More thoughts on the political process

No, the picture associated with this political comment isn't a cheap come-on to get readership. Neither is it religious stomping as often associated with, or perverted in, politics. The picture makes a point. Stay with me.

Today as I was driving through town there was a notable decrease in the number of political campaign signs.  Maybe some people didn't like to admit defeat; others decided not to rub it in.  But the JESUS sign caught my attention. I am sure the homeowner had his/her own reasons for the sign. What hit me was something both political and religious. It had something to do with the underlying foundations of our political campaigns and what we project as truth.

Let me back up. The day after the election I woke with a sick feeling. Before you jump to a conclusion about my political leanings - I was sick and tired of the process.  The campaign, as one of our previous editorials noted, was absolutely full of lies, deceits, and misrepresentations. From both sides. As a reporter, I saw one of my articles distorted significantly by one of the state political parties and used in a flyer. I also did a fact check on another of the flyer claims and found it pretty bogus.

And I thought - HOW ON EARTH COULD I COME CLOSE TO TRUSTING ANY OF THE POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL PARTIES AS THEY REPRESENT US IN DES MOINES OR WASHINGTON? They practice what they preach. And it isn't the truth.

Back to Jesus.  Remember what happened to him when he spoke the truth and challenged the leadership? It was pretty dangerous. But our political system lives, succeeds, and thrives in deceit - and putting the least charitable construction on what our neighbor does. Instead of being truthfully issue driven, we delight in winning and creating division, promoting winners vs. losers, and denigrating the other candidate or party. We don't listen or create an environment for problem solving. Sure, I am guilty also.

So my challenge to myself and everyone is this - what can we do to bring integrity back into the process? It may be speaking the truth, rather than (often uninformed) half truths. It may be reading and supporting good journalism and organizations such as FactCheck.Org. (www.factcheck.org). It may be about challenging your political party leadership (and their advertising wizards) about truthful framing of differences. It may be about working on legal avenues to promote integrity and accountability in advertising. It may be about facilitating healthy and honest debate. Pick your own vehicles, but look for ways to do it before it gets even worse.

But be prepared when you act. Truth quests aren't always popular.