Like most of you, I’m sick of the political ads. This year seems to be an especially nasty one. No surprise there.

Too many of the worst candidates have ads out promising to “fight for you”. I wasn’t aware that there was a line on the ballot for Gladiator.

Most of the individuals who promise to fight are running for legislative offices. The key skill of a legislator is negotiation – getting what benefits his constituents by convincing enough other legislators that it will benefit their constituents. Occasional compromises are also required. Legislators who “fight” don’t tend to get great things accomplished. Of course most of them don’t seek great things either, but that’s for another time.