I’m afraid we’re losing our sense of humor, politically speaking.

What should inspire giggles is, instead, instigating indignation, followed by footfalls of candidates and campaigns kicking up dustclouds in scrambling for moral high ground.

Politics is theater, folks. I love a good drama, but there are few things more lively than fine satire, farce or comedy.

This is especially true when slogging through a long, leaden, political season.

No campaign needs lighter moments more than the dour U.S. Senate race between Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Allen. In pure entertainment value, it’s been a yawner. The most interesting clash so far has been over shipbuilding, which although economically important, lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.

Under each candidate’s scenario, Maine wins. Under Collins, Bath Iron Works builds the funky-looking Zumwalt destroyers; under Allen, the tried-and-true Arleigh-Burkes.

It’s hard to pick a winner on this issue. The BIW dust-up was really just about the political weight Collins or Allen can throw around. A ship was getting built regardless.

There’s nothing fun about a draw.

Now, finally, this campaign has found levity, though it’s inaudible above the moans of outrage from unions, who are shocked – shocked! – to suffer the despicable comparison of their organizations to the Mafia.

We’ve all seen the advertisements by now. A smarmy mobster, played by “Sopranos” alum Vince Curatola, extols Rep. Allen for supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, which allows unions to form through open ballots.

The insinuation is unions are mobsters, who will use public intimidation – and maybe cement shoes – to force employees into joining if the votes are public. The notion is pretty laughable, especially considering the ads are funded by big corporations, who are rarely mistaken for choirboys.

Curatola hams the role of The Maleficent Don, snapping his fingers, tossing one-liners and ordering two Italo-American-looking goombah henchman to whisk away smiling cardboard cutouts of Collins and Allen.

I laugh each time I see it. And if there’s anybody who should be outraged at its Mafia stereotypes, it’s me.

When your name ends with a vowel, like mine, and you’re from outside Providence, R.I., like me, you get used to wiseguy jokes. When people ask me how I ended up living in Maine, my usual answer is “witness protection.”

Sometimes, I’ve thought about using a violin case as a briefcase.

In other words, I’ve gotten over it. So should the campaigns.

More disconcerting on the humor front, though, has been the hypocritical head shaking about Collins’ radio turn about John Edwards, his midnight rendezvous with his mistress, and his outing by the National Enquirer.

Collins was – heavens! – gossiping about Edwards, as many have. “Don’t you think he is the father of the child?” she bantered cattily, in a way her spokesman Kevin Kelley stoicly described as “lighthearted.”

How dare Collins think and say the same things million of Americans are thinking and saying. How dare she speak freely about the philandering of a squeaky clean politico who was chased through hotel halls by a tabloid.

I hope she’s learned her lesson.

I hope my sarcasm is coming through.

Politics is serious business, I admit. Millions of dollars are being spent to elect either Collins or Allen. They have been squared against each other for more than a year, carefully trying to be respectful yet stern at the same time.

The result? Vanilla. The TV ads and Collins’ goofball radio appearance were welcome breaks in the thunderheads so far rolling over this campaign. I thought it was OK to break a smile.

I suggest the campaigns do as well.

Editor’s Note

I’m happy to announce, starting next week, a new weekly columnist for the Sun Journal’s Sunday Perspective section. His name is Jonathan LaBonte, and his column his called “Steps Forward.”

If that name sounds familiar, it should. For the past few years, LaBonte has been a columnist for a free weekly paper in the Lewiston-Auburn area, commenting largely on issues relating to government activity in the Twin Cities.

LaBonte is also executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, a former official with the Maine Turnpike Authority, chairman of the Young Persons of the Lewiston-Auburn Area, along with many other community roles almost too numerous to mention.

He is also an unopposed candidate for Androscoggin County Commissioner. LaBonte is a native of New Auburn, lives in New Auburn, and is a graduate of the University of Maine.

We’re proud to have him bring his analysis to the pages of the Sun Journal, as part of our efforts to bring readers the best local opinion content of any daily newspaper in Maine.

Anthony Ronzio is the Editorial Page Editor for the Sun Journal. He can be reached at [email protected], or 1-800-782-0759, ext. 2285.