Sunday, May 19, 2024
Houston
FROM MY FRONT PORCH
Sam Houston is the publisher of the Hood County News. He is also an actor, author, playwright, performer and entertainment producer/promoter.
It is hard to imagine, but in just a few short months the U.S. election cycle will be back on. I will never understand why it takes so many months of campaigning to educate the electorate on which candidate to vote for. In most of the world, election campaigns last for a defined short period of time, voting occurs, a winner is announced and elected officials go about governing. Why do our elections take so long and cost so much? Could it be by design?
Election campaigns cost money. A lot of money. In 2020 the total dollars spent on federal elections was 14.4 billion. Yes, you read that right, candidates spent more than $14 billion running for federal office! How much of the money was spent on opponent attack ads trying to convince voters a candidate was the total sum of all their fears and dislikes is anyone one’s guess — but my strong feeling is, most of it. How much promotion really informed voters or educated them on a candidate’s position or record in office — maybe not so much.
Where does the money come from? Why do people donate tens of thousands of dollars to a candidate? Why are political action committees created to pour unlimited funds into campaign coffers? Why does someone spend over a million dollars on a state senate campaign in Texas when the job only pays a salary of a few thousand dollars? The answer is simple: power and control.
Power and control are the reasons why the government is stagnated. It is the reason why nothing gets done. In many cases, instead of attacking problems and attempting to pass problem-solving, life-changing legislation, elected officials consider their “job” to be fundraising for their next election. They attempt to govern by “polling numbers” with little sense of what is best for the nation or a complete unwillingness to make tough decisions. We have lots of politicians — but can you name one you would describe as a statesman? My canvas is blank.
Name a candidate for national or state office, then ask yourself what the person has accomplished in the past few years to solve the problems that exist. Stop thinking about what they “believe in” or their position and what “tribe” you belong to: ask what they have gotten done.
Perhaps all the fundraising and campaign obstacles are set up to keep someone from outside the political status quo from running for office. It seems those in power do not want change or even to solve problems. Their goal is to maintain their position in the power hierarchy. How else can we explain that out of a country of 340 million people we may very well be forced to choose between two presidential candidates who will be in their 80s when they finish office? Is that the best we can offer from the vast pool of brilliant minds and potential leaders of our nation? Where is our young, inspirational leadership? I have always respected the wisdom and experiences of my elders, but does anyone seriously imagine that any 80-year-old is up to the most strenuous and powerful job in the world? Are we willing to risk everything they are?
The next 18 months will be full of ads, promotions and commentary about our candidates. We can only hope voters can look through all the marketing and seek candidates who want to solve problems and not simply hold on to power. It would also be nice to find a few young statesmen to vote for.
Thought for the day: A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. — Douglas McArthur
Until next time … I will keep ridin’ the storm out.
sam@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 260
