Joe's Journal

America has a great tradition at election time. Each party will occasionally discuss the issues. They will claim to carry out policies that they believe most voters will want. Of course, if they win the election, they might carry these policies out. Or not.

But what both parties love to do is throw mud at each other. They like to dig up dirt about the other runner. Call each other by names. It’s like kids squabbling in the schoolyard. Some of it is amusing. Some of it displays tremendous bad taste. What I find disheartening is that they tell lies. In public. On national TV. And they get away with it.

I’m not putting people down, but some of their followers will believe anything their leaders say. The mudslinging serves to fan their hatred, to the point they don’t behave like civilized beings. Is this the way to heal wounds and bind this country together?

In the end the people with the big bucks will continue doing their thing. They will get their way. Mostly these people work behind the scene. Getting themselves huge tax breaks, getting granted huge concessions from the government, and whatever other skullduggery they can get away with.

It’s sad that we end up having to vote for the lesser of two evils, instead of somebody that will actually try to solve problems, and help the little guy like me.

What I have to do is sit back, and try to maintain a sense of humor. Hopefully the powers that be won’t squash me like a bug.