To help reduce the negative influences of too much emotion in politics, the framers filtered the direct vote for presidents through the Electoral College and the election of Senators through state legislatures.

Still, they knew that the key to successful democratic society is effective elections by the people, and the key to effective elections is a wise, informed and virtuous people.

Virtue leads the populace to vote for what best promotes long-term freedom rather than for short-term personal benefit.

Being informed and wise leads the people to see past media bias, the agendas of the experts, self-serving party spin and the schemes of political professionals, and to vote for what the nation most needs.

Thus our free system depends on a populace being passionately involved, but consistently open to and learning from opposing views, and not easily swayed by emotion.

Elections by anger are bad elections, because they warp the virtue and wisdom of the voters.

This is our current problem.

We need to vote wisely, not based on media reports but on a deeper study and understanding of the issues, the candidates and the likely challenges ahead for our nation.

When momentous national challenges are addressed and solved with wise, prudent, effective long-term solutions, the cause is never a group of angry partisans arguing and clamoring for popular support.

This can impact elections--often positively--but its value in actual problem-solving is limited.

When the overzealous speak, no matter how loudly, as John Adams taught, little is solved.

History assures us that those who bring less anger and more wise, calm and steady words based on principle are the ones whose solutions will actually work.

Voters are the future of our nation, and anger confuses everything. Arrogant anger, which occurs when we consider our own clique's view the "truth" and other views the enemy, is especially devastating because it leads voters to dogmatic faith in the party line--whichever party they support.