The presidential primaries got this general election year off to a frenzied start, but I fear nothing will stop our upcoming local elections from being a disappointment, guaranteed.

Juiced by the potential for the first black or first woman president, the primary turnout figures were surprisingly "high," although I still think it's sad only 25 percent of Upstate residents — and probably not a dissimilar number nationally — helped to determine the nominees for the most powerful office in the land.

Even at their worst, national elections get most people talking about issues that really matter.

The economy. Terror. Energy. Health care. All of them came up in casual conversation among my Mardi-Gras celebrating Louisiana in-laws in a visit last week.

They broke down the pros and cons of a matchup between Democrats Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain the way they would discuss how to boil crabs or make the best roux.

In local elections, most folks could be counted informed when they know the name of their elected representatives and their challengers (if they even have some), let alone where candidates might stand.

When we do pay attention, we're listening to a broken record (in both senses of that phrase) of talk about "lower taxes," and "less government," but we dance to its demented drum all the way to voting booth, regardless.

The political fortitude to do anything differently — reprioritize what government really does or tries to do; consider new investments so we can reap new rewards — is rare to find.

And when someone dares to step out of line, their fearlessness quickly evaporates when the fever of an election victory breaks.

If our local politics have been hyperactive in recent years, it’s got little to do with a drive to improve the quality of our community life or our economic competitiveness.

The recent controversy over whether Anderson County exercised poor oversight and accountability over wining and dining of employees and economic development prospects is a good example of how we like to judge the success of our elected when they've "watched out" for a few of our dollars here and there, no matter that they squandered opportunities to use our taxes wisely to expand our community prosperity.

This election year, as others, I’m left to salve my congenital idealism by praying we get some candidates who will show heart, courage, determination and imagination in pressing for real change.

Please. I'm begging you. You don’t want to see a grown man cry.