by Albert Hale

Created on: October 25, 2008

Reflections: Consequences

I am old, and recall a time when life was simpler, and seemingly more honest.

I call upon any reader to join me as I pursue this reflection of my youth.

In a time (1956 and forward) I gained some responsibility as an athlete and contemporary of like minded students, through being associated with representatives on the local level and eventually beyond. They talked to us in schools, and wrote newspaper articles on their positions.

These local people wanted us to know where they stood so that we might take a position for or against and encourage debate. All that has changed with the advent of mass media. I find it now quite burdensome. So I want to share some of this with you, in this forum for your consideration.

Recently I have been innundated with polls, and worse (in my mind) e-mails from various lobbyists. They have asked me to consider this or that candidate. The gist is this: Dear person, please respond on your conviction to our candidate. (Not the exact phrasing, but close)

My response:

I do not care how many interviews that you have prepared, and served to the public. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Voting in America is a personal thing, and as such, the media and the lobbyists do us a great injustice by prolonging the agony of watching otherwise enterprising individuals, (our politicians) tramping and flying all over the country for an inordinately long time, shaking hands, kissing babies, and other tomfoolery.

They take no (unpopular) STAND. They say nothing of any real importance, because in the number of months, (and years) they do us this injustice instead of earning the money they take, whatever their positions, things change.

The newspapers, and other media constantly harangue us about the fair haired candidate, barely giving the opposition an opportunity to breathe; the whole campaign through, the media hammer their point home. Do we now KNOW who is the best candidate? I say NOT positively.

After one thinking person strips away all the hoopla and converse he says,she says; it is just as unimportant as any poll in the country, INCLUDING YOURS.

Do you think for one moment that I will vote this way or that because of an e-mail from you? Do you realize how many e-mails I delete in the course of a day?

I suggest that politicians in this great country stick to real work, that all the lobbyists in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United

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