Published: May 04, 2008 12:42 am            

DODD: Election thoughts with Twain

“I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.”

— ”Mark Twain in Eruption”



I was not quite sure how to address Tuesday’s Primary, it’s importance, and to try and analyze what makes people vote and for whom. Even as I analyze myself and my own lever pulling, I am betwixt and between logic, emotion, and uncertainty. I can’t even fully explain how I will decide to vote for every office. Some of the candidates I personally know and some I know so well that it will be used against them. In other races, I will simply vote for no good reason and with no concrete purpose save as to simply complete the ballot selection. Knowing such things about myself I can only hope to fall way short in trying to understand how others may vote. So, I went with some expert advice and opinions of my favorite American writer and humorist, Mark Twain, to aid my dissertation. Oddly enough, when reading his quotes, it appears that politics and politicians haven’t changed all that much since the 1800’s.

“I shall not often meddle with politics, because we have a political Editor who is already excellent and only needs to serve a term or two in the penitentiary to be perfect.” — ”Mark Twain, a Biography”

I probably read and research as much or more than most people who vote. In the end I am not sure how much it helps me make an informed decision, or if even it helps me at all. Everything I hear, read, or discuss with people, all of the information that comes my way has a slant or a personal opinion associated with it. I would even assume that it is possible that if someone would close their eyes and throw a dart at a board with the candidate’s names they could pick a candidate with integrity and with all of my research and expert’s knowledge, I could vote for the biggest loser of the bunch.

“..one of the first achievements of the legislature was to institute a ten-thousand-dollar agricultural fair to show off forty dollars' worth of pumpkins ..". — Mark Twain — “Roughing It”

Everyone is against government waste and misuse of the taxpayer’s dollar. Almost everyone can point to the problem yet defining the specific waste is not quite as easy as declaring the generality of waste in its entirety. I am very aware that some local politicians enrich themselves and get elected to public office with help from the dealmaker’s and the political process manipulators; however, I cannot find any one of them who will admit they are part of such a sullied process. It is simply up to my intuition and which rumor sources I deem credible to decide which of the “they are all crooks” that is to get my vote.

“If we would learn what the human race really is at bottom, we need only observe it in election times.” — ”Mark Twain, An Autobiography”

I hate to find myself jaded and still cling to a fairy tale notion that people do not run solely for ego, hunger for power, or other unattractive motives. I do try to meet and vote for people who truly believe in the principle of a citizen’s government. I also believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny,…

“In religion and politics, people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination.” — Mark Twain

I must, in good conscience, warn voters to beware of rumors, innuendo, second and third-hand stories, and wild tales people will spread about politicians running for office. Especially beware of the ones that are true.

“Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense” — Mark Twain

Please take the time to find out something and don’t accept anything that a candidate running for political office says at face value. To be called a politician is not necessarily an insult or a compliment. Neither is it always an endorsement nor a reprimand; rather its term is usually simply used for the lack of a better or more socially acceptable word in polite conversation.

“What a messy business this American republic is. And when it works, what a miracle.” — Mark Twain.

If there is but one thing that sets us apart from most of the rest of the world it is our freedom to vote in or out of office the person we personally wish to represent our interests. I hope that every voter will at least exercise some serious thought on his/her vote. It is a blessing, a privilege, and a life’s lottery win to live in America. The responsibility to keep it the best it can be rests in the individual decisions made by simple people like you and me on Election Day. Excuse me while I get out my Election 2008 dart board.



Lindon Dodd is an Otisco resident who is a freelance writer, 4-H School Enrichment Program Assistant and Realtor who can be reached at lindon.dodd@hotmail.com.

        

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