"I vote for the candidate, not the Party"

 

Exhibit A: Ellen DeGenres

Exhibit B: Garrison Keillor

As election season comes crashing down upon us, I want you to think about the statement "I vote for the candidate, not the Party."

I want you to think of all the couples you know whose marriage failed because one of the partners was completely bamboozled regarding the character of the other.

I want you to think about Ellen DeGeneres, "America's Best Friend" who has recently been revealed to be the exact opposite of her public image.

I want you to think about Garrison Keillor, "America's favorite story-telling uncle" whose behaviors when the microphones were off were very different from his public image.

Then I want you to look in the mirror and tell the person looking back at you "I can accurately assess the character of a person whose image has been tightly edited by media and who has only been on my radar screen for six months."

If the person looking back at you from the mirror believes that statement, then they are a fool and deserve the candy-coated politician that most appeals to them.

If you believe that most of the financial benefits earned by an individual who chooses to delay gratification, makes sacrifices and works long, hard hours should be retained by the person who made those choices...then you should probably send most/all of your votes to the Republican/Conservative side of the ticket.

Conservatives are about individuals.

If you believe that failures are hard-wired into individuals due to injustices done to ancestors seven generations back and that people who worked hard should subsidize those victims...then you should probably send most/all of your votes to the Democrat/Progressive side of the ticket.

Progressives are about group identities.

It is not relevant that the "champion" of one party seems to be a boor and the "champion" of the other give every appearance of being senile. It does not matter.