Mah Friends, If I'm Elected.........

The Old Man is pretty tired of politics about now. I've been hearing this or that for over two years. Relax, no soap box, as promised. I just think it's a good opportunity to talk about how Election Day was...."way back when".

First of all, folks ran for President beginning in earnest on Labor Day. Parties held their conventions and the candidates began showing up in September. When we finally got TV, news was limited to one 15 minute broadcast every evening. There was no 24 hour anything except night and day. We did not get the opportunity to examine every follicle of a candidate, or every faux paux ever committed. Candidates' personal screw-ups we never heard about. Folks relied on newspapers and other limited media for an explanation of political platforms and positions. Party divisions were very much like they are today; Democrats were perceived as the friends of the working class, and Republicans stood for business. A person's career choice and position heavily colored his or her orientation. Left wing or right wing merely identified where a hunter shot a goose. Given this environment, Presidential candidates could get every promise for "a chicken in every pot" and other magical solutions out there easily before the November election date.

When the big day arrived, qualified voters went into a booth and marked their ballots. No machines, no levers, no touch screens, and no chads, hanging or otherwise. To be qualified, a voter had to prove literacy. You had to be able to read and write. Somewhere along the way, we've lost that. I'm still not sure why it could be deemed unconstitutional or discriminatory to require a person to be able to read in order to understand enough about the issues to be a cognizant and informed voter.

There was, however, what was called a Poll Tax. It was a nominal figure.....I think I remember my dad mentioning $1.50. That went away as well, and for, I believe, good reason. Our country should not make a citizen pay for the right to vote. At least one change was for the better.

There was no early voting. You stood in line on Election Day and waited your turn. Liquor stores were closed.....a holdover from the early days where political entities would "lather up voters" in bars and alley-ways and then attempt to sway their vote.

After the polls closed, the town gathered in front of the court house where results were announced over a PA system as they were counted and as they were received from state headquarters by telephone. Later, when televisions began making their appearance, we gathered in front of the furniture store window to watch election returns come through the "snow"of an early black & white set with a 13 inch screen. The picture would distort occasionally and someone would always say, "Must be an airplane going over" or "It's coming in pretty good tonight".

We've come a long way with many changes in how we handle this most fundamental tenet of Democracy. But we are still privileged to live in the greatest country on earth, and if I thought it would have an impact, I'd have voted for Lee Greenwood.

I'm the Old Man and I approved this message.