I had a unique experience last year.

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., came to the HUB-Robeson Center to speak to students last February about the ill-fated attempt to privatize Social Security, and having a healthy interest in all things political, I decided to hear what he had to say.

His actual speech wasn't anything I hadn't heard before but something odd happened during the question-and-answer session.

An audience member asked Santorum how private accounts would help to address the Social Security shortfall and the senator conceded they would not address the problem in the least. I believe he left out the part where such accounts actually made the problem worse, but I cannot remember.

The next kid got up to ask Santorum how we should address the shortfall. Santorum said something to the effect of: "That's a good question, one that needs to be addressed. That's why people like President Bush and I are out proposing solutions to the problem."

It was at this point that something odd happened. In my mind I was trying to grapple with the fact that he had just told a bold-faced lie right there to my face. The only proposal he had made that day was to establish private accounts, which he admitted not 10 seconds before, weren't a solution -- but now he said he was proposing solutions. As my brain tried to wrap itself around this, I became aware that the whole auditorium was staring at me. I was screaming. I was wholly unconscious of the fact that I was bellowing at the top of my lungs. I'm not sure what, if anything, I had said.

I always get exasperated during election years. But that's the only time I can think of where my body staged a full scale revolt, told my brain to bugger off for a bit, and took purely action all by its lonesome.

I'm not particularly proud of this story but I think it conveys some of my frustration with American politics. A big deal has been made over the ability of politicians and pundits to manipulate the media. Sound bites, 527 groups and leaked memos dominate the political landscape. Truthfulness is king.

My favorite example has to be that the "party of personal responsibility" constantly attacks the "blame America first crowd" for playing the blame game on issues like Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq and deficits.

Even more amusing is that Americans are constantly shocked that party that supports a "small government" platform, the Republican Party, was incapable of dealing with two of the largest problems confronting our nation.

If we don't fund and administer the Federal Emergency Management Agency properly, people will die in hurricanes? Fighting a war "on the cheap" might lead to casualties and imperil our mission? If we cut taxes we'll have deficits that my generation will have to pay off?

These cause-and-effect relationships were visible long before we faced the consequences. The were simply misled by discussions about who was more courageous in the Vietnam War and whether clearing brush or windsurfing made you manlier.

As the election year gets into full swing we'll see the rhetoric amp up. Political spots will start appearing in between commercials for sneakers and cheeseburgers. They'll be full of factoids and allegations. They'll try and convince you that you should vote one way or the other because the opposition kicks puppies and eats children for breakfast.

What they won't tell you is that voting is hard work. To truly cast your vote you need to take time to study the issues of the day. To read through the economic proposals from all candidates and see how their rhetoric translates into action. Step into that voting booth armed with little more than a party membership card and you do the whole world a disservice.

Ultimately we are responsible for the world's largest economy and its most powerful military. For too long we've allowed politicians to promise us the moon and the stars on pennies a day.

Our apathy has allowed politicians a free ride for to long. This election, make your politicians be honest, or make them pay the price.