Trash (Talk)

This election season has generated more trash than any in recent history. Disagreements and debates are what make our country stronger and the electorate better informed. That is both the challenge and fun of politics. The trash I am referring to is the behavior of grown men with middle school boy mentalities.

Regardless of where you get your news, there is near consensus that this trash, this new low, has come from the Republican Presidential candidates. The narcissistic front runner's use of foul language makes me glad I no longer have young children. Unfortunately, his lack of decorum includes his concern with the size of his various body parts, which he has assured us are just fine. Phew, what a relief.

This front runner (I refuse to use his name) would be bad enough, but his fellow candidates (with one exception) take the bait every single time. They, too, talk about size. They feel the need to prove they are not low energy. They call him names in response to his personal attacks. Are you freakin’ kidding me?

All of this trash is unrelated to what really matters. None of these Republican candidates (with the one exception), all of whom have shown their immaturity, poor reactivity, insecurity, or blatant narcissism, should be in charge of our complex and diverse country. There is conservatism, there is politics, and then there is trash.

As President Andrew Shepherd said in The American President: “This is a time for serious people.” We have extreme income inequality, corrupt campaign financing, pervasive racism and other forms of bigotry, restricted access to women’s healthcare, terrorism, wars, veterans care, climate change, and the abuse of billions of animals. These issues cannot be measured in inches; they are way too big.

I am tired of the trash. More importantly, I am fearful of what will happen to us, our children, and our planet if one of these trash slinging boys is elected to the highest office in the land. Please join me in voting for an adult in both age and behavior. No measuring tape required.