I woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago to find an astonishing story in my local newspaper. It seems the approval ratings for our beloved liberal Congress had hit a dismal low of 18 percent in a Gallup Poll, matching only ratings from 1992 when scandals rocked the legislative branch.

With these results, I can’t help but feel pity for the voters who put these people in power. But at the same time, I felt a sort of disbelief that these voters actually thought these new faces would accomplish what they set out to do.

I mean, isn’t this what you get when you expect something of politicians? Disappointment?

To all you left-winging, alt-rock-listening, solar-powered-living, electric-car-driving, tree-hugging, long-haired hippie friends of mine, how could you not expect this? I mean, you didn’t actually believe a new Congress would mean an end to war, did you? After all the stagnation of the past six years, you thought these newbies would completely revamp the system and reform Congress so they would do anything you told them to do? No! American politics doesn’t work like that.

It takes months of useless juvenile arguments over spending and other things that you don’t see on “The Daily Show” before you get something that looks even remotely like a bill. You have simply exchanged a group of lying, heartless, money-snatching politicians who wear red ties for a group of lying, heartless, money-snatching politicians who wear blue ones.

And on top of that, it seems as if every major presidential candidate from the left has decided to stay in Iraq for longer than the first day of their term. Are you surprised by this? If so, it really is a shame that a group of intelligent American voters could be so naive.

Of course, it’s obvious to me what has happened here. Since it’s a pretty good bet this low approval rating has something to do with the fact that there are still American soldiers in the Middle East, I think it’s safe to say Democrats have fallen victim to single-issue voting – something they may have forgotten about since the last time they were in power.

Granted, the Iraq war is quite a large issue, but there is more to American politics than a war raging in a desert somewhere overseas. In fact, this Congress has accomplished a lot that would fall in line with typical Democratic policy. They have proposed to raise the minimum wage, end the tax cuts for the wealthy, and have turned down almost anything and everything the president throws at them.

Hey, all I’m saying is that if I were a hippie, I’d be damn proud.

Unfortunately, single-issue voting continues to corrupt our elections, usually putting the wrong people in the wrong places because of mass efforts by corrupt politicians and publicists to appeal to our emotions rather than our intellect. I know because I have been there. I went through a period in my life where I would only support a candidate if he or she was anti-abortion.

Lucky for me – and America – I learned my lesson before I turned 18.

You have to look at everything in order to choose a candidate. Just because someone stands at a podium in front of you telling you how much the president sucks doesn’t necessarily mean he or she will be the best person in office.

Do not let your emotions rule your judgment for an elected official. You are smarter than that, America. So please, vote for whomever you wish. Just be sure you know who you’re voting for.

Andrew Gionnette is a senior in mechanical engineering from Chanhassen, Minn.