In light of recent SCOTUS rulings and biased media coverage, summer has been getting off to a rocky start.

We try not to be political or tell you how to vote in This Awful Awesome Life, and this is not the purpose of this article.

For the past year, my emails and text messages have been inundated with threats of world disaster and pleas for political donations – even more than usual.

“Take our poll, and tell us who you support for ______________ (insert dogcatcher, city counsel representative, mayor, governor, state or U.S. senator, state or U.S. representative, or president.)” “Tell us the most important issues. Oh, by the way, we need your financial support to meet our latest fund-raising goal.” All of this without telling me their platform or how they plan to institute that platform.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not one of the 1% with unlimited funds, and I don’t like seeing so much money being spent to sling mud, spread misinformation, or buy candidates.

I came across this quote today and it resonated strongly with me about politics in general.

“A man says a lot in summer he doesn’t mean in winter.” Patricia Briggs

I’m sure my interpretation of this quote has nothing to do with the author’s meaning. Briggs is the New York Times best-selling author of the Mercy Thompson series. She started her career writing traditional high-fantasy novels. She has contributed several short stories to anthologies and written a series of comic books and graphic novels about her Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series.

With the number of false statements uttered during the recent presidential debate, and the general tone of politics since the early 80s, this quote screams to be used. Apologies to Ms. Briggs if this upsets or offends her in any way.

I studied business and economics in college after changing my major from political science. I don’t want “fearmongering” or “pie in the sky promises” from politicians or their “spin doctors.” I want verified facts and proposed solutions. They can’t just snap their fingers and make bad things go away. Be honest with me about campaign priorities and the inroads each candidate plans to make. I don’t expect my needs and wishes to line up perfectly with those of the 340,000,000+ people in this country, but I believe laws and policies must serve the majority, not just the 1%.

I want a list of credible sources for every “fact” they present to me about their voting record or list of accomplishments. I expect them to do the same when they are criticizing their opponent.

According to Jonathan Swift, “Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect…” Lies are harmful, and it’s become too easy to post or tweet something, take it down then pretend someone else put it there, or lied about it.

I’m a Joe Friday kind of girl. I want “just the facts.”

To help me distinguish between fact, opinion, and fiction, I rely on nonpartisan sources such as the League of Women Voters (LWV). On their website, you will find a list of offices and the powers and responsibilities of each office. Leaders do not have blanket authority to jump into or choose to distance themselves from issues facing their constituents at their discretion. These powers are spelled out by a system of checks and balances meant to stop leaders from becoming dictators. If a politician tells you they can do anything and only they can do anything, that should be a reg flag.

Also on the LWV website before elections, the LWV will have a list of candidates, their backgrounds, voting records if applicable,  affiliations to various religious or secular groups, and their views on important issues. Are they a member of the Federalist Society or the American Constitution Society? These are important facts we need to know before voting.

State and local LWV host candidate debates and forums for candidates running for political office at all levels of government. In the 1970s and 1980s, the LWV hosted presidential debates. Maybe it’s time to put the LWV back in charge of these important debates instead of ratings hungry media outlets that are no longer nonpartisan.

Instead of ugly commercials what we should be hearing/reading/watching are verified facts about each candidate. What’s their level of experience? What’s their record? Education? Have they ever been convicted of a crime? Been a member of a subversive political group? Show me their tax returns, so I know if they pay their taxes.

If they campaign on being “just like me,” verify what they are telling me about the socio-economic group they were raised in and how they treat coworkers and employees. Did they really bus tables, dig ditches, or work in retail?

Campaign reform is desperately needed in this country. If it takes millions of dollars to be elected, who is contributing this money and what are they getting in return? Is it Supreme Court Justice picks, tax breaks, roll backs of safety and environmental safeguards? The best and brightest candidates don’t stand a chance against the big money picks, and I’m tired of it.

I’m sickened by the realization that kids in this country are experiencing food insecurity and homelessness while millions of dollars that could help alleviate this problem are going into spreading misinformation and making media moguls richer.

Before candidates are allowed to ask for one penny of campaign donations, the American people should have all this information. Show us who you really are. If we respect you, and agree with the majority of your platform, then we’ll support you.

Please forgive this quasi-political rant, but somebody has to say ENOUGH!  

Sources for this article:

www.lwv.org

www.patriciabriggs.com