The early rumblings of Republican presidential hopefuls were my first warning sign. The election season was beginning, and I feared hearing no real news until it all ends Nov. 4, 2012. Following the lowest voter turnouts in history, I know I’m not the only person facing the prospect of another season of political ads and media blitzes with a great deal of cynicism.

Some people might vote along party lines even if they aren’t particularly inspired by any of the candidates, but this is just as irresponsible as not voting at all. No one will ever agree on everything, and each potential voter has some stance that they have difficulty compromising.

Republicans have hardly endeared themselves (to me, at least), lollygagging around with the so-called debt crisis and offering up career politicians like Michele Bachmann as possible candidates.

2012 will be my first chance to vote in a presidential election -– an opportunity I would have given anything for in 2008. Now, I can’t bring myself to replicate the sort of rabid devotion to any possible presidential candidate that would be required to drive the 400 some odd miles to the district where I am registered to vote.

President Obama gave it the old college try but focused too long on healthcare reform while the economy was already on its way out the back door and only made half-hearted attempts at equality for the LGBT community.

Another career politician is the last thing we need in the White House. Other countries have seemed to realize this, as well. Yoshihiko Noda, former Finance Minister for Japan, is set to replace Naoto Kan as Prime Minister of Japan, who also served as Minister of Finance during his career.

Lee Myung-buk, the current President of South Korea who helped the country escape the worst of the Global Financial Crisis, was formerly the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and helped bring the 2010 G20 Summit to Seoul.

But the situation that we find ourselves in as a community means that we need to find a new way leading, organizing and taking action or risk making the same mistakes our parents and grandparents have made for the past century. Learning what we can from other citizens of the globe seems like a good place to start.