This is something I vowed not to do. Because I don’t want half of my readers circulating petitions asking for my removal and the other half posting on Facebook saying that I really could have supported What’s-her/what’s more strongly. . – Where was his name, and my loyalty to my party? But I think it’s time for me to stand up and be counted.
Oh, wait, it’s not until November, right? Oh, phew! There is a grace period.
Anyway, I was thinking about the Founding Fathers and how perplexed they would be if they were somehow observing the American eccentricities that accompany the selection of leaders today. . I’m not talking about actual voting, counting, or elections. I’m talking about all the stupidity that comes with it.
I mean, can you actually see Benjamin Franklin drinking his morning beer from a mug with Jesse Ventura’s face on it? Or a bunch of “Re-elect Caine” signs stuck in the Mount Vernon lawn? Oh, for example, when Thomas Jefferson attends political rallies wearing his best “partisan” shirt because he wants to make sure he and his chosen candidate are on the same page. can you see it?
And I went home with a sore throat from screaming and my eyes starting to turn black from being beaten by the man on the “other side.” And with so much heckling, abuse and protest going on, we know even less about where the candidate stands on the issues he thinks are important than we did before he left. It was. It’s definitely a stupid thing to do, but it was so terrifying that I couldn’t sleep at night.
I started this column about two months ago in response to a friend’s Facebook post. In short, he quoted someone who suggested that the reason the average American is less knowledgeable about our government and politics in general is because we avoid talking about those subjects. That’s what I’m doing.
My reaction at the time was, “Quite frankly, we don’t do that, and there’s a good reason for that!” Then I realized that “talking about politics” was actually an oxymoron, so I put it away. Because it can’t be done. Really, you can’t do that.
Even back in the day when both sides either 1. tolerated each other or 2. ignored each other, it was impossible to have a proper discussion. Whether it’s politics or religion, you’re not just chatting about some random topic; you’re trying to convince the person you’re talking to that they should wake up and start thinking like you.
You may not realize that’s what you’re doing, or you may be fully aware of it and that was your purpose in the first place, but that’s not what you’re doing. It’s about being there. The other person then responds with their own opinion, saying “Yay, Yay, Yay!” a few decibels louder. And soon the dog was screaming so much that he thought it was his fault and slipped out of the room.
On the one hand, you are both appalled at the level of ignorance the other is showing. I always thought they were so smart, so why are they so gullible? They can’t really believe what they’re saying, can they? yes. Yes, I can.
Depending on your view of today’s political cycle, we have either come a long way or fallen into the depths of chaos. It also depends on which news program you listen to. Unfortunately, our news programs are much less recognizable than they were in the days of Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow, when they were all about news.
It’s more entertainment where pseudo-celebrities target specific audiences and tell them what they want to hear, only for both sides to believe it’s right because they heard it on TV or on their computers, and the “powerful” -be they I would never post “falsehoods” on my network. They would never do that, never! Will they? You shocked me!
I’ve lived most of my life thinking Pollyanna, Little Mary Sunshine, “The sun will come out tomorrow” and I have to say I haven’t found a good way out of this situation yet. I don’t get it. Has anyone seen my missing “half-full glass of water”? This is my only suggestion, but it’s “outrageous”. Ready?
No election campaign. None at all. No rallies, no TV ads, no “in-depth” interviews, no lecterns, no prime-time debates. No T-shirts, no hats, no political badges, no yard signs. And no opinion polls!
Instead, each candidate must write a short essay about their vision, plans, and beliefs. No ghostwriters, no help from children, no political parties, no endorsements. Every registered voter receives a copy and decides who to vote for based on these personal entries. And everyone votes. And whoever gets the most votes wins. period. Complaining, complaining, and attitude will not be tolerated.
So what do you think? Yeah, totally unrealistic, I know. But isn’t it very refreshing? I felt much better for a few minutes there. Maybe you were too.
Claudia Myers is retired from costume design and production for the Baltimore Opera and the Minnesota Ballet. She is a national award-winning quilter, author, and local antiques dealer specializing in Persian rugs. Her book, “The Storyteller,” is available at claudiamyersdesigns.com and at Father Time Antiques in Canal Park, Duluth.
