Politics. What does that word invoke in you when you hear it? To me, it means dirty, cheap, kick-em-when-they’re-down insults tossed in with personal attacks on morals and ethics against opponents who probably have more in common than they are likely to admit publicly. It is not about who would do better in the job. It is about popularity with the other officials and how the “new guy’s” presence would affect the image of those already in office.

“Vote for me, because that other guy doesn’t go to church”. No-brainer? To some…maybe. To me – stupidity.

What the hell does going to church have to do with making decisions that affect an entire country and can either help protect the citizens or send them to the pit of doom?

“Vote for me, because that other person lives with someone but isn’t married.”

“Vote for me, because that other person has a kid but never married.”

“Vote for me, because….” “Because without redirecting focus to spotlight another’s flaws, I would never get into office!” That is about the size of it in my book!

I am tired of the “knock the other guy to get votes” attitude in politics. I have never been fond of the idea, but it has gotten way out of hand. Does no one care about honesty and ability to do the job in question? Does no one care if the person has experience and has done well in other offices?

Does it really matter if the candidate is black or white, male or female, Hispanic or non-hispanic?

NO!

Ok, so yea it would be a big deal to have our first female president, or the first black president, or the first whatever-minority-you-favor president. But let’s choose on MERIT, rather than how well they can bicker and how bad they can make the other look.

It’s a foreign idea; I’m aware of that.

But think of what might happen in this country if we actually had people who knew what they were doing and were ABLE TO DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

How about if the person is smart enough to verify so-called intelligence before attacking a country on what turns out to be rumors?

Imagine someone who is capable of saying “I made a mistake” and then is willing to do something to remedy it instead of plunging MORE of our men and women of the armed forces further into hell while attacking a country that never asked for help in the first place.

Ok, so weapons of mass destruction seemed like a good reason at the time. But when it was found out there WERE none, why increase the efforts in the country we attacked over reasons that no longer apply?

• I want a leader who can take criticism and make use of it.

• I want a leader who can admit their mistakes and work at learning from them.

• I want a leader who can think beyond the present and look to the future for all of us, and act accordingly in order to ensure our lives will have meaning; to ensure our rights are not violated without DUE CAUSE and proper permissions.

• I want a leader who can look at the whole picture and not get tunnel vision to the point of ignoring everything else even when it stands facing them, looking them straight in the eye.

• I want a leader who will think things through and consult their advisors in order to make a feasible plan that is strong but not unchangeable. Flexibility is very important!

• I want a leader who can do the job WE ASK THEM TO DO.

• I want a leader who listens to the citizens of this country and applies the law and statutes and regulations to plan a future with hope and freedom for the pursuit of happiness and life and speech and every other right we have gained in this country.

Maylaur