I feel for ya babe!

I am even disillusioned about the Libertarian party candidate this year. Any vote in the presidential election this year smells like a shit sandwich to me.

This was refreshing. It's hard sometimes to feel like it isn't the end of the world when things you care about (such as unborn children or the right to choose) are threatened, but we should all know by now that nothing's ever as drastic as we imagine it to be.

What's wrong with feeling precipitous feelings? Everything in moderation, especially moderation.

Pretty much your world stayed in tact! There are thousands of people that are dead! I bet their friends and family would disagree with you on the intact comment. Its always about the lesser of two evils, assuming we even have a clue about whats really goin on!

Is the problem feeling high or low? Or is that just a symptom? I think it's a symptom of buying into the process in a way that doesn't make sense.

I've read about 10 or 12 of your articles and I have to say this is the first time I agree with what you're saying.
It's so refreshing to see a piece about the upcoming election or american politics in general that puts actual cosmic perspective on it.
Thank you for the article.

This.

I'm rather excited about an Obama presidency. That said, as long as McCain can stay alive, I think the country will start getting better regardless of who wins.

So we should be passionately dispassionate? This is the most confusing thing I have ever read. I'm probably missing the point, but it seems like you're advocating apathy and non-committance. I'm really trying to frame this in a non-snarky way, but I'm thoroughly, totally confused.

i think he's advocating intelligent discourse over good-versus-evil condemnations and accolades. McCain is not the devil, and Obama is neither the messiah nor Kal-L. be passionate without vilifying your opponent or whitewashing your favored candidate.

i would say this applies even when--or especially when--your opponents aren't following this principle. not to sound like a hippie peacenik or anything, but you're not going to convince someone to stop hating by attacking them hatefully.

Thanks. That makes sense. I completely agree.

I will admit to knowing next-to-nothing about Buddhism. I know even less about Mr. Sawaki. However, in virtually any context the above quotation is one of the silliest and thoughtless pieces of proto-slacker nonsense I've ever read. Candidates are "Idiots!" for attempting to rally votes? Really?

Look, you're not a partisan. Fine. But the above kind of "Oh, I'm just so ABOVE it all!" pablum rings SUUUUUPER hollow from people who can afford to ignore the real problems that many people around the world must deal with on a daily basis. I guarantee you that a lot of folks in New Orleans or Iraq or Flint or Darfur might disagree with your flip assertion that the world stayed intact. Your world seems to be going quite well. Good for you. (Congrats on the new CD, brah!) Your experience is not universal.

I agree with some of the things you've said here. I agree that in the GRAND scheme of the political spectrum the two candidates aren't THAT far apart. However, in the context of American politics, it's a pretty significant departure. That matters to a lot of folks, but it doesn't have to matter to everyone. Fair enough. I also agree that too many expectations can spoil things either way. That's obvious.

However, the above quotation and stuff like this...

and this...

...are not only incredibly naive, but bordering on the realm of mind-bogglingly stupid. Some politics is dumb. Some politicians are dumb. It might even be most rather than some. Regardless, there ARE things worth fighting for. Hard. There ARE things worth getting passionate about. There ARE politicians and causes worth rallying votes for. That's not idiotic, that's grown-up reality.

Some people choose to spend their lives fighting for things that they care about. They work terribly long hours for terribly little pay to do what they think is right. There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING wrong with that level of passion and commitment. They deserve respect, not someone telling them, essentially, to lighten up and go with the flow.

I agree with Subrosa's post. It saddens me that Brad is representing Buddhism here.
For a better example look up Aung San Suu Kyi.
For another example of a person who was far closer to Buddhist beliefs than the writer of this tripe, check out Mahatma Ghandi.
Some Buddhists seem to completely forget what "right" action is.

Wow, it's so awesome and refreshing to hear the unique point of view that the ebb and flow of politics makes very little difference in the grand scheme of things.

I'll be sure to relay that information to some of these people: