Mitt Romney is not a capitalistic evildoer only interested in himself, and the same is true for Dennis Rehberg. President Barrack Obama is not a fiscal dreamer seeking to destroy our finically successful entrepreneurs of our society, and the same is true for John Tester.

All these intelligent and ambitious men, as well as many other current candidates for high office, have differing ideas of how to manage America’s economic and social well-being. That’s how this country has always been given choices in solving problems and carrying on the business of running the most successful government in human history.

The ever growing tactic of false accusations, innuendo, out-of-context quoting and negative approach to campaigning has grown to become an embarrassment to the citizenry. The name calling is even less intelligent and unproductive. How many false hopes and impossible promises have been created by a billion dollars worth of “ad agency fairy tales?”

Why does it go on? The only official explanation I have heard is, “Because it works.” That explanation is insulting to me and to all serious voters.

My concern over this cloud on our campaigns makes me think about one of many times when this country faced big and contentious issues. Anyone remember Jack Kennedy and Richard Nixon?

It was a close race with first-time debates on television and broad national advertising. Of course there was bitterness and vast disagreement, not only in the presidential campaign but in many congressional races; however, it did not sink anywhere near the lows of 2012.

On my first day in Washington, D.C., while a “New Frontiersman” working as a legislative assistant for Montana Sen. Lee Metcalf, I was given time to wander around Capitol Hill to acquaint myself with the massive buildings, hallways, byways and tunnels.

Strolling along one of the broad vaulted halls of the Old Senate Office Building, I heard voices coming toward me around a corner. There came Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, with his arm across the shoulders of Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirkson.

There were two of the most respected, powerful and productive men this nation has ever sent to Congress. They knew problems are solved by people who respect each other regardless of differing opinions, and difficulties are only solved by calm “give and take” discussions eye to eye.

Where are the Mansfields and the Dirksons now? Maybe they’ve been sold down the river by Madison Avenue.

G. George Ostrom is a national award-winning Hungry Horse News columnist. He lives in Kalispell.