Politics and Me

I see that two old acquaintances are vying for the same seat in our primary election in April. They are both filing their petitions under my registered party. There are others running, too.  In a city this size I am amazed that I don't know all of the candidates on a first-name basis.

I was thinking that I should choose. Fortunately, I have grown enough to know that I don't have to choose.  Neither of them espouses my political ideals. This may be the first election where I decide to abstain--at least in the primary.  I haven't missed one since I turned twenty-one, the first year I was allowed by law to vote.

I'm disgusted with politics.  The in-fighting of the candidates irritates me--aren't they all of the same party?  For the most part the current crop of elected officials are leaches on the taxpayers' wallets.  How dare they criticize welfare recipients and corporate hand-outs when they are living on the public dole themselves?  They work for it? They work fewer days a year than many children attend school.

I don't want politicians telling me that it is wrong or right to be pro-choice or pro-life. Stay out of my medicine.  Stay out of my bed--who I sleep with or choose to marry isn't for government to decide.  Don't tell me where I have to go to school.  Stay out of my church.

Don't tell me it's OK to get drunk as a skunk on Jack Daniels but it's not OK to get high on marijuana. Of course I don't want heroin for sale at the corner CVS, but for an adult to choose pot? The same rules apply as to alcohol--DUI, no selling to minors. Jail time for an ounce? I don't think so.

I don't want the feds intervening in education, housing, insurance or business. Let the states set rules if they must.  In business, forget federal interference.  The consumer will weed out the incompetent and make wealthy the reputable.  No, we don't need feds to regulate our milk or our vitamins.   Americans are independent and resourceful when they have to be.  The candidate I'm looking for will back off personal issues and let the government get back to defending our liberty.

The federal government is our biggest employer. They have no incentive to be creative or productive. If a program fails taxes go up and they throw money at it.  They spend precious time and money passing legislation that is designed for their own job security.  Government  adds nothing to the consumer--no product, no distribution--only rules that keep Grandma from selling the jelly she makes in her own kitchen.

I get so angry when I think about it!

So to you who choose to run for political office I ask this: WHY?? Are you willing to be a servant of the people?  Or are you in it for the perks?  Will you answer honestly when asked a question? Or will you ignore it and hope it passes? No, I will not sign your petition and no, you will not get my vote unless you can show me you believe as I do. You believe as your conscience will allow.  Maybe there is a middle ground somewhere.

I may not vote at all this year for the first time.  It's quite a struggle to separate the wheat from the chaff.