Disgusting

Election Day is tomorrow. For more than a week now there’s been a stress and tension I’ve never felt before. Sure, other elections bring anticipation, angst, often hope and at times the disappointment that comes with winning or losing.

But 2012 feels different. For days now I’ve meditated, looked within, wondered, and asked myself: why?

There are a number of factors playing key roles this time around, I believe. Changes in how we play this game: sometimes subtle, but oft not so. Changes that happen quicker and grow with each election cycle. Here are a few I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around:

• The lies. We all understand that politicians stretch the truth. Often lie, I grant you. Nothing like I’ve seen this time around, though. One’s narrative has gone in opposite directions from week to week. And the media has been mostly unquestioning. Have we become that stupid? Or have we accepted the dog eat dog world where the end justifies the means?
• The hatred. Again, there’s always been hate in politics. But I don’t remember it this visceral. At least not since the heydays of the Vietnam War. It’s not a good sign. And sadly, it has much to do with race. It doesn’t speak well of us. And it makes me question if we’ve truly advanced in this country on that question. It’s something to ponder as we move forward.
• The money. Can you believe we’re talking billions when this campaign is finally over? I’ve seen the estimates: five billion, six billion and even much more. Are you kidding me?
• Religion. And I thought politics and religion don’t mix. And later we call ourselves a Judeo-Christian nation. I am convinced that if Jesus Christ walked the earth in 2012, he’d be disgusted with our politics. Ours seems to be a search for power, laced with greed, at the expense of everything, including hunger, pain and even our children.

Honestly I can’t wait till this thing is over tomorrow. I’d like to think that I’ll sleep a bit better then. Maybe not…

But all elections should be about hope, I’ve always believed.

This one sure doesn’t feel that way.

Alvaro F. Fernandez