Elections bring out the very worst in all of us. Over the years, it seems as though our political landscape gets more and more offensive, more and more aggressive, more and more vile.  This is not a matter of “bothsidesism,” just a statement of fact. The first election of which I was truly aware was the Kennedy vs. Nixon presidential contest of 1960. Third graders were not allowed to vote but I heard a great deal from the adults around me. Jack Kennedy was an Irish, Catholic, Democrat so in our household he was definitely the best candidate. It had nothing to do with his policies on the Far East, the Berlin Wall, or Racial Integration. It was simply his ethnicity, his religion and his party affiliation; in this case the Trifecta. At this point, I wish I could say, “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” Truth is we lock on to candidates for reasons that often have nothing to do with governing. More often it is about personality, or a single issue.

Somewhere, there is a depository – HIGHLY UNFLATTERING PICTURES OF POSSIBLE ELECTION CANDIDATES. There has to be such an inventory; otherwise, how can candidates find the very worst pictures of their opponents for use on television and in print ads. Often, I think this is an AI (artificial intelligence) product or a Photoshop result. I don’t know if any of these “enhanced” photographs actually alter a vote, but something must work or we wouldn’t see it done year after year by multiple candidates.

“If you elect my opponent (fill in name here), it will cost you everything you own and condemn our nation by the time he/she is sworn in. The opposition counters with “If you elect my opponent (fill in name here), the world will come to an end, and you will lose everything.” No matter how you wish to vote, someone will passionately argue that you are absolutely out of your mind and condemning us to a life of (fill in your favorite apocalypse here).

Over my 72 years (and I know I look far too young to have accrued such numbers), I have lived under Democrats, and under Republicans. Seldom have I been able to discern much of a difference. What I have seen over the last three decades is a descent from decency.  Political discourse is not about what I will do in office as much as how horrible the actions of my opponent will be if he/she wins office.

This election season, please do something different. Read some objective material related to issues, not personalities. Read about the candidate you don’t like, in an article endorsing him or her. See what the other side sees. There is something to be learned here. And please vote.