What Do Politics and Lawn Care Have in Common? By Jill Martin (My Momma)

What a strange comparison! How can politics have any to do with lawn care? Have you ever spent hours upon hours working in your yard, and you are so pleased with the outcome, that you stand back and admire your workmanship… until you see that one thing that stands out like a sore thumb! Across the yard, a branch or twig dared to fall on your beautifully manicured lawn, so now your yard looks horrible! You won’t be able to be totally satisfied with your completed yard-work, until you go all the way over there and pick up that one branch. Or, if it’s not a branch or a twig, there’s that one, single blade that decided to be a rebel and elude that mower, no matter how many times you ran over it with the mower!

You’ve been so careful and deliberate to get that yard picture-perfect, and it has taken you so much time and tedious care to achieve that goal… if it weren’t for that one single, rebellious blade or daredevil twig!!

What’s the first thing that anyone will notice when they look across your beautifully manicured yard? Will they notice how you have trimmed the sidewalk and driveway so perfectly that there isn’t one blade that dares to poke it’s little head across that cement line? Will they notice that there is no longer any yellowing in the grass, due to fungus or disease, because you have spent all kinds of money or whatever is out there to get rid of it? Will they notice how you so carefully weed-eated every tree trunk and nook and cranny? Will they notice that you were very careful so as not to leave any tire ruts across that vast grass expanse? Will they notice that that bald spot, due to fungus and disease, is now growing back over? NO! They will notice that one single twig that has dared to fall!!

Now, let’s look at your next door neighbor. Obviously, they are not as meticulous, and careful as you. They let their grass grow knee deep; they don’t pick up the sticks that have fallen; there are children’s toys are strewn everywhere - at all times; the weeds are growing in the flower beds, so high that you can barely see the flowers, or whatever is “deemed” as such; the grass is wilting and turning brown from lack of watering; there are mole tunnels and gofer hills everywhere; the tree that has fallen three months ago is still laying there, with grass growing even taller amongst its branches! I could go on, but I think you can get a visual on this yard, as we all have witnessed such a “yard”.

So, you ask yourself that question; where do you begin to “fix” that yard? Do you start with the fallen tree? The grass growing up to your knees, or the half-grown shoots that are all over sidewalk, driveway and road? Or the toys scattered all over the place? What about the flowerbeds? Where do you start? Can you even conceive of nit-picking those areas that have been overlooked or “rebelled”? The whole, entire yard needs help!

Compare that with your yard. You have spent hours upon hours in your yard, and what is it that someone will point out and question you or ridicule you? It is that ONE twig or blade of grass daring to stand so boldly in that perfectly manicured, and sculptured, green lawn!

THAT, is how lawns compare to politics! Your yard – Republicans (McCain/Palin). Neighbor’s yard – Democrats (Obama/Biden). Republicans have just those few “twigs” to clean up. Democrats – Where do you begin???