[By Nic Lindh on Wednesday, 07 November 2012]
My adopted country went to the polls yesterday. Finally. After a campaign season so arduous, cynical and tainted by special interests it would make a citizen of the end-days of the Roman Republic cry.
Apart from the desensitization of years of negative campaign ads, there’s conscious voter suppression, unlimited secret-by-law campaign slush funds, and the chaos that results from thousands—yes, thousands—of counties fumbling to rediscover the wheel about the basics of how to run an election.
Having paid pretty close attention to this process the last couple of years, I’m confident in saying I trust it not at all. And that’s not even talking about the frankly disgusting campaign ads; I’m talking about the election results.
Well-meaning but befuddled geriatrics attempting to decipher intentionally obtuse regulations on the fly while the lines of voters stretch across the corner is not exactly a model for the rest of the world…
Still, today is the 7th of November, 2012. We’re done with this one.
But the next one is out there, creeping, waiting, and if history is any guide, it will be longer, furrier, and have more anonymous money oozing out of every pore.
2016 will be hideous. But for now, let’s enjoy the few months we have before that beast awakens.