This month, I'm taking time to goof off a little.

Why?

There's so many other important things that need my attention.

First, there's the election. It's time to get out and vote. The biggest time sponge there is trying to figure out the best choice among three poor choices.

Do you question my slant? No problem. However, in my humble opinion, not one of the candidates come up to snuff. If you believe what they are saying about each other, they all belong in jail and not on the ballot. This is the dirtiest election that I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few during my 89 years on the job.

On the other hand, part of the problem comes down to us voters. Whenever one candidate makes outrageous statements about the others, that scum bag's ratings go up in the polls. The biggest problem comes down to sifting out the truth from the lies and half truths.

Candidates seem to be ignoring the half truths spread by their opposition -- instead of refuting them. Why? The answer to the problem also seems to come down to the polls. When they try to refute the lies of others, their own ratings must suffer. Otherwise, they would put the liars on the defensive.

So much for my ranting and raving. I guess we need to make it the law that all candidates pass a polygraph test whenever they make outrageous claims. Then, the results should be publicized even more than the lies.

The biggest problem with this solution is that the media would balk. Outrageous lies sell lots of newspapers and TV time.

Is there any way out of this mess?

Would it help to have the public pay for all of the political campains?

What are your suggestions? After all, something has to be done or the entire system will get flushed down the sewer.

That's my opinion. What's yours?

Hank Lefevre