It is now going on five years later and we still cannot trust the Administration, press, or the politicians. We hear glowing reports of success; we hear horror stories of abuse and failure. We still hear conflicting conditions that will indicate our success or failure. We hear rumblings of expansion into other confrontations. We hear that we will have orderly withdrawal from Iraq and a return to our endeavors in Afghanistan.

In that article (Feb '04) I pointed out the failure of newspaper headlines, TV and radio news reports, and political stump speeches to truthfully indicate the 'rest of the story'.

We are now in a hotly contested campaign for the privilege to serve as President and Vice President of this great nation. The top spot on the Democrat ticket survived a long and sometimes bitter primary season. Headlines, advertising spots, and stump speeches were often merely cleverly worded chants that obfuscated the past performances, future intentions, and supposedly hidden agenda of the candidates.

The Republican ticket top spot was quietly filled and determined several months earlier than the Dem's. But, they rocked the boat and introduced an unknown surprise candidate for second spot. Since that time we have been inundated with repetitive headlines, excerpts of speeches, dirty laundry, and unbelievable dire warnings from both sides if their candidates are not winners in the quest for the privilege of holding the Chief Executive Office and Commander In Chief designation of our nation. The intensity of this political season is greater than any I recall.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a civil contest and open discussion of where we, as a nation, need to be directing our resources for the next four to eight years? Can't this be done without raking up all the muck from the past? Do we have to destroy the character of the opponents? Do we have to lift from context and even deliberately lie about the other's past performances? None of the contestants are without "sin" in their past and none are innocent of misrepresenting the other's positions or performances.

If history is an indicator, we are destined to fight our political battles over and over in the same manner. Even back to the 'Constitutional Convention' that presented the rule book (Constitution) that would guide our nation in a bold endeavor to establish freedom and equality for all its citizens, we find bitter disputes and accusations of hidden agendas. We read public notices and private communications that were quite short on honesty and relevant past performance. If you study comprehensive and unbiased narration of all Presidential campaigns, that we have had every four years, we find in varying degrees the same shameful antics of the political machines that eventually determined the next President of our nation. Human nature hasn't changed.

Hang in there! We will survive. Don't shirk your duty to ferret out the truth in matters that really matter. Read or listen beyond the flashing headlines and creative slogans that don't really present the whole story. Always remember that your opinions and interpretation, if arrived at through honest and thorough study, are just as valid as mine or anyone else's. That doesn't mean you are right all the time.

But, we won't survive if selfish ego and lust for power dominates. Our system's survival is based on the hopes that the majority will come through with the best persons to fill the legislative and administrative positions in our government. And that they will, in turn, nominate and investigate the persons to fill the positions of Supreme Justices. Our 'Experiment in Democracy' has survived over two hundred years and will continue to survive.

If, that is, the citizens exercise their rights and obligations to pay attention to the needs of all, even all those around the world. If, that is, we realize that we cannot dictate or demand adherence by everybody in our nation or the world to follow our narrowly defined definition of ethics, morality, and system of government.