Mid-term Media Malaise

It's mid-term election time, so I hope nobody calls with an emergency. I've put a pillow over the phone because it keeps ringing. I still hear it but it's not quite as shrill. Nobody leaves messages so I know it's all robo-calls. It's a good bet that most of the incoming calls are related to the election.

I registered to vote as a Democrat. It's not that I'm on-board with their agenda... sometimes yes, sometimes no. It's that... around here, Democrats usually win the elections. At least I get to vote for the lesser of the evils in the primaries.

On average I get 5 emails a day from someone or other in that party. Most emails aren't directly related to candidates or issues on my ballot. They're more about fundraising. If I don't donate, those 'Wascally Wepublicans' will win. Oh noes! They might get us into a war we don't want...

And since we're talking mail, let's not forget snail mail. We're eyeing a new shredder to handle the extra mail we get. I can't believe the volume of campaign brochures and leaflets that we've gotten in the last few weeks.

It's especially amusing to get blitzed with leaflets from a candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club. If the Sierra Club knew how many trees were killed to pester people with all these ads, they might not have been so sure about that endorsemant!

There are people ringing our doorbell too. If anything I said could influence them, I might consider answering the door. Alas, that's not how it works. Their minds are made up, they are out to influence me.

The only thing they want from me is a vote, or to find out how I intend to vote. If it's not for their candidate or cause, their fundraisers will hit me up for more money so they can use it to pester me more. Oh, joy.

It's hard to research issues and candidates with all these interruptions, but it has to be done. Leaflets and flyers are about as informative as bumper stickers. Totally useless. (Though I'll put the really toxic ones near our latest ant infestation...  can't hurt to try).

So, politicians, please stop calling, mailing, and visiting. My time is too valuable to be wasted by you. Trust me, you'll feel the same about me after the election.