A brief non-fannish interlude to talk about the U.S. election season

I have mixed feelings about the political process in general but I hate elections in this country and the bigger they are the more I hate them. I hate the smear campaigns that everyone agrees in hindsight were so much bullshit but still work, I hate how often candidates are less interested in talking about why they're better and more interested in talking about why their opponent is worse, and I hate the ridiculously obscene amounts of money involved. I hate having to choose who makes my gorge rise the least.

I am not unaware that I am fortunate to live somewhere where elections don't routinely involve violence. I exercise my right to vote, though it could be argued that the process has become so distorted that casting a ballot is only a bit of mummery and any genuine rights to choose how I am represented in government were lost long ago. Regardless, no one can say I don't show up.

But it's still disgusting.