Good morning! I hope this finds you happy, healthy, and at least hopeful. That can be a challenge sometimes, especially in this political environment.
Few things will turn a conversation lively like the mention of politics. For most of my life, that was a forbidden topic in social situations, for that very reason. You didn’t ask people about their sex life, and you didn’t ask how they voted. That was back in the day when you voted in a cloaked booth. And then they tabulated the results on an abacus. Yes, I’m that old.
Somehow, over the years, both topics have become a lot less taboo. People are more comfortable speaking their mind in public, especially behind the relative safety of a keyboard. Social media tends to bring out the worst in some people. And the closer we get to election day, the worse it gets. I look forward to election day for one reason – no more commercials.
Okay, as a 12-year Navy veteran, it runs a little deeper than that. To me, there is no more sacred right than the right to vote. It’s important enough that I would drive a friend to the polls, knowing their vote would counteract mine. We can debate the validity of the electoral process, but in almost 69 years I’ve never seen any evidence that my vote wasn’t counted.
If we accept that premise at face value, we have to also admit that when we don’t exercise our right to vote, somebody else will vote for us and they will decide the outcome of the election. If you’re okay with that, and really don’t care how things turn out, do your own thing. Just accept that, at least in my presence, you’ll lose your right to complain. Sorry, I make the rules.
That aside, ballots can be hard to interpret, especially in the verbiage of proposals, levies, and bills. Throw in a constitutional amendment, and the experts on both sides will work overtime to make sure you’re thoroughly confused. And this year, we have to contend not only with the normal political noise, but also with content generated by AI. Oh good, the voice of authority!
If you haven’t already voted, this is the perfect time to go online and take a look at your precinct’s ballot. It’ll look exactly like the real thing, and you can take a few minutes to educate yourself regarding those issues. While you’re at it, take a few minutes to fact-check the things you’ve heard about the candidates. You may be surprised at what you find.
All of this requires us to set aside our pre-conceived notions of the good and bad in candidates and ballot measures alike. That’s a hard bone to chew, because it means momentarily setting aside loyalty to any party or politician. In some cases, it means challenging, at least internally, what we hear around the dinner table. And I’m not just talking about the “mystery meat.”
Once you’ve done your due diligence, vote your conscience. But remember, your neighbor, your boss, and your drunk uncle, all have that same right. You don’t have to agree with the way they vote. They don’t have to agree with you. What’s important is that we participate in the democratic process with complete integrity and don’t impede others from doing the same.
If you’re one of the few who are able to have a civil and open-minded discussion of politics with people of a completely opposite slant, I wish you’d mentor the rest of us. I’ve seen politics divide families, friendships, and even congregations. We each get one vote. Is defending how we vote worth the almost inevitable anger or hurt feelings? Just vote and be quiet.
This isn’t a topic I normally take on in my posts, but I think it’s important to take a step back and put things in perspective. I have close friends and family members who don’t agree with me politically, and that’s okay. I love them just the same. And that’s the key to keeping politics in perspective. Yes, it’s about moral values. I get it. But it’s also about differences in opinion.
That’s all for today. I hope you hung in there with me to the end. If political discussion causes you stress, step away. And if people insist on force-feeding it to you, send them away. Life is too short. Do your part and let that be enough. Your sanity will thank you. Have an awesome day!
© 2026 Dave Glardon – All rights reserved
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Excellent advice!