While we all anxiously await our state-issued ponies, rainbows, electric cars and mandatory abortions, I wanted to take just a moment to clarify my earlier post. It’s come to my attention that some mistook what I said for a weariness from finger-pointing. While I think we’re all weary of political finger pointing or any other kind of finger pointing for that matter (because, let’s face it, pointing is just plain rude. unless you’re talking about those “I’m with Stupid” shirts, then I’ll let it slide.), my frustration and fed-up-edness is more rooted in the extreme polarization of national and global politics and the prevailing attitudes and approaches that otherwise sane people tend to latch onto when discussing personal opinions and public policy. Sure, partisanship is nothing new and politics is sometimes an ugly business … has this changed over time? Probably not. Am I being naive to think that there could be a better way to think about such things? Perhaps, yet I don’t believe naivete equals cluelessness, but perhaps more aptly described as idealistic. In the end, I’m not sure that clinging to strictly drawn lines gets us anywhere fun, no matter what positions you hold. Just as many deride the concepts of nationalism, fanatic religious beliefs or even plain stubbornness, I’m not sure why there’s not a bigger effort to decry the poisonous and obnoxious rhetoric and behaviors that seem to be reinforced each election season. Maybe that’s just the way things are, a pack mentality of sorts … a “I only want to really listen to you if you tell me what I want to hear” approach. My way or the highway, sister. Well, the highway isn’t so bad, is it? (Unless you’re talking about I-95, then … ouch.) Ah … I could go on but I won’t lest you think you’ve stumbled onto the wrong page. And besides, I have to get back to reality and post the latest on the country’s real hot election, Dancing with the Stars.