As caucuses and primaries continue throughout the country, predictions of record turnouts are holding true.  Voters are showing they fully intend to exercise their rights and responsibilities as Americans to choose their next president, many of them for the first time in their lives.

How sad, then, that in so many of the caucuses they’ve literally had to spend hours to make their voice heard. Long lines in the rain or bitter cold are poor ways to welcome these supporters and to encourage them to come back in four years. All across the country, towns and cities weren’t prepared for the large turnouts, including right here in Maine, where voters lined up and waited and waited and waited to make their voice heard.

Even before caucus day, enthusiastic supporters turned out to meet the presidential candidates in person and also found themselves out in the cold, literally, waiting for the doors to open – not the way to get off to a good start. More states are expected to make the switch from caucuses to primaries after the 2016 election to help solve this problem, in many respects a wise move. Caucuses definitely have their good points, but when it comes to bringing out a large number of voters, they may have seen better days.  Ask around and find out how many Maine folks never attended the caucus in their neck of the woods.  They have already decided who will be getting their vote, but they didn’t exercise their right to help guarantee that their choice makes it on the November ballot.

It’s certainly not a “politics as usual’’ year, with millions of voters really fired up. It’s wonderful. Not so good:  the name-calling as well as negative comments having nothing whatsoever to do with the issues. We keep hoping they’ll die down, but that’s not happening.

Life is a learning process, and the world of politics is no exception. We’ll learn from this year’s experiences and we all would like to think we’ll keep what’s good about our system and correct what isn’t.