I have a feeling that, over the last month, the political rhetoric in your locale pretty much matched that we experienced here in Arizona – attack, slander, and pure vitriol. None of that leads to a true discussion of facts, issues, or merits. Case in point: We had a proposition here that was advertised as “Save your secret ballot”. Ads touted that the secret ballot was a constitutional right and that the passing of this proposition was needed to ensure our right to a secret ballot was maintained. The proposition passed with 70% in favor. 

As I write this, it is early morning (7:30 is early morning when you’re on vacation, right?) and I am sitting on the balcony of a hotel in Monterery, California. (Before you get too jealous, it is the second floor of a hotel that apparently lost its affiliation with Quality Inn, it is 65 degrees outside, and, while to the north I can actually see a miniscule piece of Monterey Bay and a little sliver of each wave that comes in, the primary view is the back of a grey clapboard office building that includes one empty room with a single light bulb which burns all night. And the wind is starting to pick up. Then again, go ahead and be a little jealous.)