Another Crucial Year

There is no hope. People are idiots. Have a nice day. This is my current mantra, and it is comforting.

Having no hope is not the same thing as having no faith. And I don’t mean all people are idiots, just most people much of the time. Who can deny this after an honest appraisal of their own errors? Nor do I mean to say that people cannot be improved.

Having a nice day in spite of it all is the act of faith that comes to save the day. Perennially sunny optimists like Ronald Reagan have the faith.

They say that humor can make the day nicer. So instead of being drowned in darkness I will make light: Did you hear the one about the suicide car bomber?

Say the mantra and then consider this: Voting is the way we decide what we believe we should be—as a community, a county, a state, nation and a world.

To that end we are identifying the important issues. First, we will try to digest the party platforms and the philosophies of the incumbents. Then we will send a questionnaire to all the candidates.
It could go something like this:

What do you think are the issues facing voters—globally, nationally and locally? Quality of life? Separation of church and state? Adequacy of public education? Etc?

If you had to choose, would it be for more laws, or fewer laws justly and truly enforced? Would you support a constitutional amendment outlawing the practice of sneaking unrelated items into a bill?

Do you believe special interest groups should have more or less control over government?

Do you believe that historically we have been the good guys? If not, give examples. Do you believe that traditionally we should be the good guys? If so, what are the values of a good guy?

Have a nice day. I really mean it.