By the time you read this, most of the 2020 Republican National Convention will be history.

What evolved from a real convention, one peopled by real Republicans arguing over positions and policy, emerged as a fake reality TV show.

If you paid attention last week, the Democrats did the same thing.

Politicians, like the rest of us, have had their lives hamstrung by Mr. COVID. We are all stuck at home afraid of being a statistic recited on TV by Dr. Nirav Shah, the boss of the Maine CDC.

For the record, as of last Sunday, 131 Maine residents died of the virus. Here in Lincoln County, the statistics show we have had 35 confirmed COVID cases requiring three hospitalizations. One Lincoln County resident, a woman in her 70s, has died.

Contrast it with the nationwide figures showing more than 170,000 American COVID patients have died. Aren't you glad you live in Lincoln County?

This week's convention gave the Republicans a chance to trumpet what they believe are the Trump administration's significant accomplishments, like rolling back regulations, a big tax cut, conservative judicial appointments, and economic policy.

To the surprise of no one, the convention headlined President Donald Trump, and he spoke to the cameras over and over. After all, it is his party. He is the president, and the convention (and TV networks) give him free air time to make his case.

It is a job interview. Trump wants you to hire him to run the country for the next four years. If you think he has done a good job, you will vote for him. It is that simple. If you don't, don't.

The rest is just noise. And there is plenty of noise out there in the ozone.

Let's face it. Both political parties are trying to push unity and ignore dissent. But we all know Republicans who don't love Trump. Not all Democrats love Joe Biden, either.

It is the American political system. It is what Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and the others invented in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 when they met to amend the Articles of Confederation and just threw it out and started over.

They did not craft a perfect document despite what some super-patriots claim. The Almighty did not hand it down on a silver platter. It was a compromise hammered out by hard-headed politicians.

It gave tacit support to the evils of slavery when it counted each black slave as 3/5 of a white resident. It also provided for the arrest and extradition of fugitive slaves.

And ratification by the states was not easy. Why? Well, for one reason: Money. The new states took on a lot of debt to finance the Revolutionary War. The bills were coming due. Taxes on imported goods created the biggest pot of money available to them.

But, and there is always a but, when you are dealing with a political body arguing about money. For example, Rhode Island was reluctant to give up lucrative state import taxes, and they wouldn't ratify the new Constitution. That is until the U.S. Senate forced their hand when they blocked their sea and land trade. Faced with economic ruin, Rhode Island politicians cut a deal and voted to approve the new Constitution.

If you want to read an excellent account of the arguing, drafting and ratification of the Constitution read “Ratification, The people debate the Constitution, 1787-1788,” by the late MIT Prof. Pauline Meier.

Last week, the Democrats presented three former presidents, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and former first lady Michelle Obama, to criticize the Republicans and praise Joe Biden.

This week, a gaggle of Republicans and supporters of President Donald Trump will follow suit.

Soon it will be Labor Day, the traditional start of the national election season, although this one began early. So far, politicians have bombarded us with TV commercials dripping with bile, phone calls, local and from away, Robo and human.

Many of us have our minds made up. President Trump is a polarizing figure. Either you love him or not. There are few voters still on the fence.

If you are a fan of social media, you can see posts galore pro and con. You can even let your grandchildren read many of them.

It will take more than a few snarly posts to sway your friends and neighbors. No matter what camp you are in, it is time to talk to each other.

It is time to make sure you are registered to vote. Then take the time to vote, in person, or by mail. That is the American way.

Be safe. Be well. And vote.