A Eulogy for American Democracy.

Soon we will be finished, briefly, with elections, campaigns, lawn signs and television ads. Life will return, temporarily, to normal and we will be allowed to choose our own targets on which to focus our hate. As the election staggers closer, lurching shamelessly into view there are too many people to detest. We have to put aside the disdain for co-workers, neighbors, fellow commuters so we can zero in on the truly despicable creatures running for office. 

It seems to me that America would be much better off if we limited campaign spending to a finite, skimpy amount. If candidates had only enough money to tell us about their strengths, plans, strategies, why we should vote for them, we might be allowed to have some faith in politicians again. 

I am a democrat, I don't believe in supply side economics, trickle down benefits, enormous tax cuts for the wealthy, or as Paul Ryan said recently, and I quote "health care is an entitlement." I don't mind paying more in taxes if it helps those in need, and there are plenty of needy. But, I don't, even for a minute, believe all of the terrible things being said about Republican candidates running for office. Or the Democratic candidates. 

Eliminating PACs would be a great first step. They always have names that sound noble, patriotic, trustworthy; Friends of the American Way of Life, People for a Better Future. And they are nothing but political pit-bulls, tearing through what little civility is left in American politics. Taking a small act and turning it into treason. Spending obscene money ripping into the reputation of public servants. Propaganda machines churning out mud, smearing people, hiding behind a mask of legal anonymity, taking money and turning it into trash, the alchemy of the American political system. 

I can't help but thinking of the line from the song Vote Early, Vote Often, in I Go Pogo; "our tactics maybe sleazy, cheap and unfair, but when you get results like that nobody cares." And nobody does. Maybe democracy is too noble for mankind, maybe it was dead on arrival 242 years ago. Maybe its just the memory of hope rattling around the country as we pretend to be civilized. Man, do I hate being right all the time.