Holding our noses, casting our votes

Twenty-six Novembers ago, I used my open campus period to leave school and cast my very first vote.

I hopped into my family's hulking 1981 Bonneville and cruised to the polls, which were set up in the showroom at McLaughlin Brothers Chevrolet out on the highway, about two blocks from the town's only stoplight. The voting booth sat next to a brand new Corvette, or was it a Camaro? My memory has faded some.

It was very exciting, very adult. I thought politics was infinitely fascinating, and couldn't understand why so many people weren't interested. When I was finished, I proudly donned my 'I Voted” sticker, probably on my letter jacket.

So here we are, a quarter-century or so later, watching the most pointless, petty and pessimistic election campaign I can recall. And the thought of skipping the polls has crossed my mind for the first time. I know I'm not alone, and I completely understand.

In the end, I'll show up and vote. It's too important not to. But it's not going to be exciting after a campaign that's been far more childish than adult.

Of course, Iowa's U.S. Senate race is the main attraction in our midterm funhouse, with spending by outside groups on both sides barreling toward $50 million. Bucks spent by those groups solely on negative pitches, TV spots or other efforts opposing either Democrat Bruce Braley or Republican Joni Ernst, have now topped $35 million.

It's been an entire campaign obsessed with who we should loathe, why we should be outraged and what we can no longer accomplish.

We can't suggest ways to rethink or reform Social Security without being carpet-bombed by big money bile. Why try fixing or improving the way our federal government protects the environment, administers education policy or collects taxes when you can simply erase those agencies from existence? Lurking behind the endless drive against the Affordable Care Act is an insistence that we must stop even trying to join together to solve the nation's big, nagging problems. Holding and grabbing political power are far more important. Take two tort reforms and hope for the best.

By the way, our nation's capital is just like a hog lot. Inspiring.

If it were just the Senate race, that would be bad enough. But our misleading, dubious and substance-free politics has soaked in all the way down to state legislative races, where mailings and ads have become more and more shrill, and confusing. Many legislative ads don't even identify the district they're targeting.

What's curious is that, during the course of more than two dozen endorsement interviews, we found the vast majority of candidates up and down the ballot to be thoughtful, caring, forward-thinking people. They were willing to answer all our questions and address many issues. The only candidate who turned down our invitation was Ernst, who also skipped meetings with several other Iowa newspapers.

So, in the end, we endorsed Braley. It was a decision criticized by many, including some who applauded Ernst's decision to pass on our invitation. But in the midst of a campaign that's had so little to offer on issues and solutions, the in-person interview sessions were more vital than ever before. We simply couldn't endorse a candidate that would let a campaign as nasty and superficial as this one speak for itself.

Some folks threatened to cancel their subscriptions. Not really surprising, considering people are defriending each other left and right over this stuff. We've turned politics into dysfunctional sport, led by super fans who have tied up their sense of worth and well-being in who wins and who loses. Outrage has become a top national pastime, right alongside watching other people on TV remodel homes and crash yards. It's kind of like football, without the sportsmanship, helmets or tailgating.

Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing, at any cost. Take the country back! As for losing, that never really happens. It's always somebody else's fault. By the way, I'm pretty sure the media plans to steal this election, too. Can't confirm.

But there are still many of us who care about politics and policy, but aren't quite convinced that the nation will be plunged into a cold, hopeless era of darkness if the candidates we support don't win. We know that more than a few of 2014's electoral conquerors will someday be sitting in a sad, empty 'victory” party, wondering how in blue blazes voters can be so fickle.

And we'd, basically, just like it this to be over. Maybe they'll hand out 'I Survived” stickers this year.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com