But HOW will you do that, Mr. Politician?

My sister ran for lieutenant governor of Iowa recently. This amazed me, since I was of the opinion that no one in their right mind would ever enter a political race. Andy is most definitely in her right mind. It changed the way I look at politics.

I think that every candidate has great plans for the problems we face. Problem is, they aren't allowed to talk about them.

During the debate tonight, I found myself wondering HOW the candidates would accomplish their goals. I mean, we all want lower taxes. We all want a solution to the war in Iraq. We all want a strong economy and healthy schools. The question is HOW? And no politican answers that question.

You see, if you don't give specifics, there is nothing to seriously question. "I believe in apple pie, the American flag, and mothers." What does that even mean? Are the candidates standing up and saying, "Vote for me! I'm a good guy/gal?"

In our school board election, we have a late entrant who is endorsed by many teachers, many parents, and who, I hear, didn't really want the job. A committee went to him and persuaded him to run. He isn't a politician, much like my sister is not a politician. The rules for politicos are strict. Keep it short and general. Sound bites work best. My father said once that anyone who wanted to run for office shouldn't be allowed to do so.

I used to heartily believe that.

Until my wonderful, energetic, and caring sister ran for office. I know that she would have made a great lieutenant governor, and I know there are other candidates who are just as great. I just wish they would let us see more of the how, and not just give us sound bites and generalities.

Sandy, what a great post.

My sister ran for city council in St. Paul quite a few years ago. She was intelligent, hard working, dedicated to helping out and to getting some new policies in place.

That made her a politician, in my opinion. There isn’t any thing wrong with being a politician. Most of them are terrific, talented people who really care about the issues just as teachers or doctors or carpenters are good people. There are a few exceptions, and we hear about them more than the rest, just like everything else.

Being in the spot light can change you. It can make you cautious because your every sentence can be taken out of context, a la John Kerry recently. Being specific about issues is what, I believe, most politicians want to do, but their opponents or interest groups will likely seize on this and attack them unmercifully.

Our system of election by fire is not the best. People in some developed countries think we are barbarians to do it the way we do with the big showy conventions and one litmus test after another.

But I admire those who are willing to under go this test like my sister and yours.