The Dangers Of Dogging The Candidates
Hey folks, it’s almost election time and I don’t know about you but I’m already sick and tired of hearing about it. It’s sad because this is something we should have a keen interest in, but because of the way we are bombarded with negative advertisements it leaves a large percentage of us voters disenfranchised, and leaves many of the other voters just plain bitter.
I understand the strategy behind negative attack ads. Hey, they work. Let’s face it, many Americans are a sadistic species who like to tear others apart. They actually enjoy inflicting pain upon others. It gets them off in a weird way. Many others are simply innocent sheep who regurgitate clever propaganda disguised as news or unbiased reporting. The worst part about all of this is these people actually think they are doing some good for their fellow man when in reality all they are doing is galvanizing their base of hate and separating anyone who thinks differently than them. It’s really accomplishes very little in the grand scheme of things.
However, the bigger problem exists when the election is over. We as Americans will face a huge problem and it’s one we directly placed upon ourselves.
Remember the phrase… “And to the republic, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”? I’m sure you do.
I’m telling you, it’s bullshit. Now I’m not even going to get into the “god” portion. To each his own there. I want to focus on the word “Indivisible”.
Let’s face it, as people we are more divisible than a Papa Johns pizza. The only time political parties seem to effectively come together is when a terrorist attacks us. Even then we can’t all be in agreement.
Our election process is so corrupted by special interest groups, corporate conglomerates, Super Pacs and lobbyists that there is very little hope things will ever change before both parties contribute to our inevitable demise. This madness can not last.
Because we truly are divisible and we fight like cats and dogs there really is little hope for a better America. Here’s why…
Once the election is over, roughly 50% of the people who voted will be happy with the results. The other half will be sorely disappointed, angry and will seek to get REVENGE. The bitterness that builds up during an election campaign is so immense that people simple cannot let go once their party loses. It’s back to the drawing boards on how we can take over during the next election.
Seldom does someone say… “Good game, now lets get to work for the American people”.
NO!
We continue to divide each other every day when most of us just want the same basic things. We want security, prosperity, opportunity, etc etc.
Somehow we’ve let the media convince us that a handful of wedge issues are enough to totally divide us as a country.
So instead of us rallying behind our commander in chief, whoever he (or maybe one day she) may be, we stick to our guns and support our party’s talking points and agenda each day. If Mitt Romney wins, you can assure there will be a barrage of attacks from CNN on the regular. If Obama wins, Fox News will continue to do what Fox News does. People, it’s a shit show and if you are getting your info from your television or from biased websites I beg of you to rid yourself of the blinders and start making decisions from a heart based place.
So no matter who wins, over the next four years we are going to have hundreds of millions of people upset because they are so emotionally invested in their candidate, in their party and in their ideals. I’m starting to think the Dos Equis guy should run for president. I think we can all agree he’s pretty awesome!
My point here is this…
The more hatred, negative ads or mud slinging that you take part in during an election cycle, the worse off you are no matter who wins. The end result only hurts you, all of America, and the rest of the world. It does nothing but polarize us as people, forces us to focus on our differences instead of our likenesses, and stifles any chance that we can work together for the next 4 years to achieve anything.
It all reminds me of this sketch by Key and Peele…
So what can we truly do?
Listen, I don’t know. I’m just trying to spread my message of peace and love here on my blog. I’m hoping it may help you see things in a lighter tone and realize that we are all much more similar than we are different.
However, I will say this…
When I first got onto the internet around 2004 I was vehemently against George W Bush. I thought he was horrible for this country, was a war monger, and I truly believed he was a evil being. I believed this so much and got so entrenched in my emotions that I went to the streets and registered thousands upon thousands of people to vote, produced an album with 22 artists containing all anti-Bush songs, created concerts with bands, comedians and artists against Bush, sold hundreds of T-Shirts, bumper stickers and more all to raise awareness of this thing I hated so much.
While I did make some good money, and did educate a lot of people, I spent my life in a world of HATE! And let me tell you, it wasn’t all that much fun.
So here’s what I do today…
I pray for George Bush. I actually pray that the lord watches over him, guides him and helps him for the wrongs he’s done in his life. I pray for Mitt Romney. I pray for Obama. I even pray for the sheep who I dogged out in the beginning of the article. And finally, I pray that I’m able to see others in a kinder light so I can hopefully avoid the cycle of hate that is killing all of us.
None of these are guys I would personally vote for. However, instead of hurling insults and mean spirited venom I try to find what good I can in each of them because I know that one day they are going to be making decisions for you and I. In the bigger picture, I’m more concerned about us as a whole than I am one party, one president and even one country.
Folks, we are divisible. However, it doesn’t need to make us assholes.
Love, Peace and Bicycle Grease!
Jason
PS: I urge you to share this with fellow Americans and friends if it is something you resonate with. No matter what party you are affiliated with, what religion you are, or where you come from, there comes a point where we need to come together as people and stop ripping each other apart.
