The Post-Election Fallout

Across America at this time, are politicians of all faiths, agendas and of both sexes who are trying to influence us to vote for them in the upcoming election. Whether an incumbent yearning to return to his/her warm seat in Washington or their hometown. the candidate plies us with promises, offers and positive news about our country or local areas.

Well, that's the way it used to be, anyway.

Unfortunately, today, it seems like everyone who runs for a public office is more concerned with belittling his or her opponent. We've seen it on a national scale between Senators McCain and Obama, Gov. Palin and Sen. Biden, or any combination of these. We've even seen candidates (such as in North Carolina) called "Godless" and blamed for personal excess.

Meanwhile, as with two parents fighting with their innocent child between them, we're ignored or, at best, just stressed out by it all. We wish they'd just stop, make up, and get on with the business at hand: finding the right candidate for the job.

One of the biggest fears of political pundits and regular citizens alike is that these elections might be won or lost based on the innuendo spread by this "muck-raking". In other words, we might not vote for this person or that on the basis that he or she's been portrayed as un-Christian, unethical -- or even has an allegiance to terrorists due to a foreign-sounding middle name!

The race will continue in its ferocity to the end. There will be a winner who'll be sworn in in January. The name-calling, accusations and other muck-raking will finally be over, right?

Not for the millions of American citizens who've watched local and national campaigning from the start. When these new (or returning) public officials take the oath of office -- and their opponents return to private life -- we'll remember the mud that was thrown; it'll be etched in our subconscious! Some of the former candidates will be treated as pariahs, not to be dealt with; they'll be seen as distrustful thanks to the snide accusations thrown around by his/her opponent during the course of the campaign.

This will eventually lead to further skepticism of our governmental officials as well (as if, due to events such as Iraq, political scandals and the "bail-out", we aren't skeptical enough already). We'll still have questions about Social Security, health care, the soundness of the American dollar and, of course, "the war".

But those will be made complex by the lingering question: Can we trust our Representative? Our Senator? Our new President? We've heard so much in the negative that we're almost afraid to believe what they say. What if their election opponent was right? What if they actually can't handle the job?

It becomes a tremendous burden on already-overtaxed nerves!

Our children learn a lot from the election process, of course. But what are they learning through this one? Is it how to win over any opponent they have -- whether in a school-election or on the sports field -- by slandering or smearing? Will they learn the American electoral system -- thus, in their young minds, America itself -- is set up to reward the one who has the most venom??

On November 4, we have the opportunity to make our voices resound across this great land of ours. We'll take the initiative and vote for the person(s) we think are the best for political office. Let's just hope that each and every vote that's cast is based on a candidate's stance on issues -- not on how "bad" he or she has made their opponent out to be!

Then, let's get on with the business at hand: Rebuilding America ... and bringing an end to the problems we've been experiencing.