Jan
24
It’s that time again…
January 24, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
Once again we have reached that time of the year when we are being bombarded with ads on print or electronic media, billboards, special mailings, or perhaps people walking around with signs or sandwich boards. This, my friends is all with the intent of selling us SOMETHING. This is the time when people line up for that limited opportunity to get what’s new and “hot”, what’s trendy, some people lining up hours before the appointed time. This is the time when you are bombarded with offers, all designed to lure you and distract you with a promise of being better than others are.
While you might think this is about a new game system, it’s not.
This is about the annual train wreck that is a political campaign. This is not designed to be a partisan missive, but a warning for all to be on your guard for promises made and a plea to check out EACH candidate before you give away your vote. With the advent of the Internet checking and verifying should be no big deal. Candidates will guarantee you the moon when very often they can’t spell it.
Candidates are proficient (others are as well, now that I think about it) at avoiding the answer to a question, even a direct question. They are among those who have mastered the art of redirect. (“I’m glad you asked that question, and I think what you really are asking is….)
We are on the front lines of the battle for education and educational choices. We are “mavericks” in this battle that hopefully 10 years from now will be a moot point. With the exception of a small portion of folks that try and use virtual education as it is intended, we are having huge successes and to the person we want this program to continue. We must ask our candidates when they run, the tough questions. We must ask the candidates where they stand on making our programs a permanent part of the budget and make sure we get and keep their support, and hold those who promise accountable for the promises they make. It is VERY easy to look up position papers and read articles about where these candidates stand on the issues VERY urgent to us.
To be sure, this is not limited to our issue even though it is one of the most pressing to our families. This is applicable to every issue and every politician running today…this year…any year. We need to be vigilant and not waste our precious vote. What better educational opportunity for our kids to see democracy or a representative republic at work, than to teach the importance of voting, the importance of knowing who you are voting for, and the ability we have to make a real change in what happens in our government. Teach by doing, teach by example, make a change in the world.
