It’s election time again, so let’s talk politics. I hate politics. I hate political parties, especially the Republican and Democratic parties, because they shift the focus from what’s right to what’s popular and in line with the rest of the party’s platform, from helping your constituents to tricking those constituents into voting for you again. The members of Congress have taken the month of October off to campaign for the November elections. If they’re not trying to win their own reelection, they’re probably trying to help someone else in their party get elected. What a waste. I wish Congress would outlaw political parties. Naturally, that won’t happen because the members of Congress are almost exclusively Democrat or Republican and depend on their party for influence and reelection assistance.

You know whom I’m voting for in the election for Texas governor? Kinky Friedman. Not because he has any good political experience, but precisely because he’s not a politician. He’s from OUTSIDE the system. He won’t have a clue what he’s doing, and I don’t agree with him on every issue, but electing him would be a small step toward reducing the power of the parties and returning the focus to the people.

Sorry for being so cynical. I’m just fed up with the system, and election time brings that frustration to the surface. Despite my rant, democracy is a better system than any other. I’m very grateful to live in America, free to post inflammatory comments without fear of disappearing in the middle of the night. I just wish democracy could live up to its potential.