It is another election year and the politicians are well into their verbal barrages against their presumed foes. Two major camps, Democrats and Republicans waging a never-ending battle of mutually deserved destruction. Throw in an additional two or three Independents and it looks like a brawl in a ghetto bar. But this year it is even better because the Republican candidates are ambitiously attacking the rivals within their own party. The by-product of all this infighting is the materials from which President Obama can be a huge ammunition stockpile. All the Republican bickering, name-calling and finger-pointing will come back to haunt the eventual chosen candidate. And best of all will be the debate footage which, like a nuclear weapon, will not just annihilate the opposition but will reign down a continuous malicious fallout until the next election cycle.
I love a good election year, don't you?
Friday, February 24, 2012
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
American Voters are Tired
Some people say that American voters are complacent and apathetic about politics in our country. A great number do not vote. But I believe there are other reasons they do not turn out to cast their ballots. The people are frustrated, distrustful and overwhelmed by the constant failures of the politicians in Washington.
During the political campaigns the candidates point to a new age if only we put them in office. Each one points at their nemesis points out their flaws and shortcomings. These politicians make ambiguous promises that allow them to change their objectives and methods simply by stating that we misunderstood what they meant. Or, that their promise was to be taken in a different context.
Once in Washington they come under the influence of lobbyist and large contributors who work to assure them a return to office in the next election - as long as they do their bidding. Soon the promise to the electorate is forgotten until it is time for the next election. Then the candidates proceed to tell us the reason they could not get the job done was because the "other guy" would not cooperate. Perhaps they could not get the vote or the funds or some other lame excuse for their failures. In reality their agenda changed. They were swept up in the political power struggle and power plays in the Washington environment. They brokered deals that went against their promises and now need to find the right excuse for once more deceiving the public.
The news media plays into their hands. Chaos, between the parties, between the government branches and between the politicians, reigns supreme. The real issues are clouded by political jargon so that the average person just shakes their head in confusion and walks away from it all. A fog settles in over the government and no one can see clearly what is going on among their representatives. The whole thing is sold to the media as an illusion much like the magician who distracts our attention while he performs his slight of hand tricks. And so the people back home are left not knowing how to vote because every issue is like a mirage in the political landscape.
This is why the American voter really just wonders why should we even bother?
During the political campaigns the candidates point to a new age if only we put them in office. Each one points at their nemesis points out their flaws and shortcomings. These politicians make ambiguous promises that allow them to change their objectives and methods simply by stating that we misunderstood what they meant. Or, that their promise was to be taken in a different context.
Once in Washington they come under the influence of lobbyist and large contributors who work to assure them a return to office in the next election - as long as they do their bidding. Soon the promise to the electorate is forgotten until it is time for the next election. Then the candidates proceed to tell us the reason they could not get the job done was because the "other guy" would not cooperate. Perhaps they could not get the vote or the funds or some other lame excuse for their failures. In reality their agenda changed. They were swept up in the political power struggle and power plays in the Washington environment. They brokered deals that went against their promises and now need to find the right excuse for once more deceiving the public.
The news media plays into their hands. Chaos, between the parties, between the government branches and between the politicians, reigns supreme. The real issues are clouded by political jargon so that the average person just shakes their head in confusion and walks away from it all. A fog settles in over the government and no one can see clearly what is going on among their representatives. The whole thing is sold to the media as an illusion much like the magician who distracts our attention while he performs his slight of hand tricks. And so the people back home are left not knowing how to vote because every issue is like a mirage in the political landscape.
This is why the American voter really just wonders why should we even bother?
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