All these discussions about Kerry & Shrub vacillating their positions on the issues and their political records prompted this post.  Reading everyone's posts about how the candidate they're not supporting wavers or has wavered on various issues does make for entertaining reading.  Trying to one-up the other is part of the fun.

But realistically, shouldn't we all expect this behavior from political candidates?  After all, they are politicians. 99% of ALL politicans say what they think their constituency WANTS to hear.  In all honesty, I don't really believe many of our elected political representatives actually vote on issues the way their constituency wants, anyway.  Most of them will vote on an issue based on their own personal views on it and not the views of the people they represent, especially if the views are in conflict with each other.  I have very rarely received anything from my senators or representatives (in Congress or my state legislature) asking for my views on particular issues.  It has been years since I've even received a survey in the mail.

There is so much negative connotation associated with "flip-flopping".  Granted, the vast majority of time, it doesn't reflect well on the person doing it.  However, everyone changes his/her mind on something in their lives.  For example, how many of you have changed your minds about your spouse or significant other?  You used to love them, now you don't.  Is that a "flip-flop"?  How many of you have been fired or lost a job?  An employer liked you enough to hire you, then decides you're no longer wanted.  Is that a "flip-flop"?  There are numerous other examples.

My point is that changing your mind on something is universal.  Everyone does it to some extent.  I know I have done it in my personal life.  Sometimes it was wrong; other times, it was right.  Obviously, this is highly magnified in the political arena.  As we go forward towards the election in a couple of months, we should keep in mind that even though the candidates will say one thing today and probably do a 180 on it next week, at some point maybe they "see the light" on an issue they've "flip-flopped" on, whatever it might be.  If so, then perhaps one of those "flip-flops" might actually end up being for the better for all of us.

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-- Modified on 9/10/2004 11:00:52 AM