Election Day is almost here, and thank the Lord. Although I can't blatantly shun the advertising revenue that comes with it, I think we've all had enough of empty promises and false accusations.
Whether your preference is Democrat, Repulican, or perhaps Tea, one thing is certain. Don't expect seismic change after all the votes have been tallied. But it doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. After all, how often do we get the ex-CEO of Ebay and the wife of the CEO of the World Wrestling Federation running for office at exactly the same time?
However, just once, it would be nice to watch a commercial that actually communicated something with a value proposition. In every ad, one candidate promises lower property taxes, honing in on an area where the incumbent has failed. Someone else touts their ability to create jobs even in a quicksand economy. And then there's my personal favorite which revolves around some form of mudslinging dealing with illegal activity from misappropriated funds that were used for leisurely airline travel related to "state business."
Somehow, I feel like I've seen this movie before. And I didn't like it the first time around. I also know that when I get inside the voting booth, before I press the electronic button, I'll inevitably get that sinking feeling in my stomach. The kind you get when you first realize that you've lost your wallet. It creeps up on you as you cast your ballot and come to the conclusion that your vote has no chance of affecting change.
Change is not inevitable because the distribution system of candidates derives from the bottom of the gene pool and from the immoral depths of humanity. The real talent is smart enough to realize politics is a losing proposition. If we want real change in this country, there are a few simple steps that need to be taken.
First, let's stop calling these political groups, "parties." Very few politicians have ever created a party-like atmosphere, with the obvious exception of Bill Clinton. But the rest of these public servants have taken on the serious role of fighting for the people. We're not here to party, we'd just like to be able to pay our mortgage each month.
Next, if your total net worth is above 1.5 million dollars, you're automatically disqualified to run for office. What do these people really know about what it's like to struggle to cover your expenses, save for college, fight your health insurer, and put away enough for retirement? How could they represent the masses if their personal wealth is in the top 1% of the population? We need real people in these positons. Teachers, policemen, firemen, and nurses. These critical role players already know how to educate, protect, and heal. As far as I'm concerned, it's as simple as that. Most people in these fields are eligible for an early pension, so they would have plenty of time on their hands to campaign without taking an extended break from their responsibilities.
When they mention people like "Joe the Plumber", they'll actually know Joe, the plumber. In fact, he's probably their plumber. When they speak of people's frustrations with government, they'll communicate from real life experiences. This group wouldn't be identified as a "Party." We'd just call them, "Town Hall." But I know what you're thinking. Where would they come up with the money to fund a campaign? Simple.
It would emanate from the same weatlhy elite that donates to our current roster of underachieving politicians. Self interested corporations, Hollywood celebrities and the like would still donate to the same degree, under the same restrictions; only now they're assured to be supporting a candidate that would actually put the collective interest of the people first.
What would happen to the Democrats, the Republicans, the Tea Parties? They'd lose their labels, and their charlatan identities. Then we'd have a society that we could all be proud of on Election Day.
Have fun in the voting booth.
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