Mark Sharpton: Election season

Well it is time to decide who we want to represent and work for us. Legislative elections are always about policies as the legislature has no everyday task to be done. While what they do is very important; the contact we will have is mainly through a 3rd party.

Once the policies are implemented by the state you will normally deal with other elected or appointed offices such as the Governor, State Auditor & Inspector, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Treasurer, Supt. of Public Education and Attorney General. These offices as well as all county offices have jobs with daily tasks to do. Much of the rest of the state bureaucracy are appointed positions. These state and county officers and the people employed under them is where the rubber meets the road. They implement and carry out most of what the Legislative body has done. I always find it interesting that the State Legislature starts every year with thousands of potential laws and sadly end up with hundreds of unneeded new laws. I always think, are people so messed up that not one year can go by without new rules? Solomon tells us in the Bible ‘there is nothing new under the sun”, however man still wants to be like God.

We can make laws and make bridges and make roads and make buildings, but in the big picture man does not create anything of much value. Now, we can use stuff created to build things, but building is not creating. Man’s nature seems to be quite efficient at tearing up, destroying and ruining everything. It seems anything with a negative we have mastered. I see this especially during campaigning for an elective office, candidates trying to destroy things, progress, and people.

I find it funny every election year some concerned citizen that happens to be running for an office goes to the courthouse for open records on the particular office they seek or to gather information about county employees related to a elected State Official. It always begs me to think where were you two months ago? Are you concerned or are you diabolical? 

After thousands of years it seems mankind hasn’t applied the knowledge and wisdom of Solomon. “I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.”  

No person I know is perfect, we all make errors. But how do we as individuals deal with the errors? Do we help to fix? Do we try to bring together? Or do we become bitter and divisive? It’s much easier to tear down good works and people than it is to help build up. Remember, who steals, kills and divides. So during the election cycle watch the candidates running for office. If the tactic they implement is tearing down and destroying, that is usually what they will do if elected. We must read carefully the information they give out. I always ask are they running for something or against someone. If it’s the latter I will not vote for that person. The assaults to our brothers started with Cain and nothing is new under the sun; they are chasing after the wind.

Thank your for allowing me to represent you.