Rhetoric and Other Political Stuff

Evolution, as defined, intones a very slow process. In politics, the process is on fast-forward because there’s not a ton of time in each run for office, although, sometimes, it certainly can feel that way!

In the beginning, all the candidates brandish their very best behavior, as if they’re wearing new clothes for the Easter church service, knowing there’ll be the devil to pay if they get dirty before going to Gramma’s. Usually, through the first debate, they swoon over and make nicey-nice to each other as if Noah were on his way to make a final decision for cabins on the ark.

There’s no preset schedule, but somewhere, one candidate makes a statement that upsets another, and like a horse race…they’re OFF! It’s truly hilarious, because you KNOW it’s coming…you envision their gritting teeth and holding breath, just itching to be the first and hoping to not get caught. Identification means having to deny any knowledge, followed by trying to convince us that it was taken out of context and finally firing the individual responsible for issuing the statement, along with a profound apology, of course! As the election draws closer, digging is deeper and finger pointing becomes more abrasive. It’s a never-ending search. If they can’t find any, sometimes they invent some! How am I doing so far?

In our age of instant dissemination of data, I get oh so very tired of the emails begging me to “forward to as many people as possible” information that has not been verified. Occasionally, I get riled and fire off a response, making certain to hit the “reply to all” button, hoping someone understands. I gently advise them to check with snopes.com and other sources for credence. I bite my e-tongue as I advise all that very little will be accomplished by forwarding to a bazillion friends. Finally, I get miffed and offer instructions on obtaining results.

Trace each candidate’s record. Follow their progress. Compare promises vs. results. Go to the meetings. Question why the results differed from the promises. (Hint. They rely on your loss of memory). Monitor how they vote. Some newspapers publish all votes. If yours doesn’t, make a request or you can get the info on line. Good Lord, don’t vote for someone because, “he looks like a nice boy!” Too quickly, too many citizens have become lemmings. Look up the word and you’ll remember the meaning.

Read, watch and learn! We can access mountains of information by pointing a mouse and hitting a button. (Hint. They know many are too lazy). There are many journalists who follow the candidates and issues. Here are but a few: Pat Buchanan, Froma Harrop, Michelle Malkin, John Metzler, Oliver North, Leo Sandy, Mark Shields, Thomas Sowell and John Stossel. All are accessible in print and on the web. Type in a name and follow directions to the articles. Also at your disposal are the many programs on television and radio. I’m not here to endorse any program, journalist or commentator. I merely offer these choices wherein you can study what they offer. Form your own educated opinion and vote accordingly. Oh yeah, you’ll have to vote because that entitles you to complain to the bartender the day after the election!

If you’re in the mood for an ulcer or two, visit the site I recently found. Type in www.cagw.org Called Citizens Against Government Waste, it defines much of what you always wanted to know and get sick about your dollars becoming the comical(?) but sick, pork barrel funding.

They are your employees. You elect them to pass along your wishes and needs. Someone said, “The people should not fear the government. It is the government who should fear the people.” If you are dissatisfied, by all means, do not elect or re-elect them. Most of you get a performance review at your place of employment, right? If you don’t perform up to expectations, you get a bad “report card” or a warning or the boot. Why should they be any different?

I could go on and on, but understanding the human factor, I know that some folks haven’t even read this far! It’s your country, so, Wake Up, America!