As the Governor's race for the great Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 2016 Presidential race approach, the ad-bashing has already begun. Arguments are being brought up by all sides, including mistakes that some of these candidates made as teenagers. (Why their detention for not showing up to school in fifth grade matters now makes no sense to me.) The fact is every one of these candidates has a few skeletons in their closets, and I personally won't penalize them for that. What I focus on, and what I believe everyone should look at, is their commitment to honesty and transparency, what they have accomplished in their career, and what they stand for now.
Take Rand Paul for instance, he graduated from Medical School and started an eye clinic in Southern Kentucky to help provide eye care for people who couldn't afford it. If that doesn't tell you something about his character then I don't know what does. Sure, he may be way out there with the Aqua Buddha ads and causing mayhem with his 13-hour filibuster, but at least he cares about something besides his bank account and self-righteousness.
When I hear people hound others on the importance of doing their civil duty, I just roll my eyes. Why should people be heckled for not going and voting for people who have been using the television and radio as a battleground to tear apart the views and ideals of another human being? The day I see a politician speak kindly about his opponent will be the day that I start telling people to get to the voting booths. What these public servants forget is that they are supposed to be serving us, not the other way around.
People also neglect the fact that candidate options are severely limited in a “first past the post" election system. This means that very few political parties gain enough popularity to participate in the political process, and only candidates with considerable financial backing gain enough support to have a chance at victory. Primaries also often drown out the voice of independents, and people can only vote for the candidate to represent the party of which they are members.
We teach our children to be kind to one another, but we don't speak out when the leaders of our country refer to their colleagues as crooks, liars, and adulterers, and so on. Our elected leaders to need be role models just like the football players, actresses, and singers our children idolize. Just because seven-year-olds aren't wearing Republican or Democrat jerseys doesn't mean that they are completely oblivious to everything in the world of politics. The sad truth is the only time that our leaders and our major political parties can ever agree on anything is during times of tragedy, and that's inexcusable. I was young when 9/11 happened, but I remember everyone pulled together and cared for one another after the tragedy. The big question is, why can't we act like that all the time? It shouldn't take something like that for us to pull together as a country and act like one big national family. People should also be able to choose candidates who actually represent their views, instead of those with the most wealth.
Come November you will see me at the voting booths voting for the person I see fit to run our state (cough, cough Jack Conway) and you will see me the year after that voting for the Presidential candidate whom I see fit, but don't be surprised if I don't bring or encourage my friends and family to vote.
Who would blame someone for not voting for a system that isn't working? Hopefully Robby Novak, Kid President will be running for President by 2016.
