Four Letter Words……

We've entered another election cycle….for the forseeable future we will be listening to radio commercial and even more fun, we will be watching TV commercials. Then there are the debates. And the newspaper coverage. And postings on Facebook (and yes, sometimes I pass them on or respond.) And the internet. Election coverage and talking heads will be everywhere.

Listening to NPR in the car yesterday and it seems Canada is also having a major election. I think the commentator indicated that this was an especially long run up to the voting booth - eleven weeks. And a few years back we were in Ireland and there were signs everywhere…..again, for only a matter of weeks before the Presidential election was decided. (And Michael D. won!)

So I have to wonder…..why does it take us so long? Why do candidates start sometimes two years before the election? And why do incumbents also spend so much of their time running for re-election?

And I also have to wonder why we all seem to judge each other based on who we voted for in the last election? Since when have Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, right-wing, left-wing all become four letter words. Why do conversations simply shut down when people who disagree on a candidate try to have a discussion? Why can't we have the conversations, explain our reasoning….perhaps even change our minds? Why is it all so nasty…..and so long?

Sigh….I will be in the voting booth and I will make a decision. I admit I'm not listening too much right now….there's just too much noise…..too many people in the mix. This process in the USA is just too damn long (and yes….that's a four letter word).