It's presidential election season again, which means that with the predictability of a Lindsay Lohan arrest we are once again being told that we are on the eve of the election to end all elections. The political equivalent of the Thrilla in Manila; Voldemort vs. Harry Potter; the decisive battle between good and evil that will shape the country's destiny for a generation to come.

In reality, elections are rarely decisive and in this moment of our history the country is on the political road to nowhere. I can't say with certainty who's going to win the presidency, control the Senate or how many seats the Republicans will lose in the House of Representatives. But, unless there is a political earthquake in the next several weeks, I can guarantee you that Republicans and Democrats are going to have to compromise to get anything done in an environment where a sharply divided electorate sees any compromise as treason.

So where does this leave credit unions? No matter who wins, Congress is unlikely to be significantly more hospitable to our concerns than it has been for more than 10 years. Does this mean we take our ball and go home? No, on the contrary, in the regulatory arena, the courts and even Congress issues will be addressed and attitudes formed that will impact the movement's ability to protect its members and grow in a changing financial environment.