Politics 101

"Thinking isn't agreeing or disagreeing. That's voting." Robert frost

My voting decision is based upon thinking, and thinking requires a bit of watching, reading. Learning. A bit of my learning has been watching the theater around our primary process and election season. Editorials, news, conventions, debates all add to my brain's collective narrative of what I want in our president.

I did not watch any of the Republican or Democratic primary debates, but I did watch the keynote
speaker each of the party's conventions. And my household was one of the 80+ million watching Monday's presidential debate. I have already decide who will get my vote, but I wanted to see how each nominee acted, responded, and spoke.

As it turned out, Monday night Galen had to stay up late to complete his homework. I was relaxed, kicked back on the couch as Lester Holt finished the introductions when Galen entered the room. He snuggled up next to me and asked if he could watch. "OK." We sat back and quietly and watched.

In general, whenever the kids are around I don't rail against Mr. Trump or Mrs. Clinton. I don't allude to either being a savior or devil. I believe in civil discourse, a bit of respect. When the kids mention politics, I try to keep them thinking on balanced, open respect of ideas, policies, and people and keep it away from personal attacks.

After the debate's opening segment, Achieving Prosperity - Jobs, I paused the debate and told Galen it was time for him to skedaddle off to bed. He wanted to watch more, but I wouldn't let him. As he stood up and sauntered away I asked him what he thought. His response? " Can't he answer questions? She has answers, he interrupts and can't answer a question. He's a bigger idiot than I thought."

I chuckled inside and admonished him for calling someone an idiot, and sent him off to bed. Then I wondered how this might form his future political outlook. Here we have a major political figure trying to become our leader, the leader of the free word using reprehensible behaviors; calling people names, unsubstantiated insinuations, denying responsibility, telling lies, misogyny, and intimidation. My son is learning that at its core, politics is personal. He is learning that there is a dark side to leadership. He is learning Politics 101.