They’re coming, they’re coming — witches
and goblins and ghost and — politicians Oh My!
We
all need to get ready for the busy Halloween weekend coming
up (as soon as that howling wind stops blowing). Trick or
treaters will be at your door begging for candy or any other
favors
they can acquire. According to youngsters I’ve had
the good fortune to interview, Halloween is one of their
favorite
holidays. They spend a lot of time preparing; picking out
or making a costume, carving a pumpkin and deciding just
what
route to trick or treat on. Older kids like to travel in
small groups while the tykes are accompanied by parents or
trusted
guardians.
Halloween
has really changed. In the past, homeowners and business
owners expected property damage especially on Devil’s
Night (the night before Halloween). Over the years, young adults
that were once a problem have grown up and taught their offspring
to respect other’s property. This has resulted in
more fun for everyone on Halloween. Many of those same
young adults
like to dress up with their young children as they go door
to door.
Many
of us visited by those trick or treating enjoy the activities
just as much as the kids who arrive. I know
my wife and I
do! I have to wonder about some of those mom’s though. When
Pat and I were loading a basket with candy at the store this
week, a mother swung by and yelled, “Get a lot, we’ll
be over!” She is a regular and her daughter, Gentry
(remember my photo of Orphan Annie), is a favorite of
ours. We have a
lot of favorites, all of the little ones and some of
the bigger ones too.
Another change in the Halloween festivities is that most parents
have stopped letting the kids wear masks. They paint their
faces instead so they are able to see well. We all know how
excited they get and need to be aware they can dash into the
street without looking, even without the mask, so we must be
alert for them and drive very cautiously.
Halloween
is just two days before the mid-term election, and we can’t
wait for it to be over, (do remember to vote). I do believe
I could wallpaper my office
with all
the expensive,
color, large brochures that have arrived in my mailbox.
Never in the past have as many high-priced ads in
all media forms
been circulated.
A
large number of the ads are paid for by “Political
parties with regulated funds. Not authorized by any candidates
committee.” If these funds are “regulated” as
stated, what are those regulations? If the intent is to draw
support for a particular party or candidate, doesn’t
anyone realize we the voters have had enough of
the libelous pamphlets. Many of us may have been
swayed
if one of
the parties claimed they had donated to the homeless
(instead
of sending
campaign pamphlets). They could have sent this
on a simple postcard to let us know.
As
I see it, more funds have been spent to mail these brochures
this year than in all the past
elections
combined. I know
I received dozens, sometimes two or three a day.
I admit some
are clever and even funny, like the picture of
a cow with a thermometer in its mouth, the bottle
of
medicine
one
and the
one with an adding machine tape that said, “We can’t
afford big spending.” They all however cause me to wonder, “Why
is so much being spent — and who is financing it?” All
but a few of the mailings I received lacked any
statement of a plan to help Michigan move forward.
They simply
tore down
their opponent saying what they had done wrong.
One of the things being attacked is the measure to provide
benefits that was put into place by an opponent. I have not
yet read that those complaining about the benefits have refused
to accept them, or if elected would refuse the benefits that
come with the job.
There
is a very old saying that should be used during political
campaigns, “If you can’t say something nice about
someone, it’s better to say nothing at all.” A
lot of money could be saved on ads and maybe those that have
all that extra money to spend could donate it to the food pantry’s
or homeless shelters. It should be remembered
many of the people who need those services
are also
registered voters.
Now
it’s my turn to be humorous. Soon we will be able
to watch TV without having to watch someone standing by his
John Deere in the same shirt he wore in every ad. Don’t
get too comfortable with your TV viewing though. I just heard
a statement saying politicians will begin campaigning for the
next presidential election the first of the year — OH
NO.