ROAD KILL
Most of us at one time or another has been driving down the highway and seen where another vehicle has hit some kind of wildlife and left it lying on the side of the road. Not only have I seen this, I have been the one that hit and killed them. Sometimes damage is inflicted on your car, other times not. When you by chance pass where a skunk has recently been hit there is a strong offensive odor. At this odor we hold our noses and drive on by as quickly as we can.
During my high school years I was taught over and over again that I had the duty to vote. I have voted in every presidential election since 1968. At that time we had to choose between a former vice-president, Richard Nixon and vice-president Hubert Humphrey. I thought the choice was a no brainer. I guess we will have to wait and see what history has to say about the resulting winner. Since this was my first major election to take part in, I was in shock at the dirty campaigning that led up to the actual election. The mudslinging appeared to me like road kill along the way. Anything that could possibly earn a vote was spoken, true or untrue. It hasn’t gotten any better since. South Carolina has long been recognized as a state wher ugly campaign ads run rampant.
This year has started with the primary season in full swing. The slate of Republican contenders started out at 17. As of now we are down to 12 and the ones that are out are beginning to look like road kill along a busy highway. The longer the campaigning continues with a large group it looks like more and more road kill is piling up. It seems to me some of the road kill or rather future road kill may be skunks. The odor is beginning to grow stronger.
For years it seems Republicans have taken great delight in destroying each other. This current campaign is not exempt. False charges questions concerning birth place, past votes and stances on issues years ago compared to now are constantly being blathered about. Grow up. Let’s get to the point we can discuss issues and real problems that face our country. Let your favorite person know how you feel. These people are reachable as no candidate ever has been in the past. They all have websites, use twitter, and are constantly on Face Book.
If you are truly undecided, only you can remedy that. Research each candidate you are interested in. Learn the stance on each issue you can find. With today’s social media one can delve into a person’s past and learn the makeup of his moral character. What endeavors and successes they have been involved are available to anyone wanting to learn. Only you can be certain you are educated on the people and on the issues.
Once educated, please, support your choice. Talk to friends, neighbors and relatives about the candidates. Most importantly encourage every person you meet, that is of voting age, to vote. This year the election will be extremely important, our future hangs on the result. We will live with the ramifications of this election as long as we have a United States of America.
I don’t know who will represent the Democrat party this year. It doesn’t matter, we must defeat them. The choice is a Socialist or a Progressive and they do appeal to younger voters. Neither is an acceptable solution for our country as they both will lead us to socialism.
Do your part. Work to see that we have selected the best person possible to lead our country through the trying times that are coming. That skunk odor is terrible since the last election. Let’s clear the air and get a new smell before it’s too late. Get the vote out and get out and vote.
Jack's Blog 