One of the unique attributes of living in Washington, D.C., is that everyone you meet has an opinion about politics. When you ride in a cab to the airport, you talk politics with the cabby. Every comedian, performer, and speaker who comes to town mentions politics in their presentations. Politics are even discussed at cocktail parties in the same manner as the weather or latest episode of American Idol.

As a result, one of the reasons I love my job is because I don't have to talk politics to do it. Clutter doesn't care if you're liberal, conservative, or politically apathetic. Getting organized and living simply don't require any of these views, either.

If you're motivated to live simply because you want to have a smaller impact on the environment, that is cool. If you want to live simply because you worry about how your consumption impacts the developing world, that is cool, too. If the only reason you want to live more simply is because you want to be able to spend less time cleaning and more time living, that is great!

If someone chooses for completely selfish reasons to live simply, the side effects are the same as if they do it for altruistic ones.

As we get closer to the presidential election, just remember that your decision to live without clutter is completely free of political commitment. Whatever your views or motivations, simple living doesn't require a political party agenda.