You will be hearing more about the concept “pre-emption.” This is lawyer speak for the conservative notion that you don’t know enough. There are areas of knowledge that can only be understood by experts, that what they say pre-empts, has higher overriding value, to what you say. This will hold even though the “contract” is written in English meant for you to understand, and that you are expected to abide by. You will be held to their interpretation, but you can’t hold them to your interpretation. Your interpretation is determined by the government agency, and only a government agency.

This is another reminder that the Supreme Court is your most valuable government possession. Despair not aspiring revolutionaries, check the constitution for the makeup of the Court. See the hole?

This is year is different. Look at the calendar. See the big number has changed, but not the small ones. They never change. The defect of politics is that it always turns into “petty-ticks.” The small mannered, the foppish fools, these become what we turn toward. Easier to understand, but also easier to reject.

For decades I have hoped that the campaigns would turn the nation to significant questions, perhaps to opening our better shelf. To releasing it by raising it. It never happens. It is impossible to get past our errors, not even to share our dreams. Besting is easier than bettering. In the sea of politics one-upmanship triumphs. No hand up, not even for all the hands on deck.

Early this year I had hopes. Not now. Instead of doing something significant with the campaign. Instead of turning our attention forward, we are turned to the worthless.

Campaigns miss the mission we set for our politicians, yet illustrate what the candidates want most, election. No candidate is using their vast sums of contributions, contributers and committed to solve problems. Millions a month is being spent on ads to denounce or to announce. They could be doing, solving, organizing past the elections. They could be working now on problems that matter to them and by doing that, demonstrate why they were worth our vote.

While you have the people, while you have the spotlight, do some good, instead of going to diner after diner. Instead of shaking hands, smiling for the camera, telling me what you will do from the Oval Office, pick up a shovel, you’ll pick up my vote. Stop complaining, explaining. Stop campaigning, do some good. Use this as an opportunity, not a photo-opp.