I am relieved and happy that midterm election season is finally over. Its many “mosts” had started to stress me – “most expensive, most important in our lifetime, most consequential,” etc.

I’ve been voting for almost 50 years, and it seems every election season we hear the same rhetoric, but I’m left with several questions at the end of the day: when are elections not important? Did we elect a politician or a public servant? Trust me, we know there’s a difference.

Further, why in the name of all we hold dear are these folks spending so much money for a job that pays a fraction of what they/we invested into their campaigns? Could it be that influence, power and control are so intoxicating/important that no amount is too much to spend to win?

I understand that comparing the millions of dollars spent on campaigns to the great need for affordable housing, indigent health care, eliminating food insecurity, and feeding hungry children is like comparing apples and watermelons—they’re kin but not quite in the same category.

Nevertheless, it seems a shame to have so many immediate and basic human needs that go unnoticed, undiscussed, unfixed—though I don’t think that’s a word—and unsolved each election cycle while local and national campaigns wallow in spending and spinning.

I’m not asking for a perfect candidate or one with a magic wand—what I’m campaigning for is bi-partisanship, fellowship, and heaven forbid, civility. The Raphael Warnock-Herschel Walker U.S. Senate race ended with a Warnock victory, but I watched in disbelief when many Georgia voters said they didn’t think Mr. Walker was qualified or the best candidate but they were going to vote for him anyway.

They said it was about control of the Senate and one man gently reminded us that “we’ve all made mistakes.” We all have, and as I have said before: if you want your dirty laundry exposed for the world, run for public office.

Thankfully the 67-year-old Cynthia Ann doesn’t think, reason, act or react like the 18-year-old. I’d like to think the foolish stuff I did then provided fodder for the mature, wise woman I call myself today.

One of my favorite T-shirts said, “In order to be old and wise, you must first be young and foolish.” Amen, but with campaigns, they presume we’re the same stupid people we were then, but back to these expensive campaigns and “important” elections.

Three words: moderation, accountability, and integrity—we, the people must insist on them. First, we must continue to monetarily support the candidates we want to elect, and while we can’t tell folks how to spend their money, we can encourage strongly and strongly encourage candidates to spend more advertising dollars with small, women, family, and minority-owned outlets.

I’m suspecting if there’s less/no mudslinging and half-truths presented, fewer dollars would be needed—at least that make sense to me. If that happened, we might attract different candidates–people who want to serve, who’re imperfect but caring, honest, and honorable, and whose integrity doesn’t evolve with the news cycle.

We must thank our public servants who get up every morning, who serve and create legislation that makes us and our lives better. We must listen when they campaign and we, the people, must be accountable and hold them accountable if we want a government that works. Yes, this election and all the ones to come will affect our lives and the generations to come so be informed, interested, and engaged because 2024 is right around the corner, and we, the people, can’t afford not to be.

Looking for inspiration, empowerment, uplift, straight talk, an encouraging word to brighten your day? You’ve arrived! Meet Dr. Cynthia Ann Bond Hopson, best-selling author, educator, inspirational speaker, sistergirl–she’s all that and more. All the way from Stanton, TN (you can’t get there from here) to 50 states, six continents and everything in between, she’s wise, witty and altogether wonderful. She enthusiastically invites you to slow down, sit a spell, and share a giggle or two.