This presidential election campaign has been a circus, making it even more clear that we keep our important decisions close to us.
The next President of the United States will not be announced for over 400 days. That date is not closer than it appears. It looms off in the distance, with countless possibilities of candidates between then and now. Yet, the race to the Oval Office has already grown to gaudy heights of inescapable commentary and political mudslinging — all for the sake of freedom and liberty, of course.
However, should it not be our freedom and liberty to make decisions, such as casting a simple vote, without “larger than life” influences every step of the way?
As a nation, we can look back not even a century ago to great leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt. And further back still, to the reverence held by generation-after-generation for men such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, that has not diminished in the slightest.
But glance around at the circus surrounding us that calls itself politics — clarity unveils: the current ringmaster’s most redeemable quality is the boom of his voice, but fear this for the voice his boom represents is only his own; the amazing inked woman’s timelessness is solely tied to the indelible ink covering every inch, and only backstage is it all wiped away; more than half the animals will be gone before years end because circus life moves on, acts are flexible and the crowd one night means nothing the next. The big top can stake down wherever — when did politics become such a joke?
The “in your face” nature of this political circus we call part of the democratic system has created an atmosphere of smoke and mirrors for every citizen that steps up to booth next year. Now, to be fair, life in general has taken on this tendency of not letting anyone decide for themselves without some outside influence. Social media and the constant buzz tells us what to think and how to be. Today, a stranger on the street has the audacity to inform you of whether you have been successful in life or if the profession you are pursuing is the “right one.”
Wouldn’t it be glorious to turn off social media, tell that stranger to ‘f--k off’ and settle back into making decisions for yourself without any unwanted influence?
To make the best decision based on what is truly right for you, that is exactly what must happen. The only way to combat the constant feed of life today, including the 2016 presidential candidates who should be earning our respect with representation instead of putting on a show, is to step back, consider your values and goals, weigh your options and then decide — for you. That is the freedom and liberty we deserve.
Anna Ayers is a freshman studying journalism and finance. What do you think of this campaign trail? Email her aa183414@ohio.edu.
