Sandy Supposes....

THERE'S NO ESCAPING POLITICS

PROMPT: Politics

         First of all, I think the career of politician is a thankless one. It's impossible to please everyone. Placating, promising, pleading, pummeling, wheeling and dealing; it's all a shell game. Who influences who? Politicians agree to disagree. There will always be dissenters. There will always be those swayed by their own vested interests and greed.

          Here in Canada, we recently experienced a federal election which ushered in a change in party and a new prime minister. He is but one person, a figure head, a fall guy. He does not control anything. The majority decides policy. I exercised my right to vote and that single vote was tallied with others.

         I could not escape the campaigning which was not always clean and above board. There was ridiculous and unnecessary mud-slinging. When there are personal slurs how could a candidate possibly believe that voters will approve of this? Why in the world would I elect someone who promotes childish bullying? Why would I choose to follow the person who predicts ridiculous outcomes? Who can see the future and assume what may happen? This is fear-mongering. Trust me because you the potential voter can't possibly understand the issues,just your fears. If I tell you this is wrong, it must be. Yeah..let's blindly, obediently follow the loudest, most persistent.

         The amount of money spent on campaigning and elections is a shame, especially when an early election is called. While in election mode, not much actual governing is happening.

         I gloss over political news; most of the time it seems like propaganda or soap opera fodder. Maybe it's the readily and instantly available media attention that's too blame. Scandal seems to titillate. Let's highlight the sad and ugly.

         Democracy isn't always pretty, but it sure beats a dictatorship. Freedom of speech, freedom to vote, freedom to question and oppose, freedom to live a peaceful life, it all has a price, a price I can live with. I vote in the hope that some good may occur. I suppose I haven't escaped politics entirely.