Candidates 2012

                I have wanted to not write about the politics drowning out most public communication in the US right now, but it seems inescapable.  It has given me both headaches and writer’s block.  Like the sewer backing up in your basement, at some point, you have to address it, or at least light some candles to mask the smell.

                One of the most disturbing realizations is that one of these petulant, prima donna millionaires will break out of the pack at the Republican Convention, will scrape the mud off his clothes and the egg off his face, will kiss and make up with the slingers of the mud and egg, and will run against the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Av., as if none of the mud and/or egg really matters all that much. 

                And then he, and the current resident will sling mud and egg for a couple of months, and We the People will name one of them President of the United States of America.

                The sad thing is, there are 22 official candidates for president to date and maybe, just maybe, one of them would be a good president.  One of them might possibly really not be a member of the club.  Perhaps they wouldn’t be able to get anything done, just because they aren’t a member of the club.  But would that be a bad thing?  Maybe he or she could stop the madness for just a bit. 

                One of the candidates is Matt Snyder.  Ever hear of him?  No, of course not.  He’s not an attorney, nor is he a millionaire.  There’s an interesting website, “2012.presidential-candidates.org” that lists all the candidates.  It has links to each person’s view on the major issues, and a link to compare each to the other.  I have no idea who sponsors the site or what the spin might be, but it certainly seems to have more information than spin relative to any other site I have seen.   

                On Snyder’s initial information page, it states that “Snyder has captured the imagination of many voters who have become disenfranchised with lawyers, big businessmen, millionaires, and career politicians who present academic solutions to problems that do not personally affect them. Organizations and protestors on the left and the right share a common belief in that there is inescapable corruption in Washington DC, the media, and the financial industry; Snyder’s popularity spans partisan boundaries as he bears no obligation to any of these entities.”

                It lists his background as “Construction worker, Teacher, Waiter, Picture framer, Salesman, Coach, Truck driver, Tutor, Landscaper, Business owner.”  I am neither endorsing nor vilifying Snyder, just noting that he is running for president.  Along with Stewart Alexander, Roger Gary (my personal favorite, with a nod to my brother Gary), RJ Harris, Gary Johnson, Fred Karger, Kathyern Lane, Andy Martin, Jimmy MacMillan, Tom Miller, Carl Person, Buddy Roemer, Randall Terry, Danny Woodring, R. Lee Wrights, Vern Wuensche.  The usual millionaires are also listed, along with our current president.

                Some of these folks are probably whackos, but then, have you listened to any of the debates?  And in truth, a person has to be more than a little bit crazy to even run, not?  Just growing skin thick enough to survive the lies, truth and innuendoes might be permanently emotionally crippling. 

                Those who study this particular democratic madness will say that is has always been this way.  Perhaps so.  But if we accept that as true, then there would be no explanation for airplanes.  For sewing machines.  For bubble gum. And even at last, for democracy itself.

                It is this way because we allow it to be this way.  I still believe we can change it, but we will have to make those changes sooner rather than later, because those who hold the power are not likely to relinquish it easily, a point made clear in the book Winner-Take-All Politics by political theorists Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson.  But that’s another blog.

                I’ve had dozens of emails and forwards frothing with the sentiment that we need to throw all the bums out, start over, get some fresh folks in office.  Well, there are other people running besides the fat cats.  Others who have put their lives and reputations up for shredding and calumny…check ‘em out.  Get the word out.  Of course you won’t agree with everything they stand for.  But if you say you believe in everything the current front runners stand for, you are either lying to yourself or you are part of the problem.

Comments

[GJG]

I suppose I should go to the site to which you referred and check on the platform of Mr. Roger Gary so that I can launch an informed campaign of support (he just HAS to be the best of the bunch, I suspect) :-)

[Fort]

Well Roger Gary does sound a fine fellow. I am somewhat off base but I have this crazy idea. What if candidates allotted funds were spent like this.... Ok, Becky Rusher here's your million... go fix a national problem? Then the media follow them about as they repair the housing dilemma or boost the green energy movement. The one who feeds the most hungry folks wins the Real Caucus.
Then, we'd know how budgets were handled, problem solving tactics, rude comments that erupt and the like.
Now a zillion bucks are spent on finger pointing, foul behavior, and hot air.
Ah, I'm a dreamer. Always will be.

[Fort Smartalec]

Forgive my misspelling of million. Should read mI££ion$$.
I think Gary Roger stands a good chance of gaining some votes as well.

[Jim]

I would run - But I have 2 many skeletons - : ) Just say'n

[Fort]

Ahh, I'd vote for a regular hardworking fellow named Jim, with callouses over the flop heads we have now.