I wish people were more True

I’m frustrated.

As the political games start to pick up, you see people do things you wish they wouldn’t do.

There is so much back patting that goes on, it makes me sick.

The powerful lure people in with favors, and the next thing you know, what’s best for Oregon is no longer what’s most important.

Ideology is easily swayed, traded for the next best offer or a sum of cash.

A promise here, a few bucks there, and minds can be converted. 

It’s probably good that I failed at my one run for political office.

In 2008, I ran for Secretary of State in Oregon and did pretty well, or so I’m told.

One thing that disgusted me was the spinelessness of people.

I’d ask a Republican donor for 5k, and he would turn around and give my opponent 5k as well.

They call it “hedging their bets.”

God forbid he give me the entire 10k and get someone in office whose ideology is closer to his than the opponent.

The only way to win an election in Oregon is money, money, money.

And when you split to “hedge your bets,” you’re giving in.

This “Game” is evil, but everyone tells you that’s just how it’s done.

Really, that’s how it’s done.

My question would be, “How’s that working for you all?”

I had one company where one generation gave me 5k, and the younger generation gave the same to my opponent. 

In the end, politics is all about power and money.

I came close in my race, but my opponent out-raised me by almost double. 

Hedging your bets doesn’t seem very effective if you want new leadership in the state. 

Buying people off means you never stand up for what you truly believe, or do you even know?

Lost in the shuffle are the great people of Oregon.

Side deals, special appointments, cushy state jobs, you name it, the sweeter the pot, the bigger the catch, the harder they fall.

Sometimes, when you stay as close to the fire as I try to stay, you see things you wish you could unsee. 

You get burned.

The world and its people will let us down.

We all make trade-offs and cut deals.

It doesn’t make it right, and we should never settle for “that’s just the way it is” because that’s a lie. 

When others do it or when we slip, we must recognize the error, not hold it against them or ourselves, forgive, and move on.

(I have more thoughts on this. We are starting a new community that has a small fee to be involved. Come check us out if you like. https://nas.io/rickdancer/feed/jyph )