Just a few more weeks to go and maybe some of the craziness will disappear. But for now, the country is a mess and it includes everything within the borders of Butler County.

We have four races for state representative on Nov. 3, and the political tactics are becoming worse and worse. Social media is, as usual, slightly informative, but drastically destructive. It is amazing that people would believe anything they read only on social media.

We should always check for another source that can confirm social media posts, simply because sites such as Facebook are havens for lies and distortions.

Of course, so are a lot of political offices. Candidates continue to do dumb things even though they are more closely scrutinized now than ever before.

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine was foolish enough to post very questionable acts on his private social media pages that indicated, if nothing else, a great lack of maturity on his part.

But the comments by persons that may or may not be residents of his district vary from demanding his resignation to saying that all parents teach their kids to smoke cigars and speak crudely about women at 5 years of age.

The voters will decide if they find this an unforgivable act or a silly mistake. But the House seats have been a problem over the past few years.

Former representative and now District Judge Ted Nesbitt was stopped for a DUI only months before getting elected into his position as judge. That the voters didn’t find too bad.

Former Rep. Brian Ellis was forced out by the heads of the Republican Party after allegations of misconduct on his part. No charges were ever filed, but the pressure from the party combined with the response from his constituents led to his stepping down.

And, of course, there is Rep. Daryl Metcalfe. Love him or hate him, he is always mired in controversy, often centered around religious positions or his views on the LGBTQ community or gun control.

His district has supported him and sent him back despite the controversies that have gone quite public and been spread nationwide. He once again is up for reelection, and again faces a Democratic challenger and a write–in candidate.

The write-in candidate was defeated in a landslide in the primary, but wants a second bite of the apple. Most likely, he will take a few votes from Metcalfe, but more from his opponent, Dan Smith.

Yes, politics is a dirty business, but also a lucrative one. Most politicians are at their highest earnings point of their lives and receive great state benefits. Why wouldn’t they try to stay for 20-plus years if they can?

So Nov. 3 gives us all a chance to pick new leaders or support old ones. Our choices could be for keeping people in place or for “voting the bums out.”

Either mentality is shortsighted. Please look hard at these candidates and decide who best represents you. The biggest mistake you can make is to not vote.

— RV