We have promoted the idea as a society that by voting we can get our voice out there.

“Get the vote out.”

“Let yourself be heard. Vote.”

“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”

But, in a virtually two party system, how much of our voting is really about saying something, rather than saying something against something else?

Have you ever stood in the voting booth (or sat at a table) with your ballot thinking, “Is this really what it has come down to? These two are really what I have to choose from to represent me for the next [insert number] years? Is this really the direction my country/state/county/city is going? This is sad.”

Voting shouldn’t ever feel like picking from the last two players for dodgeball (neither of which could move to save his life, let alone throw the ball back to help your team win). A lot of times when voting, it feels like picking between the lesser of two weak players for your dodgeball team.

It hasn’t always been like this – where being a politician can seem like being the target at paintball practice. There have been periods in our history as a nation where politicians have been above reproach (whether deserved or not). But that hasn’t always been the case either. Once more the pendulum has swung to a place where many have found themselves disenchanted with the politicians that represent them – like the way you never can remember what it was that caused you to date (then stay with) your Ex in the first place.

With Presidential, Congressional and other political approval levels that are, let’s face it, abysmal, it can only go up from here, right? I hope so.