by Ian Campbell

Created on: October 21, 2008

Why is it that the worst tunes always get stuck on repeat, playing inside your mind? It's never the toe tapping jingles you like best, it's the annoying stuff like Tiny Tim's Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

If you're like me, and I hope your not, you obsess about the small stuff. Most of the time, it's something I've heard-so I question the validity. Pinning over the truth, I replay the events looking for a missed meaning or a secret code. I see the images in my mind so many times-from so many angles, all possible scenarios have been exhausted. In the end, it still sounds like a large man playing a small guitar singing a cautionary note about a late night tryst.

What do they say about walking and talking like a duck?

ThIs has been my sentiment over the past two years as we have inched closer to the general election. It seems to me, every time I sit down in front of the hypnotizing little black box to stare at flashing pictures, strange sounds, and late night programming waiting for sleep to grab a hold of my eyelids. I am bombarded with talking heads yammering on about the latest faux pas Candidate A has gotten himself into, or more tragically, how Candidate B is apart of an obscure religion looking to kidnap and control the minds of our young children.

Do people really care about this sort of thing?

I understand elections are grueling and meant to test the character of each Candidate running for the highest American office, but it is not like Candidate B is somehow responsible for Old Yeller getting rabies. Therefore, what is the purpose of trading insults and lies?

The other day, a friend of mine proposed a novel idea. He said, "Wouldn't it be great if the candidates were banned from doing negative television commercials, Internet advertisements, and public smears. My naivet was somewhat telling as I responded, "Wouldn't that change the face of campaigning?" "Of course!" He said. "It would turn an election into a quest for the Candidate whose issues matter most, not one who can fling the most mud."

What an idea, issues that matter most. Don't get me wrong; similar to my fellow American's, I have continued to tune in and stay current about what the candidates have to say. But enough is enough! Despite the entertaining moments of this three-ring quest for the presidency, I am ready to vote and be done with it. Deep down inside, I'm sure the candidates do too.

Anyway, if your among the four people reading this article, thanks mum, and you have decided not to vote because of the mockery this has turned into, think for a minute about the millions of other people in the world who don't get such a right. Then, remember why we are here in the first place: Barack Obama and John McCain. One of these men will lead our free society through the next four years. Will you check the box that makes your opinion count, or will you ignore the truth: pretending Tiny Tim sounds great in a falsetto?

Making my opinion heard until next time

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