Andrea's column: Business and politics

Talk about it

By the time you read this, there will be less than a week until the election. Some of you may have already voted. Some may be sick and tired of the whole thing and counting the days until it is over.

I haven’t gotten to that point and never will. Oh, sure, I’m fed up with the made up stories. Whether it’s a candidate fudging about how fast he ran a marathon or a politician trying to convince us he knows just what God is thinking when a woman is raped, believe me: sometimes, I want to scream.

Still, I read a few newspapers every morning and eat dinner in front of the television every night. I don’t want to miss a single word uttered by the two presidential candidates and those running for other offices, too. I have watched every debate since Newt and company exchanged words last spring and enjoyed many fiery discussions with like-minded friends about our nominee’s position in the polls and the two amendments that will be on our ballots.

My husband works with a few men who are on the opposite side of the political spectrum from him. One manager often has something waiting on his computer screen when my husband gets to work in the morning. “Here, look at this,” he’ll say as he points to a headline that screams my husband’s candidate is lagging in the polls.

A bit later, when the man is out of his office, my husband has been known to change that computer to a different site which says the opposite is true. “Here, look at this,” he’ll say with a laugh as the man returns. The two have made a friendly wager on the outcome. Whoever’s candidate loses, has to treat the other to lunch.

I’m happy my husband works in an environment where people can agree to disagree. They know politics is serious business and the man who wins this race will lead our country for the next four years. But still, no matter who wins, they have to work together and can’t be at each other’s throats.

For sure, they’ll never have to worry about losing their job if they don’t cast a vote for their employer’s candidate. It’s sad to learn that a country billed as “the land of the free” is one where company presidents and CEOs can get away with telling their workforce who to vote for. That some have written letters saying if the other candidate wins, the economy will be in crisis and employees could be out of work.

No, the only worry my husband has is that his co-worker’s presidential choice will win. The two may have figured out how to make the best of their differences but I know my spouse. He does not want to lose that wager. There’s more at stake here than the price of an Olive Garden soup and salad lunch.

Tags: opinion, rosemount, commentaries