This Election is Only the Beginning

This weekend I flew up to Las Vegas to meet my wife and her father and mother.  Debbie’s mom and dad were making their annual trek south to Arizona to get relief from arthritis.  Her dad is 80 now and his willingness to drive 12 hours a day is a little scary.  And speaking of scary, Las Vegas on Halloween night is downright frightening.  What people seem willing to do when they are anonymous is a little out there.

We were up early on Saturday morning and made the drive to Phoenix.  What I found was a state buzzing about the Presidential election.  It seems even here in John McCain’s home state the Obama-mania has hit hard.  Not so much that he’s likely to win the state but more from a everyone’s-talking politics: the economy, energy independence, foreign policy topics.  I mean everyone.  I cannot remember a time when so many people have opinions, hopes, dreams, and fears about an election and we’re open and willing to discuss them.  What’s great about it is the civic energy it’s produced.  No not everyone is well informed.  And yes many people seem to make decisions based solely on emotion, but at least we’re awake.  At least we’re engaged in a civic discussion.

The important thing is that the candidates have spent the past year or two traveling the country and listening to us.  When you want to be elected you really listen.  But then what?  As soon as whomever is chosen they become insulated from real people and are shielded by handlers, sucked up to by sycophants, and hounded by lobbyists.

If we are going to move in the right direction the election must be our starting place.  What’s important is what we do to make our voices heard during the next four years and beyond.  Otherwise we can just go back to shaking our fists instead of advocating for real solutions.  The only thing that will make our government honest is our voices.  The best thing we can do is to get to know our congressmen and senators’ email address.  Let them know what you think and that you’re watching.  Make some noise America!