I bet you thought I'd never quote Nikita Khrushchev in this column, did you? Me either. Nonetheless, here goes: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.”

Remember, this was said in the early 1960s when Khrushchev was in power in what was the Soviet Union. Wow! How profound in today's world of 30-second sound bites of negative ads and promises of a rosier tomorrow if you vote for (insert name here).

When I was young, I used to wonder why the older generation (I'm there now) was so cynical about politics. I don't wonder anymore. While I always thought the pursuit of power was meant to result in the opportunity to do good for your fellow person, it seems today politicians want power only to control our lives. It doesn't matter your political persuasion. Most politicians today care only about reelection, fund-raising and forcing their opinions, and eventually laws, down your throat.

That being said, we still live in the greatest democracy in the world. The challenges ahead are many. We can complain or be active and voice our own opinions through the ballot box. So get out there and vote this fall. Listen to what the candidates for president have to say. Make an informed decision based on who best fits your philosophy of government. You as a retailer need to weigh the choices for our next president and decide who's going to offer the best opportunity for you as a small businessman and for your customers.

A little cynicism is okay. Just don't complain and do nothing. Every vote counts. We all remember the so-called “Florida fiasco” in 2000. Let's make sure we elect the next president, regardless of our political choice.

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