doesn't have to pay or sacrifice or learn."

Said differently - in an election year we get exactly the candidate we deserve. Nobody slipped one past us. If we as a whole are not satisfied with the candidates we have selected and continue to select, perhaps we as a whole should become more enlightened and alert in the future.