The running of the candidates

Hi neighbors. I have never been so weary of elections as I am now with the current presidential debacle. With three months left till Election Day, I cannot wait for it to come and pass. I no longer can stomach the thought of either of the current candidates representing America as its president.

It seems this election is not only a concern for Americans. On social media citizens of other countries call Mr. Trump "Hitler" and Mrs. Clinton a fool.

Opinions in America are no more cheery. According to most accounts, either or both candidates could be arrested on Federal warrants at any moment. Still, we follow along, joining in the fray, shouting for our particular choice (chosen for various not certifiable reasons) at every opportunity.

Through all of this I have remained quiet in public. I fully believe and cherish the right, to remain unpublished in my choice of candidate for any and all elections. The box I check will be checked only in the voting booth. However, I watch with growing concern over the future of America.

At times it seems all the debates and advertisements and speeches are telling us a lot. Most of the time all this public talk is simply speech writers rhetoric telling us what they think we wish to hear. This is how it has always been and how it will most likely continue should America survive this election and venture into another in four years.

Most people listen to hear some hype from either candidate about a topic of special interest to themselves. The candidate that promises to address their particular interest becomes their candidate of choice. This sounds reasonable.

However, if anyone is elected as president, they are a "newbie" at a very complicated job; and they usually hit the deck running with little instruction from anyone else who has held the job.

I think the next reality show should be the next president, whomever that might be, going through the first month in office. It would be interesting to see the look on their faces when first told they will be working 12-16 hours a day with at least six to 10 people telling them what to do; while another two to four people schedule their time and another two write the scripts for what they should say.

Being president is not like being made emperor, king or chief executive officer of a large corporation. Presidents do not give orders, they make decisions based on the information and opinions of others. Many of the decisions are not easy to make, all the decisions usually affect the lives of many American citizens. Some few decisions have horrific consequences that a president will live with long after their term runs out; as will America and the world.

Personally, I cannot imagine any person with a lick of sense wanting to be president of the United States! So any and all candidates since Kennedy versus Nixon (I was in sixth grade that year) must have a screw loose in my humble opinion.

As the time for the actual popular vote draws closer; many who yell the loudest for their candidate should remember actually to go vote on election day. They should be American citizens, they should be able to reference and defend their choice for candidate with some logic in their own mind, and they should be able to verify that the candidate has more going for them than simply being a Republican or a Democrat. They should also keep in mind that the public vote is historically nearly always superseded by the Electoral College votes.

Again, I am appalled that the two party system has survived this long. Is it not past the tipping point?

Is there not a better way to find out what each candidate offers then that of endless name calling, dirt smearing and debates that cover no topic of real concern in a constructive manner?

Each candidate has a website stating how they will serve America. Isn't that all they need? Why does the public foster these endless spectacles of shouting and frenzy? Do we like to see our candidates act like children? Is there no respect for the office of president any more?

I've said my piece and I'll say no more. I have had a suggestion for several past elections. What would be the outcome if each voter refused to vote for any candidate printed on the ballots and instead wrote in their own name? Would any changes come about? Or would we simply be handed a president on an Electoral College plate?

In November it is important to remember to vote and more important to remember why.