It’s Like a Marathon Nobody Wants to Run

4-22-2023

It’s Like a Marathon Nobody Wants to Run

Have you ever run a marathon or a distance race? Anybody can enter but only those who have been in training will finish. Usually there is a hefty registration fee to insure only serious athletes are go onto the track.

Once the race is about to start you can see the excitement and anticipation in the eyes of each runner. They have their assigned number pinned to their shirts. Because it’s a distance race of 10, 20 or more miles (or kilometers) there are no lanes to stay in. Everyone is chomping at the bit (as we used to say).

The Starter pistol fires and they’re off.

Immediately the eager beavers begin jockeying into position. A couple of early birds move out away from the crowd taking an early lead.

The route is clearly marked and this race will take more than 10 hours to complete. There are water stations along the way and checkers will mark off as runners come in or pass by. Medical first aid personnel are stationed at various points along the way, to render aid for sprained ankles and minor scrapes and bruises, more serious injuries may require transport to a local hospital.

Soon the crowd favorites and more experienced runners come in and get their water or Gatorade and quickly move back among the runners.  It’s not long before the speed demons are being passed as they have stopped running or are walking along the side.

I once ran a 10 kilometer race and gave it my all. I was probably about the 2 kilometer mark and felt entirely spent as an older grandma and grandson duo ran past me as if I was standing still. That’s when I decided that distance running was not for me. I did finish the race, but well after most of the other runners had left the field.

As runners come into view and prepare to cross the finish line, it’s obvious that the winner will be a crowd favorite who has run and won many marathons before. The crowd cheers as the winner, followed by two more favorites cross the finish line after running more than 10 hours. They look exhausted, but proud of their accomplishments and watch as other runners cross the finish line. Running a marathon is not for the faint of heart, as shown on the faces of those who just didn’t have what it took to finish the race.

That’s why I say that politics is like running a marathon. Anybody can run, and almost everybody does, if not for the wrong reasons. Career politicians run because they can. Voters vote for them because they’re still running for reelection or for a higher office, but in many cases not because of the track record of the office they hold/held.

Those new to politics may look good on the outside, talk a good talk on the campaign trail, but not have a clue as to how they will execute the office they are running for. Some are obviously there for the publicity. They want their name linked to their main political opponent. Someone who win or lose ran against them. Still others run for political office for power and prestige and the opportunity to make a killing financially. They are in it for themselves and it shows.

Winning a political race isn’t always sunshine and roses afterwards. I’ve heard of politicians going into it with all good intentions, but finding out that it’s sit down and shut up and learn what it’s really all about. They are stifled politically and quite often are unable to do what they promised their constituents. They end up leaving at the end of their term and never running for political office again.

There are a few exceptions where non-politicians win their political race and go into what appears to be a minefield with booby traps, trip flares and ambushes in virtual kill zones. It’s either sink or swim

Only the very dedicated can navigate the political chaff while staying focused on honoring their campaign promises. They do not let the target on their back sway them to the left or to the right. They accomplish what they said they would and do it with a smile. They are despised by their political rivals who are very good at Sunday quarterbacking all of their decisions, but haven’t a clue how to do even simple tasks on their own.

Anybody can run for political office, providing they meet the requirements outlined in the US Constitution. However not everybody who meets those requirements should ever attempt to run for political office. There are those who are successful in the business world and those who are successful in politics, but few have ever been successful in both. Politics tends to taint the goods of a great many do gooders and provoke jealousy and resentment in an attempt to prevent political success.

A few years ago I submitted my resume for an at large county commissioner position. I met the qualifications and decided to give it a shot. The day of the scheduled interview I was the last one on the calendar. When I went in front of the board of commissioners I could sense that a decision had been made already and mine was just for protocol. Several of those on the board have gone on to seek higher level political offices. For me it wasn’t about politics, it was about patriotism.

There are patriots who love their country and there are politicians who love what they can get from their country.

JFK said it best “Do not ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!”

DJT said “The best is yet to come. We will make America great again.”

What do you say? – RTM