Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Today is Independence Day in a presidential year, and I have a modest suggestion for celebrating it.With coast-to-coast parades and picnics, there are many opportunities for politicians to promote, promise, and preach.

But what I’ve noticed most about recent political campaigns is the tendency for one candidate to use his or her air time and print space to criticize the opposing candidate, in ways both subtle and sledgehammer-like. I believe this all started when those two giants, Pepsi and Coke, began one upping each other with commercials that used the other’s name.

But politics is a far cry from cola companies, and I suggest that major candidates refrain from throwing carbonated rhetoric at us. Instead they could tell us what they stand for. Think of it as the difference between a cheap, fizzy, fake-sugar soda and a really thirst-quenching drink. And even though many Americans are on no-carb or low fat or artifical sweetener diets, I don’t believe this should extend to the political fare being offered this year.

If you think this is a good idea, pass it on. Write your newspapers, email your congressperson, challenge the trend toward negative campaigning if you go to local rallies. As for me, I plan to do likewise, but as a protective measure I’ll also spend the rest of the summer with my fingers in my ears.