End of an Era

I love this country.

As the election draws near, the republicans and democrats are breaking out the "big guns". I see ads for politicians, some slinging mud, some taking the higher ground, and my eyes are opened. These people are desperately fighting for their livelihood. They can smell the end coming, just like the rest of us. Politicians know, perhaps for the first time in generations, that the common people are no longer willing to play the game. Men who are five or ten years from retirement are going to have to go get some semblance of a real job for the first time in their lives. Republicans will be replaced with Democrats. Democrats will be replaced by Republicans and Independents. Every commitee on Capitol Hill is about to lose long-time members. Congress is about to initiate the largest incoming freshman class in decades.
Its beautiful. People are discussing politics in gas stations, at work, at fast-food joints. The apathy that has been obvious on election day for many years is disappearing. We, the people have finally had enough. We still can't really agree on who to vote for, but we all agree that those who are in office must be replaced. I have spoken recently to no less than ten people who are over twenty-five years of age who are going to vote for the first time in their lives. I would not be surprised to see the largest voter turn-out ever on election day.

My only hope is that we can do it again in '08.

People keep talking to me about term limits. Term limits wouldn't be an issue if we would vote our conscience every time. As appealing as term limits might be, I think that we have been given a much greater tool for change: The Vote.