Is it almost over?

The more I look at politics today, the sadder I get. And the more worried about this country's (and the world's) future. Where once we tried to elect people who had honor and integrity, those characteristics have become harder to discern in the candidates.

We have sunk into a political environment that is all about winning and not in the least about serving. We once sought representatives of our values, now we seem to seek people who will take revenge against previous administrations. Perhaps that is indicative of our nation's current values.

I give you this:
"“Unless things change and Obama can run on accomplishments, he will have to kill Romney,” said a prominent Democratic strategist aligned with the White House." [emphasis added]

Read more: Article

It seems to me that there was a call to tone down the rhetoric after the Tucson shootings. It seems to me that the call came from the White House, from President Obama. It seems to me that what he might have meant is "you guys on the other side, you need to tone down the rhetoric while my side will continue to escalate it."

I have wondered since I was young why anyone would want to run for president, especially in times of great trouble such as we are now experiencing. Our traditional thought on this has been that the candidates want to turn the country around, to elevate it, to "save" it in its hour of need.

I have, over the past 30 years, rejected that thought. I now think we are not electing "heroes" but "looters." Backed by various interests, the candidate seeks office so that he can loot the treasury and enrich those interests. Maybe the candidate doesn't think that's what he wants to do but sees himself as a potential hero and believes he has the right ideas to right the ship and get her back on course but that he must wallow in the mud to get there.

Could we elect a real hero? Would we tolerate policies that are needed to get our country back on track? Are there any policies that would actually accomplish that?

I am beginning to doubt that. And it worries me.

Some people, many people, say "the system is broken." Maybe, but it is the only one we have. And I fear that any changes to it will only be for the worse. That these changes will grant more power to those who should not have it and not to the people. And I fear the people could not handle the power if they were given more of it. Over the decades, the people have grown more dependent on government, more unwilling to be responsible for themselves. They have lost the pioneer spirit that drove people to abandon the cities of the east in order to make it on their own in an ungoverned wilderness.

The future does not look bright. I hope that this is not the sun setting on the American dream.