Politics

When I attended UC Davis in the 1960s, I was a political science major. It was a really fun time to be studying politics, and at that age students are sooo idealistic. In subsequent years, my interest in politics prompted me to work on campaigns. Not a lot, and not in any important capacity.

But over the years, politics, like other consumer-directed businesses, has become totally out of whack. The goal is not to give people what they want or need, the goal is to convince them that what you are selling, and ONLY what you are selling, is what they must have or they will perish. Well, I say poo to that. Actually I say worse things, but I won't use those words here.

I belong to the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. There are not very many farmers left in this county. Last time I went to an SCFB social activity, I think the top 3 officers of the organization had all just sold their family farms to developers, something I despise. But anyway, this is the season when we all get dozens of political brochures in the mail, each touting a candidate.

I'm not against political brochures. I worked in print shops for many years, and election years were always very good for business. I don't usually read them, though. I glance at them to see if I can get any ideas for graphics - typefaces, layout, unusual or clever logos - as I throw them in the recycle bin.

One brochure was from the Farm Bureau, which has made itself an appendage of the Republican party. I investigated the candidates they recommended. All but 1 were born and raised outside California. Only one was born and raised on a farm in California. Hello? Do I want some foreign-born (from another state) city slicker in charge of my destiny? Someone who won't hesitate to send all northern California's water to southern California? Someone who really doesn't give a hoot about raising vegetables, but is quite chummy with corporate farmers and smooches up to Archer Daniel Midland? No way, José.

I also get brochures from the Sacramento County Taxpayers Association. They usually only support candidates who share their views, so in some contests they don't make a recommendation. They don't have comments on all the propositions, either, only the ones that strike them as important to Taxpayers. I don't always agree, but I gain from reading their information.

I already filled out my ballot and mailed it in. I voted for some Democrats and some Republicans. I voted for a Peace and Freedom candidate in one instance, and a Libertarian in another. I voted on each proposition after I read the material and made up my own mind. Sometimes it was hard: the Sacramento County Sheriff made a good argument FOR legalizing marijuana, but I can't stand the smell of it and the last thing I want is to have that stuff wafting through the air. I didn't vote for or against any of the judges, I don't know a thing about them, nor could I find anything out. Why in the world are we voting for judges anyway???

I always get griped because the things that are important to me are never on a ballot. Let me vote about banning any more huge developments in this county. Break the state's budget down into 10 major categories and let me check off the ones I choose to support. Let me vote to totally ban all advertising by drug manufacturers, and to put warning labels on junk food and tax it to the max. That's my new slogan "Tax Twinkies, Not Income."

I don't think I need another cup of coffee this morning. I'm going to take this energy out and get some chores taken care of before the deluge we're expecting.