Well, it’s election time again, time to exercise one of our great American freedoms, time to consider the issues, time to size up the candidates and cast a ballot.

Oh, sorry, did you think we were talking politics?

No. We’re talking funny pages.

The TimesDaily is conducting a survey to discover your favorite comic strips. We will use your input to develop a new lineup of comics.

Believe me, we aren’t changing just for the fun of it. Any battle-scarred newspaper editor knows the dangers of messing with the funny papers.

But change was set in motion in 2011 when the company that designed and printed our comics pages decided to get out of the business. Now, we are developing our own comics pages, and while we haven’t determined exactly what to do, we will consider producing them on our press in Florence.

But before you think about casting your ballot, please consider my endorsements. I mean, after all, if a newspaper editor can urge you to vote for a particular political candidate, why not a comic strip character?

So, please support “Dilbert.”

“Dilbert” provides an important public service. If you are ever confounded by the actions of a co-worker, employee or boss, just read “Dilbert” and it will all make perfect sense.

Perhaps this endorsement, however, is unnecessary. Funny page readers across the nation have already made “Dilbert,” one of the most popular comics.

So let me introduce you to another of my favorites, a relative newcomer that might not be as familiar. His name is “Dustin.”

Dustin is a young man who graduated from college and moved back home to live on his parents’ couch. He can’t get motivated, can’t hold a job, can’t keep a girlfriend and can’t seem to get off the sofa to help around the house.

As a father of four sons, I laugh a little nervously with every new episode.

I’m sure you have plenty of opinions in the matter, too. Some of you like the old-standbys like “Beetle Bailey,” “The Family Circus” and “Snuffy Smith.” Some of you prefer to push the envelope with “Arctic Circle,” “Argyle Sweater” and “Non-sequitur.”

So please join in the most exciting election that 2012 has to offer. There will be no mudslinging, no drawn-out debates, no super PACs, no misleading television commercials, no hanging chads.

This is one election in which Democrats and Republicans can unite for a common cause.

You have two ways to vote: Clip the survey out of the newspaper and mail it or drop it by the TimesDaily, 219 W. Tennessee St., Florence, AL, 35630.; or take the online survey at TimesDaily.com.

See you in the funny pages.

Executive Editor Scott Morris can be reached at 256-740-5721 or scott.morris@TimesDaily.com