Newmann: The long and windy road
The political campaigns have been ramping up for what seems like forever.
And now we’re finally entering the wind down phase.
These past few months have been — in any way, shape or form — pretty intense. Fortunately, there’s been very little, if any, vitriol between the candidates in our neck of the woods. Just wish the rest of the country had been so fortunate. Civility has not been a long suit in many other realms.
It’ll be terrific to see the end of the campaign ads, the 24-hour election news cycles and the general speculation as to who’s leading who — and where and why they’re leading. And then watch it all seemingly change in an instant. One can only take in so much breaking news that seems to continually repeat itself and, in the process, drives you to the breaking point.
One of the major highlights when the polls close will be the disappearance of all the different campaign yard signs. They’re ubiquitous during these events, and while we respect the hopes and desires of the folks who plant them on their lawns, it will be great to once again see their unadorned yards.
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Folks can go back to talking about the more mundane aspects of life (weather is always a great starter but sports also works) and may not have to be as guarded about what they say or who they say it to. And, who knows, there may even be a return to some humorous banter that actually has no political implications.
Mailboxes will finally contain just regular mail (with, of course, the normal amount of junk) and will not be crammed full of political literature (literature being a polite way of describing most of the missives that show up). The saving grace in that over-crammed mailbox this election cycle was the scholarly blue pamphlet, the “2024 State Ballot Information Booklet,” which provides details and analyses of ballot measures and judicial performance evaluations. It’s a must-see for getting unbiased and pertinent facts for one’s reference. A bit ponderous to wade through … but totally worth the effort.
The length and breadth of the election process seems to go on. And on. And, as it does, it becomes more and more contentious and wearing. Perhaps a solution — and a reprieve — would be to adopt a shorter campaign season. Six weeks? Two months?
Many other countries have a much shorter runup to their elections — and it seems to work. Japan has about two weeks. India is around a month as is the United Kingdom. Australia is about 40 days and Canada around 80. Ours seems to start almost two years before the big event.
With a shortened time to campaign, candidates would have less chance to repeat themselves continuously — and monotonously — for months. We’d only have to listen to them for weeks, which would still give them more than ample time to make their pitches.
Massive amounts of money could also be saved by shortening campaigns. The cost of the 2024 election for president and Congressional representatives is estimated to be almost $16 billion. Quite a hefty price tag. Have to wonder if there might be more constructive uses for those funds.
But, fortunately, the end of this year’s election cycle is (we hope) in sight.
Probably not a moment too soon.
Tom Newmann splits his time between Edwards and Queenstown, New Zealand. He has been going winter-to-winter since 1986. He was also a journalist in Missoula, Montana, at the Missoulian for quite a few years. Email him at tsnnz12@gmail.com.
