I woke up this morning glad that yesterday’s election is over.
Outside of the election for local officials which, for the most part, was actually civil with a good exchange of ideas and candidates running on their background and credentials, the larger election process was disheartening.
Name calling has replaced debate.
Demeaning, even demonizing, one’s opponent has become the order of the day.
Anger and fear and finger pointing and blame are now considered normal.
I can’t tell you how tired I am of it all.
And how destructive I think it is to our sense of democracy and the democratic process.
I understand why so many people don’t vote.
Who wants to participate in a process that, instead of leaving you with the feeling like you have had a voice in the process, leaves you feel dirty and diminished instead.
I am sure most of the people running for public office in our country are good and decent people who care deeply about their communities and their country, but you would never know it from election process.
And, if we really care about the country and the communities in which we live…
That should make us all stop and think.