Each voter picks a candidate; either by habit, party affiliation, or chance. We read everything we can that solidifies our belief. Negative stories are discounted as biased media or dirty campaigning by the opposition.

A firm decision is reached, and our position becomes the only acceptable way of thinking. We do the same with religious beliefs, lifestyles, and football teams. Anyone who disagrees is hopelessly stupid or a threat to our way of life. Then it gets nasty.

I've had my patriotism questioned for calling McCain an old coot. A friend of more than 20 years banished me from his email and his life because I poked fun at his chosen candidate. I had a reader categorize me as some Yankee liberal panty waist because I questioned the decisions his candidate was making. How many friends have you lost during this campaign?

For as long as I've been alive, we have been having elections. Democrats and Republicans have been involved in each of those. I have yet to be able to distinguish between the two where performance is concerned. No matter who wins, the country chugs along without much turmoil. When the other side takes over, nothing changes. It makes no difference who is running the show; America seldom varies from its steady, ordinary course.

Government in this country is much like taking a five star recipe, buying first class ingredients, then sending it to McDonalds for preparation. It comes out as a bland hamburger no matter what, except it costs 20,000 dollars. Nothing moves without compromise, and the compromise is rarely positive. The end result seldom resembles the original idea.

Yet, we act like the survival of life as we know it is at stake each election. Can anyone give me an example of a president of either party who made great strides to improve things or messed it up so bad we were in danger of collapsing? I know we are in terrible shape now. But we aren't going to fall apart. And neither current candidate is capable of dynamic actions to reverse things.

Both major parties are trying to stay employed and the easiest way to do that is to have voters fight among themselves and cater to corporations and PACs with lots of money. Politicians do things for General Motors and Exxon, trial lawyers, and health insurance companies. All the legislation they work on is designed to please the folks who fund their re- election war chests. They don't do anything for average voters except by accident.

Elections are a whole lot like professional wrestling. Everything is scripted. Both sides know what the other will do. We get all fired up, but in the end nothing changes, no matter which side is victorious. The combatants walk away arm in arm and make fun of our naiveté.

So participate in the process. Pick your guy and support him. Enjoy the theatre and participate in the process. Just don't take it as life or death; it certainly isn't. Quit fighting with friends over political beliefs; it's not worth it. And please stop calling me names. I'm having a tough autumn and don't need my feelings hurt any more.