They're really difficult to avoid these days...

   Whether it's the peanut butter aisle in the local grocery store, the pain reliever display at Rite Aid or the morning coffee line at Dunkin Donuts, it's almost impossible not to hear a discussion about this year's Presidential campaign. If it's not about the latest outrageous comments from one, or for that matter, all of the candidates, who landed the most punches between protester at the most recent political rally, or who has told the most lies according to “fact check,” this year's campaign has certainly attracted national attention. And while standing in the checkout line at Walmart, sitting at the counter at the local coffee shop or walking the dog on a bright sunny morning, it is even more of a challenge not to share at least a personal comment or two. It has become really hard to “just keep your mouth shut!”

   I must say  the media has done a fantastic job of making the names of Trump or Clinton, Rubio or Cruz household words. Has there been any nightly news in the past 6 months where the lead story has not been about the campaign? And  the names of all those other candidates who dropped out early in the race? The debate stages seemed so full just a few months ago. But so soon we forget.

   At a recent Sunday morning antique auction, when most of us probably should have been at church, a heated discussion broke out among people who I had thought were friends. Voices were raised, obscene words were tossed back and forth and if it had not been for the fact that Danny began to auction off a very early three foot carved wooden eagle, who knows what might have happened? Did I really want to stick around when the auction moved inside, when the rifles and firearms were brought up to sell?

   On the one hand, it's nice to see so much interest in the election and the democratic process. But, on the other, I am not sure this is what the founding fathers' had envisioned. I am sure that back in the day there were many heated and contentious elections and political sparring. In fact, if I am not mistaken, do the names Hamilton and Burr and a duel in Northern New Jersey ring a bell? Go ahead. Take a shot!

   I have yet to decide who I may vote for and it drives the pollsters who keep calling the house crazy. But what I question as I consider my choice is whether I am voting for a candidate or is my vote actually a vote against the other candidate, a lesser of two evils so to speak. There are still 239 days until election day 2016. I still have time to decide. Until then I think I'll try to avoid any of those heated debates, especially at the auction.
   But, regardless of what I personally decide and how I am going to vote, this election and the final outcome may take its' place in the history books as one of the more "interesting" displays of American democracy, and I am already looking forward to the 2020 election!