National elections are exciting. When there are major changes in people, major changes in government are likely. Excitement, or concern, fill the air.

I have always enjoyed the process. My candidates have not always won, but my natural approach has always allowed me to remain optimistic.

This time, at the local level, was different. My wife ran for Louisiana state senate. She has run for public office 12 times and has been elected 10 times. This was her third run for the senate seat.

This is an opinion section, and you are about to read my opinions on the state of our political process. My remarks are focused on local elections, but they generally apply to other levels.

My reason for sharing these views is to encourage Loyola students to take politics seriously, to understand it is imperative to know the candidates, their views on important issues and to be aware there are trends that suggest a decay of what most citizens consider a fair democratic process.

Dirty campaigning was everywhere — an epidemic, in fact. People always wonder why it is used. The answer is simple — because it works. In my experience, if one uses it, and the other doesn’t, the dirty bird usually wins. If both use it, other factors determine the winner.

So the question is, “How do the dirty birds live with themselves?” They simply shrug their shoulders, smile and say, “That’s how you win in politics.”Rarely, if ever, do they look at their opponent’s clean campaign as exemplary. In fact, they usually chuckle and think their opponent is dumb for not attacking.

Most attacks are either outright lies or based on half-truths. An intelligent voter should spend time searching for the truth, but how many do? And what about those with fewer talents and less time? The attacker usually wins this stage of the campaign.

Another unsettling trend is the enormously expensive campaigns being waged. Some years back, political wisdom was that it cost less than $50,000 to earn a school board seat, $150,000 for the state legislature and $250,000 for the state senate. Recently, some state senate winners have spent between $800,000 and $1 million. Why spend that kind of money for a position that pays $16,000 or so per year? Because after being elected, you have a lot of new “friends,” and you get the money back. People who spend less lose and eat their debt. Yes, campaigns are increasingly for sale.

It is in vogue now for people to support “business” persons. It resonates to say, “We need a business person in the seat to turn government around.”

Here is a surprise — government is not a business. I am all for long range and strategic planning, staying on budget, being held accountable for productivity, etc., but our form of government doesn’t lend itself to having a CEO give orders that are immediately fulfilled. Progress in government is a deliberative negotiated process. Legislators must be adept at gathering support for progressive ideas. There are many other differences too numerous to list here. Suffice to say, there are many skills needed to ensure that government best serves citizens, and a purely business model is not the sole answer.

During campaigns, people running for office are everywhere. They attend every meeting possible. The true test of someone who wants to serve is to see where they are during off seasons and, interestingly, just after elections. You may be astounded how quickly they disappear from public issue events.

So, what is the meaning of these observations? You, the students and youth of our nation, don’t have to tolerate the politics of today. If you become truly engaged in the process and demand that candidates spend their time and money (though it is usually your money) discussing important issues and specific solutions (Don’t you get tired of candidates saying,  “I’ll work with the sheriff to reduce crime, and I’ll put more money in the classroom to improve education, and I’ll create jobs?”), then you may see more intelligent well-meaning citizens offering themselves for public service.

If you don’t, then enjoy the purchase of elective seats by people who have lied to get them. And watch them shrug their shoulders and say, “That’s how you win in politics.”

Robert Thomas is the interim director of the School of Mass Communication and Loyola’s Endowed Chair in Environmental Communications. He can be reached at [email protected].