I think somewhere in time we lost the idea of why politics exists. Or at least what politics ought to be.
I often observe during election time, especially among those my own age, the common thought: ‘we need change. We need someone with “fresh” ideas, someone who will change what we don’t like. I will vote for him.’
But is this always right? Why do we think a particular candidate will do what he says? Why do we think he will be able to do what he says? This is especially true for presidential candidates. The executor of the United States has a great deal of information at his fingertips, information the candidates will not have until they are sworn into office.
The American people do not know why certain actions are being taken. And I’m not convinced we always should. The presence of media in various conflicts proves the reduced effectiveness of the military when the enemy can tune into CNN and see what is being planned. (This is obvious.)
But regardless of their ignorance, Americans are highly opinionated and many plan to vote for the candidate who will do what their personal preference is, whether or not the fate of the world is affected by one move or another.
I guess the point is to remember that, once inaugurated, a candidate will have significantly less motivation and power to fulfill his promises, regardless of which ‘side’ he comes from.
So, choose wisely, and make sure to find out the projected consequences for all of humanity before making a choice when voting.