Heavy helpings of plot twists, sex, intrigue and violence are what make an interesting movie, and the same seems to go for presidential elections. There are now 24 candidates for the 2012-2016 presidential term and the debates, scandals, infighting and conspiracies are starting to heat up. I have to admit, it’s becoming somewhat of a guilty pleasure to just sit back and watch.
Lately the candidate who has received the most attention is Herman Cain of Georgia, who is up to his rimless spectacles in an alleged sexual harassment scandal. Four women have claimed to be inappropriately touched or spoken to by Cain, and Cain has denied the allegations. Of course, the media has latched onto this because the public loves scandal. I find it intriguing, somewhat, but the coverage of this whole affair is a massive waste of time.
Do you know who else is running for the office of President? Or are you so busy watching Cain squirm on the television, that you’ve forgotten that there are 23 other people looking to get the most powerful position in the world? Snap yourself out of this mess because the elections will be here sooner than you expect, and the only person whose name you will recognize on the ballet is that guy whom allegedly groped four women. It’s ok to enjoy the show, just be willing to look past all of the smoke and mirrors and see what’s really going on.
If you actually care who will be the President of the United States, there’s a list with pictures, bios and platforms at www.2012.presidential-candidates.org. Do your research and make the choice that you feel is best; that’s what democracy is all about, isn’t it?
That being said, voters should recognize the high school popularity contest that the government has become. The finger-pointing going on between Republicans and Democrats became vastly apparent during the debt ceiling “crisis” a few months back and has since then de-evolved into a crisis of its own. The situation has become so chaotic, and politicians so self-serving, that there are several candidates running for each party. This is at its worst with the Republicans, who have 16 candidates in the race. Can there be no solidarity? Are the opinions of every one of these candidates so different that they all have to run? By the way, the other three parties, Democrats, Libertarians and Independents, only have two candidates each. No words can describe exactly what Washington has become; suffice to say a complex and chaotic bureaucracy.
However, even with all of this chaos, you should still vote. No, you MUST vote. It is tempting to take one look at this madhouse and say “screw it, I have more important things to do than be bothered with this.” You, the citizen, determine who is in power; you determine if they stay in power. You have absolute control. Having a say in how your life is run is worth the extra effort, wouldn’t you agree? But before you do go to the polls, there are a few things you would do well to keep in mind.
What party a candidate belongs to should not matter. If you are a Democrat, it’s ok to vote for a Republican that you believe would do his or her job well; the same goes for other parties. Scrutinize every single candidate and pick the very best one according to your conscience and even challenge yourself to vote for someone that is not a member of your party.
Also, keep in mind that we are not exactly at the top of the food chain anymore. We need someone to help us get back on track so that Americans can compete with the other nations of the world. This doesn’t necessarily mean, “do everything the people say,” and hard choices must be made if we are to improve. This means a leader with the courage and foresight to do what is right, even if it is unpopular, is needed. At the same time, Americans must adopt the same courage and the same foresight to understand what we are working toward. We will not be here forever and when we are gone our descendants will inherit the world we left for them. Take a look around; would you give this world to someone you love?
Every presidential election is a turning point in our history; this sounds dramatic but isn’t without merit. If you can remember 10 or so years ago, just how different is our situation? I agree, it does not seem like much, but as pivotal as these elections are, they are only one stop on a much larger route. America’s problems, unless a miracle happens, cannot be solved by one administration. It will take time, patience and a little belt tightening. Regardless, it will only happen because of you.