America Should Eliminate Partisan Politics

People who know me might say I have a difficult time admitting I don't know the answer. And they'd be right. I've been known to argue with Alex Trebek while watching Jeopardy. I stubbornly refuse to ask for directions when it's clear to everyone but me I'm lost. I've even argued with a person who tried to point out to me that I gave them too much change in a financial transaction. I don't like being wrong and I have a difficult time saying, "I don't know," when someone asks a question.

That's why it's not easy for me to tell the readers of this article, that I just don't understand politics. Oh, I'll be the first person to criticize politicians from any level of government if I think they're doing something stupid, unethical, illegal or just wrong for their constituents, but perhaps my criticism is based on ignorance.

Having spent most of my adult life in an apathetic fog of denial with regard to politics, my ignorance may be justified. Unfortunately, apathy is not synonymous with being brain-dead. I still perused the newspapers, watched the talking heads on the news and paid attention to what was happening in the world around me. Furthermore, I've spent the last four or five years studying to learn the system that legislates our actions, governs our country and represents America to the rest of the world. Without knowledge, how could I possibly criticize and take steps to correct what doesn't seem right with the political process?

The more I learn, the more confused I become by politics. First of all, politicians disgust, insult and embarrass me! They say what the voter wants to hear to get elected, and then immediately start doing whatever they need to in order to gain power, influence and money. Although my optimistic nature forces me to believe there are a few that are in it for the good of the people, recent events seem to indicate differently.