I’d like to thank the Supreme Court of the United States for taking something one couldn’t imagine being more distasteful and making it more so.  I really didn’t think that election season could become any more ghastly than it already was, but here we are on Election Day and it seems that goal has indeed been achieved.  I blame the Supreme Court because it is they that lifted restrictions on corporate donations to political campaigns.

Maybe it has been just as bad every election year and I’ve just blotted it out, but it seems worse to me than ever this year.  Ad after ad after ad I see, most of them not advocating a candidate or issue but rather blasting the opposing person or view.  Then you get the response ad calling the other campaign a bunch of liars for what they just said.  The only truth I find in this onslaught is that one that many of us seem to instinctively feel, that all politicians are indeed unpalatable. 

Candidate A, you’re right; your opponent is in bed with the special interests and “Wrong For Iowa.”  And Candidate B, you’re also right; your opponent is inexperienced and has crazy ideas and is “Wrong For Iowa.”  I loathe the both of you.  Are you happy now?

The Supreme Court decision in question was a terrible one if for no other reason than the fact that the last thing the political process needs more of is money.  Too much money already is involved in electing our officials and once they’re in the club reelecting them.  If anything, there should be limits on what can be spent.  This decision only exacerbates an already out of control problem.

Of course, it’s not like it gets a whole lot better if someone isn’t paying for ads.  I watched a little of one of the Iowa gubernatorial debates and it just made me want to stay home on Election Day.  When two grown men can’t follow a simple instruction from a moderator like “provide me a yes or no, or at most a one sentence answer to the following questions,” and instead launch long-winded responses that quickly veer off topic to find an opportunity to bash the other guy (and they both did it), what is an undecided voter to think?  They’re both repulsive is what this undecided voter tends to think.

Today I went to the polls and I voted because I believe that despite the distasteful nature of the process leading up to Election Day, it is my responsibility as a citizen to be a part of the process.  There are those that would say that if you don’t vote you can’t complain, and I tend to agree with that.  I just wish I had more to feel good about while I’m filling in my Scantron card.