Pray for change

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

As this is being written the November general election is still days away. As this paper goes to press, the polls are nearly ready to close.

But without knowing the results, one important thing is clear: The elections are finally over. The bombardment of obnoxious television and radio ads, phone calls and direct mail pieces is over. Say a prayer of thanks. Better yet, say two prayers of thanks - morning and evening.

As unpleasant and unrelenting as the electoral onslaught has been, it reminded us that the seemingly never-ending campaign and disparaging ads are part of the price of liberty. Certainly the people who lived behind the Iron Curtain never witnessed this under Communist rule. They not only had one "choice," they were compelled to go to the polls and make it.

Because the election results are unknown as of this writing, it's also impossible to speculate on how much difference it all will make. But it is possible to hope that the election will broaden the process of governing, no matter who wins. The nation would truly be blessed if the party that controls Congress - whichever it may be - realizes that the nation is roughly split 50-50 and therefore govern in a cooperative, bipartisan way.

That could mean that Congress would work for some common ground in solving America's problems or reforming the entire election process to open up the system and encourage people to vote.

Sadly, the chances of that are probably the same as they are of Osama bin Laden's surrendering.

What's most likely to happen is that both parties and a gaggle of candidates will work fulltime to position themselves for the 2008 election when the presidency, all of the U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate will be at stake.

Worse yet, the counting of the ballots will barely be finished before Campaign 2008 comes to a TV near you.

We need to demand better.