It’s become an arduous task.

Between RFK Jr’s defiance of mainstream declarations and Donald Trump’s bombast to Kamala Harris’ social storm, we relatively quiet occasionally raging Independents now find ourselves at once suddenly called up. Our orders? Deciding the upcoming Presidential election. Yep. Apparently, as the pundits’ chorus — it’s up to us.

For this writer, joining the Independents was less about seeking a third party candidate and far more about stepping away from party platform entirely to focus on what, in politics, appears to have become a largely disregarded commodity: independent thought. Indeed, if that purported gut-brain connection really is valid, I’ve been feeling a serious rumbling in my stomach.

Our task is a step beyond. In order to remain true to our resolve, we must hear all sides.

But, increasingly, reality has taken on a cubist’s dilemma.

And, it all pivots on the axis of truth.

According to the history of visual art, cubism represented a departure from natural reality in favor of fragmentation on a 2 dimensional plane. Aspects of what was seen underwent a deconstruction across every angle, contour, and texture typically observed in nature, resulting in a visual representation comprised of a juxtaposition of abstracted parts rather than any notion of a coherent whole.

Feeling at all familiar? Or should I say, “get the picture”?

Listening to and watching the recent debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, what I took from their discourse which made the deepest impression was this: neither candidate had a corner on the truth. Moreover, each repeatedly accused the other of multiple, outright lies. And, they voiced this mantra so many times I was left completely adrift.

Yes. We now live in a society which must employ Fact Checkers in order to verify what those in power bring to the podium. And, word has it, depending on which side of the alleged truth one falls, said arbiters are either reliable or full of the steaming excrement. In short, we have no oracle. At all.

So, with what are we left?

Promises. Good, old fashioned sales pitches. The platform of The Campaign.

As if this were easy, just let me lay out any number of these:

Immigration, and the southern border. The national economy, no mind the world. Foreign relations, wars, and rumors thereof. The family, child care, women’s care, senior care, health and wellness. Education, from early childhood through institutional academics and life long learning. Employment, work, entrepreneurialship, productivity, ingenuity. Transportation, highway infrastructure, vehicle mobility, and commerce. Public safety and management of public health. Creativity, artistic expression, organized religious freedom, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

When I consider every policy point as outlined above within the context of the Presidential platforms, I cannot choose one candidate over the other. Each alleges to commit to plans which appeal to my needs and beliefs. Neither one represents them in totality.

Therefore, I must consider which among these alleged promises are of greatest importance. Importance, that is, to the good of all. The majority. The greatest number of human citizens of our nation. Oh, and, finally, how each will impact my life personally, without either threat to stability or sustenance.

Used to be, in the days when Americans actually read a newspaper which brought them facts upon which they could rely, actually listened to news broadcasts which provided the aural equivalent, and then sat at what used to be called the dinner table with the members of their families and discussed in real time (as opposed to later, via text or voicemail) their independent and collective conclusions, one could seriously consider all points as outlined and prepare to make a concrete choice at the voting booth.

Somehow, I am overwhelmed by the notion that I must create a cubist’s rendering of reality in November. And, I am not at all sure I have either the knowledge or skill to pull off the painting.

And, that’s the best I can make of the independent truth.

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Copyright 9/15/24 Ruth Ann Scanzillo. All rights those of the author, whose name appears above this line. No copying, in whole or part including via translation, permitted without direct reference to the site of origination, littlebarefeetblog.com Thank you for being the honorable person.

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