Self-Sufficient Steward

I realize that I’m writing more posts about the looming election than about rainwater harvesting, or gardening or any other topic that seems to fit better under the banner of “self-sufficient steward”. But as I’ve tried to say elsewhere, my view of stewardship includes paying attention to the bigger picture of the nation I live in as well as the piece of ground I take care of. Because what gets decided in my name, by my government, profoundly affects that little piece of ground and my ability to hold on to it.

So, for the next few weeks, there will be a more political focus here; more than you like and more than is healthy for me. And one of the things that causes me to grit my teeth and makes the acid rise in my gut, is the failure of our candidates and the media that cover them to allow a serious exchange on the issues. Instead, our televisions and computer monitors are focused on the lowest common denominator and we are inundated with talk of pregnant daughters and terrorist fist bumps, as if either had anything to do with our country’s future. But actually they do. Because when we are distracted by things like whether Sarah Palin cheated on her husband, we aren’t being educated about how our vote will affect our health care options, or our income tax rates, or the implications of bailing out Fannie Mae.

Which is just what the campaign intended. And the days until Election Day tick off one by one. Until they’re gone.

Today was lipstick day.

First, the distraction du jour.

Then the response.

Guess which I prefer?

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Rants and Musings, Uncategorized