One of the hidden secrets of keeping warm during winter — while keeping fuel costs down — is to engage in political chatter during a presidential election year.

I know, I know ... I have been coached in the “get along with everyone school” that teaches us not to discuss politics or religion in polite society, at least if we want to be invited to future gatherings where after-dinner speakers restrict their topics to quiet, sleep-inducing subjects.

This year, exposure to the rants and raves of those hoping to be selected to public office seems to require no more than turning on the TV and watching grown-ups spend millions of dollars telling us why most other candidates are not fit to serve in public office.

Although it has saved us from watching entertainers who, during the long writer’s strike, were unable to express themselves without the benefit of blank cue cards.

I received a friendly challenge to come out of my dark, silent cave and warm myself by the scorching charges and counter-charges of these well-dressed opponents, ever eager to expose either fiction or more damaging truth about their past contributions to developing public trust without getting caught.

I’m not smart enough to tell when politicians are speaking truthfully on the important issues of our times, though some people have assured me that truth suffers whenever I am able to detect politicians’ lips moving. However, the real blasts of heat seem to come not from the debating office seekers as much as the fire coming from their supporters and fans. I have become convinced that the louder the arguments become, the more truth vanishes.

I was encouraged to join the debate of the NAFTA corridor through Texas and linking Mexico and Canada. I sought out information on the subject, only to learn that most of the action was taking place beyond the observation of our fellow citizens.

I slowed down my interest when I learned that one of the strongest forces engaged in this plot were the same people who gave us the “Swift Boat” sketchy information featured in the last presidential election, producing a lot of scorching heat. When active office holders spoke on the subject, it seemed to me that they claimed to be in favor of the proposal — but then tried to explain why they did not vote for it.

So I fled back to my hibernation study and came to enjoy some of the cool information that floated my way. For instance: I learned that there was a “PEACE” Plaque prominently displayed in England’s famous Coventry Cathedral. It reads:

“For the hatreds which divide nation from nation, race from race, class from class ... Father forgive us for our covetous desires of men and nations to possess what is not their own ... For the greed, which exploits the labor of men and lays waste the earth — For the envy of the welfare and happiness of others — For our indifference to the plight of the homeless and the refugee — For the pride, which leads us to believe in ourselves and not in God.”

For the public servant willing to rise from his knees, then lead us anywhere he wants to ... I pledge my whole-hearted support.

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