Come ON!

"The Campaign Trail"? What is that? It's a lot of "sound and fury signifying nothing". Way too much time, energy and money that could do better, is spent on sheer nonsense. Do we need to "expose" party members to the public at large or listen to their  promises? No, we don't. We just think we do because we are brain-washed by various folks who make a lot of money "on the campaign trail" who tell us that we do.  Who are the folks? They are the groomers of these show times and places and people. Advertising via the media takes its share. Venues such as halls and rooms and caterers and cleaners make their money on it. I could go on. Think of the time wasted by those who are in "power" pouring their paid time into campaigning. Is it  useful to the average tax-paying citizen? No, not any more than their expensive travel to other countries to eat at the tables of other politicians at the expense of their tax payers. I may sound disloyal to the political machine but really, politicians would likely rather be at their desks getting things done than running around the country in pretty suits and make-up. Furthermore, of what value are the promises made during these runnings-about speechifying? Promises are, as ever, only as good as their doing and not at all, in their saying. When a politician does get elected, there are so many factions and reasons to or not to, carry out the promises that is it simply, a waste of time to run around making them. What happens day to day, is what makes things happen. World economies, political unrest, disease, natural disasters can change government plans no matter how astute world "leaders" are. To promise to lower taxes and up grants, down crime and up standards of living. is ridiculous. These things are all dependent upon money and we all know about money. If we have any of it to know. Those of us who used to pore over newspapers about what party will do what, have become less secure in what is said and wholly dependent upon what the market says or whether our paychecks will stretch this week or not. What some well off politician is saying on the campaign trail, doesn't pay the gas or grocery bills or buy the kids their running shoes. While we yak on about who to vote for, that one vote is all we have to express ourselves and how we feel. Unfortunately, I am not really sure if it does much to make my life better. But, it's all I have, and I guess even though I discount what promises are made, I get to take a look at a face that might give me a clue as to who should lead this country. It's all I have. One vote. And in spite of everything I have ground out today, I am jolly well going to use it. But I wish the campaign trail was much shorter and made of solid concrete - concrete plans for the betterment of our everyday common man and woman lives.