by Sophie Jean Stirling
5/30/2010

"I’d like the local election with the intriguing question.  Hold the politics.”

I wonder, in today’s world of political absolutes, if you are beginning to feel the same way as I do.  Do you sense that our wonderfully celebrated party system has become so diametrically opposed on every conceivable issue, that there would be scowling editorials or opinions on which way to hang the toilet paper?  However, to make matters far worse, the disagreement has ruptured into a bitterness and negativity that we probably have not seen since a guy named Lincoln said that we weren’t going to make people slaves anymore.  Yet all day, every day, we see and hear the nauseating bickering between the loyal patrons of their respective political clans spending their time pointing fingers at one another instead of doing something uniquely novel – their jobs.

Although brief, and perhaps isolated, this year’s town election felt like jumping into a midday summer swimming pool.  The candidates, both old and new, did not hitch their wagon to a particular color or circus animal.  Instead they ran as individuals, as “candidates” because they felt like they could either improve the way things were, or continue supporting what they felt was a good thing.  Now do not misunderstand, I do not dismiss the assumption that any woman or man who runs for office has a bright and clear streak of narcissism running across their backs.  The powerful desire of having 9,000 voters tell you that you are the best (or at least better than the other guy) is required and necessary to endure any campaign. 

But I also believe this:  Anyone, and everyone who has ever run for office has had a clear altruistic belief that they will be able to make the lives of the people they serve, better.  Whether they have a blue dress or a red tie, they ultimately want to do what they feel is best for the people.  Yet in today’s political climate far too much energy is spent on wearing down the opponent and her or his following instead of celebrating the candidate based on the person, their experience, their values, their commitment and their character. 

OMG, from where I was sitting, that’s what we actually had this Spring.

I saw people running for office and people debating on raising taxes for a cause (whether a worthy or unworthy cause really was the question).  I did not see party affiliation or a blind kinship with the office or elected official du’ jour.   We had ordinary people, running for their office based on their own merits and a question that would affect every person in the town.  We did not have arguments or attacks just to gain an office at all cost.   We had candidates who spent their own money instead of spending all of their waking moments pan handling for money to “keep up the fight”. 

No this wasn’t a fight like so many other elections, this was simply a contest.  As with every contest, we had those who prevailed and those who fell short.  We had a majority ruling on a complicated question, thus putting it to bed for the rest of the year.  Time will tell if the people that we selected will fulfill their universal promise of doing the right thing are worthy and up to the challenges they so eagerly sought. 

So I say "bravo" to the candidates as we all enjoy this brief relief from our toxic political climate and relish in the fact that in small towns like ours, democracy can happen the way it was intended.  Let’s also fulfill our responsibility of supporting our democratic process by trying to help our officials to do their jobs.  After all, we chose them.
 

This is the first in a series of articles to be written Sophie, who promises to keep us thinking and working together to solve problems and live a little happier.