COLUMN: Politics as usual leaving bad taste

Such is the case after this summer’s primary election in our state. I’ve always been passionate about politics but this past election has left me wanting to leave it all behind and not even bother anymore.

After all, does it really matter what candidate is going to get elected? Does it matter which of the parties that make up the two-headed monster have a majority?

The Republican primary for Governor, which mercifully ended in July, came down to two candidates who used the old, worn out tactic of trying to out right-wing one another. Their strategy was simple: rail against enough groups to stir up hatred and vile emotion in their voter base and hope to use that momentum to win. All one has to do is look at Nathan Deal. A long-time politician with enough baggage to disqualify him from consideration in my book wins the nomination of his party. Should we be surprised?

On the other side of the coin, we have a former governor wanting the job again. Roy Barnes is for any issue which will get him elected. He has formed into something I don’t even recognize from his initial run back in 1990. Really, Barnes or Deal? That is the choice the majority of Georgia voters are going to pick from.

Of course, those who think outside the box and value our wallet as well as our civil liberties, will vote for Libertarian John Monds this November. A man who truly understands what the role of government should be, Monds will simply be swept under the tidal wave of the two larger parties due to financial limitations.

And so it continues. Year after year. Election after election. The Republicans replace the Democrats and nothing happens. Democrats replace Republicans and nothing happens. At least, nothing happens in a positive way for the average working man and woman.

When will people wake up? When will people realize that what a radio or television talk show host shows in not news? When are people going to stop allowing themselves to be taken advantage of when it comes to politicians? When will the hatred against certain groups of people in our country no longer be tolerated?

There is no compromise any more. If the Republicans are for it, the Democrats are against it. If the Democrats are for, the Republicans are against it. Meanwhile, the working Americans are left in the cold. People have become so brainwashed they believe that a multi-millionaire politician (billionaire in some cases) relate to them and know what they are going through. I don’t know about you, but no millionaire understands for a second what a I go through on a daily basis. That especially goes for politicians.

So here we are again, preparing for another statewide general election in our state. I haven’t reached the point where I no longer care (I am closer than I have ever been before) but a look at the two major choices for governor in our fair state this year says it all.

On one end we have a man who preaches hate against various groups. On the other hand we have a man who has had the job before and quite frankly didn’t do anything to even warrant being re-elected when he ran against someone who has turned out to be probably the least effective governor in Georgia history.

This is what we have come to? That proverbial cave I talk about moving to sounds better every day. Of course, the simple thing to do would be to give up on politics. Afterall, one party takes money from my right pocket while the other takes it from my left. In the end, nothing changes.

These are troubling times. Our economy has crumbled (the fault of both major parties, no matter what some talk show host tries to convince you) and will likely only get worse. Yes, these are troubling times and I see no relief in sight.

Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. He can be reached at cbridges@barrowjournal.