Does it seem as if the republican presidential campaign has gone on forever? It must. Remember Hermann Cain, Michelle Bachman, and, um, what's his name? Haven't heard from 'em in a while.
Most of us seem to agree that american political campaigns last way too long. Let us limit them to eight weeks, the way civilized countries do. Do we want to be more like europe? Hell yes, we do, because the europeans, though barbaric, are far more civilized than their younger siblings across the proverbial pond.
Permit no paid political ads, require media to provid time and space to candidates, fairly. Freedom is good, usually. The freedom to purchase political office and to indoctrinate a shell shocked puplic with a ceaseless barrage of propaganda is not good, not for the public.
As a child, I enjoyed the 1968 presidential campaign tremendously. Both parties had a wild free for all for their respective nomination,with Hubert Humphrey, Richard Nixon, Bobby Kennedy and George Wallace providing high drama. It was exciting, and interesting to me. But hell, I was a kid.
Star Trek and Gunsmoke were also exciting to me.
I was walking with my dad and sister towards a building, in fall, 1968, to see George Wallace give a speech, in Joplin, Missouri. I was thirteen. As we approached the Memorial Hall we were told that the speech had been canceled because Wallace had received a death threat. I was supremely disappointed. As I recall, many of my friends and classmates were similarly disappointed, and most of Joplin as well. But at least it was high drama. Isn't that what we in america are looking for? I was, that day, speech or no.
The further into adulthood I plunge, the more crass, banal, and corrupt the campaigns seem.
Its the corruption that counts. Let's end it, and restore to america something at least similar to a democracy.
Scroll down for the other articles in today's issue of The Truthless Reconciler. Thanks!
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