The most disappointed man in congress

Hoity-toity like The New Yorker, we're calling this a drawing. It is not a cartoon. And it is definitely not political. Mel tells me he is just being sympathetic.

No imagination, no third way!

 Late last night. Tomorrow we vote, those of us that haven’t. (Forty-nine percent of eligible North Carolina voters has, an astounding percentage.) And I remain undecided. Selfishly!

     I was going to vote for Mrs. Clinton. I said as much here. But then it seemed my vote my matter; now it doesn’t: as far as I can tell, she has an insurmountable lead in Virginia. And I am thinking I will want to say before too long that, “Well I didn’t vote for her.” So, for whom? Not – definitely not Mr. Trump; but who? We shall see.

Two roads diverged in a yellow mire . . . .

Election Day, early. I wake up wondering, "What if the vote is closer than I think?" I can always say, I suppose, “I knew that was a mistake [voting for Mrs. Clinton] but . . . .” But what?

     I am always and forever criticizing politicians for choosing the lesser of two evils instead of imagining another way forward. Now, I can’t.

Let’s face it, however: We don’t encourage imagination in our politicians. We don’t say to young men and women, “You have a wonderful imagination – you should go into politics.” We look instead for young “leaders” – kids (elementary school kids, adolescents, college-aged) that like to push other kids around, convince them: “This is the right way to do this; it’s the only way really.” Instead of imagination we value ideology – lack of imagination! – and love of influence. And we expect from these “public servants”? It’s completely illogical, to expect the self-serving to be truly interest in serving others.

     In the meantime, today’s choice – if you can’t imagine a third way, dear Tom: between incompetence and division.