The Greatest Gimmick of All

When I used to give my presentations on exercise at libraries, coffee shops, retirement centers, art galleries, class rooms -- and yes, even weight rooms, perceptive people would remark to me, “You’ve got the greatest gimmick of all. There is no gimmick.” It was just the simple and straightforward truth -- which I will be resurrecting as my campaign spiel. It’s very easy to get caught up in all the gimmickry, strategy, fund raising, campaign spending, favorite colors, slogans, lobbyists, image makeovers -- that one can quickly stray far from their original intent and purpose -- and become like everybody else, instead of remaining the great hope for sanity that may have initially excited everyone else about one's candidacy.

I still see that excitement in the faces of those who are surprised that I just walk up to them and tell them I am running for the representative’s position in this district. It reminds me of the excitement people would have in the sixth-grade -- in thinking about their class elections. Unfortunately, people lose that excitement over the years and become very cynical -- not only about politicians, but about everyone in general. Life has been a great betrayal -- that promised to bring so much fun and excitement.

The other day, I ran into a rare person who said he wasn’t going to vote for Lingle again, because “she’s just like all the other politicians.” I quickly surmised that this person didn’t want to hear from me either, as just another politician, and so I was ready to move on when he said, “We need more guys like you in office,” as he clutched my flyer rapaciously.

There’s nothing more interesting happening on the “news” than what one can experience and learn just walking around talking to all the neighbors -- in kind of a spontaneous manner. Being a candidate is a very privileged position in this regard -- that it’s kind of a license to talk to anybody, and nobody will be offended, and many honored that you do choose to talk to them. But mostly, it is what each individual makes of it.

I’ve known what it is like to win a few times -- and also that one doesn’t all the time in life, but in the handling of that, is a victory of a higher sort. I’m not talking about rationalizing losing -- but winning with a higher purpose.

A few people tell me they understand that, but don’t think anybody else can. I’ve heard that despair so often -- as kind of a universal refrain, and wonder what is it that makes people think that others can’t understand what only they can. And that is what gives them the right to tell everybody else what to think -- as if only they knew how to think.

There’s something wrong in our education system if that is what we are conditioned to believe -- that goes far beyond most discussions of why government and society is failing. It is the lack of basic trust -- which may be the great challenge of life in the 21st century and beyond.