The Fringe

Right now I am so frustrated with the way Americans are choosing to populate their next ballots that it almost seems like a waste of time to vote, but I am sure that is what the people who are thinking, are hoping. If they can get the intelligent, logical, reasonable people to give up, then it takes very little to get rid of the radicals that are now running for Delaware's senator, or New York's governor. Surely no one with a whit of sense really intends for them to win.

And yet they could. That is the nature of our country's system. Anything is possible and anything can be very scary when people vote without thinking about the true implications that can follow their choices.

Voting against the system out of anger is a risky business if all you base that vote on is a lot of camaraderie and like minded angry people. Beware of angry people. You, or I, may be their next target. You ask me, "Who would vote against little old ladies who simply mind their own business and live off their retirement and social security?" And I tell you they are the same people who would vote for a man who talks of putting poor people in prison dormitories because they are poor and need to be taught how not to be. We people eating up social security benefits could be considered a real problem.

Voting in an election is not just a right. It is an obligation that begins with educating ourselves about the person we cast our vote for. If I just want to feel good, it might be better for me to join a church, or a club of like minded individuals doing less dangerous things than running the country.

Almost any parent is familiar with the child who, when denied his favorite treat right before dinner, stamps his foot and says, "You're mean!" So, if this child goes outside and gathers a group of like minded children around him and they all bolster each other up, shouting, "Candy now!" Is it rational to give them what they ask for? I'm sure all of the children would vote for the kid who says, "yes." He would not tell them about the trips to the dentist that might follow, or the malnutrition that can come of eating more sweets than good food. He would only be interested in getting elected top kid and getting what he wanted. There is so much ego involved.

We are supposed to be smarter than that.