Thank God it's Wednesday! The inaptly named "Super Tuesday" is behind us. Why do I feel like I have a chronic hangover? After weeks of basically irrelevant rhetoric, crunching the numbers, mixing the colors of states, the crucifying of each other, the absolute  depravity of the 'other side' that you don't happen to be on, it’s not over yet! It comes from both the candidates and the media, a ridiculous debate on the validity of the need and the boundaries of Women's Health vs. the immoral act of contraception even though 98% of the population practices, or has practiced it, and iced with the debate on the separation of church and state tenets dictated in the papers of our founding fathers. What happened to jobs and the economy? I have no idea what has been happening in the swirl of politics American style. It is embarrassing, downright embarrassing, to me. Why, it's as bad as the structure in this sentence.

So bad that it is now Thursday!  Politics has never been pretty I don't imagine. Continuing the study of history beyond high school taught me that even the founding fathers had some sticky confrontations and personality clashes. All recent eras have had their issues and all campaigns, their nastiness. One can learn a wealth of information simply by reading some good biographies. I acquired a new education reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" about President Lincoln. He served in arguably the most tumultuous period in our relatively short history.

It all pales in comparison to what is going on now. In the 2008 Presidential race, I pretty much reacted to all the issues as they happened. I could manage a blog a week. It was the first campaign I'd taken the time to really get involved and it was vibrant and exciting because so much was happening both economically and historically. It seems this is true again in 2012 with one, in my opinion, colossal distinction. Super PACs that breed disgust for me.  

The corruption is rampant. When a Supreme Court clears the way for limitless millions to be thrown at political campaigns it is no longer a Democracy where rights and policies are determined and sought after. It's an auction to the highest bidder. Here we are as a nation watching millions of people around the entire Globe going without work and food, and yes, birth control while a few corrupt men lie and buy their way in to a role of leadership. What must these same folks think, especially here in America, when they hear how many millions are spent to buy a candidate? It's unbelievable to me.  

Where does all the money go? Are the owners of broadcasting networks and ISP's cleaning up? How can a candidate spend 11 million dollars in a single week of campaigning? I don't even comprehend that! Are they buying airplanes and jet fuel? Buying private pilots? Lining the back pockets of every official in a district? What of the decent candidates who don't have that kind of money? How do they get their voices heard? I'm thinking of people like Buddy Romer.  

When so called adults in the legislative branch behave like spoiled children refusing to get anything solved or accomplished for America because it doesn't serve their own goals and ambitions, we should all consider refusing to go to the polls. I'm again beginning to think that a total boycott of the process is necessary, a refusal to be part of the game. We as a populace, regardless of party, need to demand accountability and equality. It absolutely doesn't matter who wins the election if no one in Washington will work with the victor or embrace the loser. It becomes a battle of revenge at our expense. When are we going to demand term limits?

When women are actually threatened with having their right to choose taken away, it's insulting. When contraception becomes a sinful word, women are relegated to being a breeder or doomed to hellfire and damnation. That's what I think of when I hear contraception is immoral. Are women going to be forced to return to dark allies and disease to obtain family planning and healthcare?  

Will a candidate's religion become the basis for the laws of policy? What will be next? Will President Obama’s equal pay for equal work be recalled? Will women be asked to give up the right to work outside the home? To vote? Are we to be considered an equal partner or accept a Biblical role of submission? We would talk about women's rights and treatment of women in other cultures?  

Oh, that sounds extreme, doesn't it? Is it? Once one takes that first step backward, even one step, a door is tampered with, weakening it. A door closing a room long since fought for and locked. And, we are to blame this on God? I don't think so. That dog simply does not hunt!

On this, International Women's Day, may I beseech you to be very cautious how you vote in November? May I ask you to be positive of WHAT you are voting for not just WHO you are voting for? Listen carefully to the subtle rhetoric and spread you news analysis to more than one channel which only sings to their own choir. Your daughter's and your granddaughter's freedoms may be in the balance. I include fair-minded men in this plea.  

Susan Haley, Author
RAINY DAY PEOPLE – A Novel
FIBERS IN THE WEB
AMBER RETURNS TO MAINE  

**Susan Haley is the published author of three books, several articles on networking, an award-winning poet, and an independent contract editor. She also contributes a column to "The Florida Writer" the official magazine of the Florida Writers Association, of which she is Facilitator for the Sarasota County Chapter. The audio version of her novel "Rainy Day People" was recently awarded runner-up Finalist in the 2008 Indie Excellence National Book Awards. She is a contributor to a variety of editorials and excerpts of her work can be found in various E-zines, newsletters, and local papers. Her work can be sampled on www.sucarha.com