Just a few days from now, on Monday, Jan. 15, the 2024 election season gets formally underway.
The Iowa caucuses for the Republican Party will be taking place on that day, or — as some small children have been known to call it — the season premiere of The Map Show on the cable news networks.
From my desk chair, I can already hear the groaning and anger and complaining and sighing and outrage and annoyance and eye-rolling.
Nobody claims to ever enjoy this process, but it’s necessary — at least the choosing of a president is necessary. There used to be a life without the primaries. There used to be a life without the media too, but let’s not get carried away here.
The Wisconsin Primary isn’t until Easter Tuesday, April 2, so there is some time before ads and speeches and other messaging flood our very existence here in the Badger State.
It’s coming, though, oh, it’s coming.
Why is this so bothersome?
It’s a constitutional gift that we get to vote for our leaders. Why do we loathe election time so much?
I’m sure I’ll get some disagreement on this, but here are a few ideas: Too many political ads, too much news coverage, too much negative campaigning, too many less-than-average quality candidates, too long of a process, too many interruptions of normal programming, too many elected officials that don’t keep their promises, too many elected officials that don’t do their jobs for the greater good, too much of the same words and message over and over again, and unorganized debates.
I’m sure I could have said more.
How sad that it’s come to this.
Every election should be a chance to embrace and celebrate democracy. Instead, many of us cringe at the very rights and freedoms that are owed us.
Something is not right here.
Can it ever get better?
It’s unfair of me to ask this question and not have an exact answer, but here we are.
There have always been nasty campaigns, political divides, and a lack of respect during elections in the U.S. These weren’t invented in the last four, eight, 24, or 40 years.
There has to be a way to make it better, right?
Maybe ALL of the TV ads aren’t necessary. Maybe all of the news coverage that says the same thing over and over again isn’t necessary.
Maybe the constant polling and polling and polling really says nothing and isn’t necessary.
Maybe we’ll start having candidates who are true public servants, work for the common good according to the Natural Law, love this country, and want all of us to be the best we can be.
How to make it through
Once you’ve completed your voting privilege, you could stay away from the coverage.
That’s easier to do now more than ever with our lives not as TV-centric as past generations were.
You can stay away from the coverage now also. Let those early states worry about what they have to worry about.
You can also keep your own house in order.
There are only so many things we can control when it comes to the government and elections.
Keep your own “country” at home doing well and you’ll be doing everything you can. And share that life with others.
If nothing else, you can always pray. Everyone involved in this process needs our prayers.
Everyone needs God’s blessings to make the right decisions, either in the voting booth or in a position of government.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.