Dear Editor:
The gloves have been off now since the last presidential debate. All that bounces off the ropes now is negative punches and swift ideological uppercuts to the opponents base. The independents, undecideds seem to be quickly swaying toward indifferent and are watching from the cheap seats with, by now, a yawning unction to be born into a blooming interest, awareness, for either candidate in a race that has turned into a marathon of who can eat more mud pies and wipe his face faster, than the other guy.
No interest is yet forthcoming from the indifferent.
Historically the U.S. electorate has always had a long conversation in a war-time presidential election. This is basically because of security concerns. People need to feel safe. The other issues that order the terrorism cause are more pronounced in the minds of the candidates than the public (don’t you wish they’d share.) This is everywhere evident in the obfuscation of oblique prescriptions of promises in health care, social security, the economy and social issues that still remain brain-teasers in lunch rooms and work places all over the nation. The plans, policies and promises at this point add up to a conundrum of puzzles – pick one end of the string and pull – and you’ll probably still not get to the ball of wax by 11/2.
But by now if you haven’t decided on who to vote for you are in the undecided column and probably are not able to get to the election polls without an adult holding your hand, or without being hit by a car.
The point is, that with two weeks before the election, the time for issues has long receded into the political landscape, behind the smoke now is more smoke – we had hoped the bleak black vapor would get clearer as November approached, but, nope, it seems that every time they open their mouth the air in the room gets sucked out. John Amato