Is it Nov. 4 yet? What about now? | Opinion
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Eddie Adelman is a writer who lives in Belfast. His book of columns and short essays is titled “Don’t Get Me Started.”
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got Wednesday, Nov. 4, circled on my calendar. That’s the day after Election Day, when all the political ads expire, the lawn signs begin to come down and the robocalls cease and desist. And let’s not forget the political junk mail.
I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. As a proud independent, you could say I’m an equal opportunity skewer.
But before I do any skewering, let me say how blessed I am to live in a country where I can write a piece like this without fear of being abducted from my home in the middle of the night and imprisoned, tortured or killed.
For the brave citizens in places like Russia, North Korea and Iran willing to risk everything standing up to tyranny, I can only bow my head in humility and utter veneration.
And with that, back to the skewering. As far as I can tell, the No. 1 goal of every elected official is simple: Get reelected at all costs.
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Power is intoxicating, as the senators in ancient Rome knew all too well while they luxuriated in their executive bath houses. Nowadays, getting reelected is a full-time job. There’s always a new gunslinger ready and willing to face off in the middle of town. And let’s face it, we all love a “Gunsmoke” moment.
Sadly, it’s the moments leading up to that face-off that cause trouble.
Let’s start with political advertising. It’s been estimated that the total cost for the 2024 presidential and congressional election campaigns was about $16 billion. Sixteen billion dollars. And that doesn’t even take into account the cost of local and state elections.
Who knows what the total price tag will be for the 2026 campaigns?
Think about how much low-income housing all this money could buy. In a single election cycle, we could take a significant bite out of the homeless crisis here in America.
Of all the billions of dollars raised and spent, a sizable chunk will be spent on TV ads.
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If I’m not mistaken, there was a time when TV ads didn’t mention the competition. Tide never mentioned Cheer. Ford never mentioned Chevy. Pepsi never mentioned Coke.
I believe the same was true for political ads. We were content to see the candidates posing in the backyard with his or her family in front of a swing set, surrounded by impossibly cute kids and stout, hard-working immigrant parents. Kiss those days goodbye.
Nowadays, candidates take turns disparaging, even demonizing, their opponents. Not only do these ads cancel each other out, but they ruin the TV watching experience. It’s enough to drive the average citizen to pick up a book.
And political junk mail? Please. Has anyone ever read one of those mailings and thought, “That does it. I’m changing my vote.” Hello, recycling bin.
Road signs. Lawn signs. Hats. T-shirts. Bumper stickers. Don’t get me started. Election Day is just around the corner. And as far as I’m concerned, it can’t get here soon enough.
I’m Eddie Adelman and I approved this column.
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Tagged: columns, election 2026
