Electionomics, and those that just don't get it.

"America wants change" is certainly a popular campaign slogan this year.  But what does that mean, exactly?  Is Barack promising to donn clean socks each day? ...That's a change, isn't it?  And Hillary, well, she wants to change everything,  but where will those changes take us?

I liken the Democratic party's promises of "change" to riding in the passenger seat of my husband's car - there are lots of lane changes, which are often abrupt, frequently unneccessary and unsettling, and while they occassionally may get you slightly farther ahead than you would have otherwise been, more often than not, they just leave you feeling agitated, thwarted, and stuck behind someone who's not fit to lead.  Ultimately, you end up in the same place you would have without out all of the fancy, frightening maneuvers.

I've talked to a few people merrily rallying around the "change" bandwagon, and asked them exactly what they think is going to change, and the answers are far worse than I ever imagined.  They vary from "[insert candidate here] is going to stop letting American jobs go to Mexico" or "[insert other candidate] will bring our troops home!" ...or even more frightening, "Well, I just know that I pay way too much in taxes, so I'm voting Democrat!"  

...OK, people.  Let's get something straight.  A President is not a god.  No matter who we elect, they are not going to somehow persuade the Germans to start making crappy cars so Detroit can have it's market share back.  Even the smoothest-talking candidate is not going to persuade bottom-line oriented business people to stop taking advantage of cheap labor in other countries.  And no matter what promises a candidate may make, they simply cannot put useful programs that benefit society in place AND balance the budget without passing some sort of cost to the taxpayer, in one form or other. ...And don't even get me started on what would happen if a newly elected Pres decided to snap their naive little fingers and order all of our troops home. I want the war to end just as much as the next mother with sons, but the reality of what is happening in the MidEast is what it is, and we cannot simply click our heels three times to make it go away. 

I hate to sound like a cynic, but people need to understand that the economics of gaining campaign votes and money turn all presidential hopefuls into used car salesmen.  Each one is trying to sell us on the notion that they can somehow get our country to a better destination than the broken down mess we are trading in.  The problem is that so many Americans are willing to buy ..er... elect a candidate based solely on their sales pitch, without even bothering to check under the hood.  Instead of being brainwashed into voting for the candidate with the catchiest 15 second soundbites looping on CNN, try examining the candidate's actual voting record, their accomplishments in previous or currently-held offices, and how often they have stepped outside party lines to accomplish something truly meaningful.  Look at how they got to where they are, and the sacrifices they made or laws they broke in the process.  These investigations are the closest thing we have to a presidential test drive, and are absolutely critical in determining how we spend our vote.  

Don't be seduced by the electionomics... remember that, as the now-infamous Obama staffer indicated, campaign promises are part of the game, and ultimately, they are worth little more than the index card some speechwriter put them on.  Choose your candidate based not solely on what they say, or how they look, or the dreams they are selling, but on what they have actually done, and their willingness to work with others to make meaningful policies.  Examine the viability and ramifications of the changes they promise, and remember that "change" is not simply something jingling in your pocket - it is a proposal to make modifications to our way of life - modifications with effects that, be they positive or negative, may be far-reaching and long lasting. Unlike a used car, you only have until November to trade in your candidate for a better model.  After that, you're stuck with it for four years.