This Presidential Race has been the most depressing of my life. The campaigns started earlier than ever which is funny because the candidates are all saying less than ever. The only time someone discusses an actual issue is when they need to take a stance to shape their image as dictated by wherever the lastest polls are. And yet the media loves it.
Why? Because it is easy to report. Rather than having only a couple of candidates and actually having to put together thougtful reports on the issues, they can just go on and on about the horse race. Huckabee's an upstart! Hillary with the upset! Ron Paul is a spoiler! The Hillary Clinton win in New Hampshire was perfect because it gave them so many stories to discuss, from voter fraud, poor polling, Hillary's tear, was the crying faked (were the "Iron Our Shirts!" guys plants?), etc. Anything, of course, besides something that might impact the nation.
Bill Maher asked on a recent show if Americans are a serious people. How can he blame the people? Politics has become a dog and pony show and the media refuses to play watchdog. How can you blame the people? Hell, look at Bill Maher himself. He acts like he's some beacon of truth but he's a comedian. Are we are serious people? I don't know, is Bill a serious person? Sitting in front of a TV camera and making wisecracks doesn't make one "serious" in my opinion. If someone was serious, wouldn't they actually be trying to DO something as opposed to commenting on it. (Am I serious person? Of course not, I live in Los Angeles. Nobody moves here to be serious.)
Will Rogers once said that "Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects" and I think the same can be said for seriousness. Americans are serious about all sorts of different topics, from raising their kids, moving forward in their careers, helping their community, spreading their religion, making money, etc. If most people aren't serious about politics, it's because it seems like a waste of time. Unless I'm actually going out and running for office or taking part on a community board, how can I really be "serious" about politics? Voting? Campaigning for someone? What does that change/ How can I make a serious decision when all I really have to go off are stump speeches and the alternating coverage of softball questions and muckracking? How can I really make a serious change when the all I'm voting on is why side of the same coin I prefer?
This is why most people focus on one or two issues and that's what defines an election. Most people are serious about abortion and the war. Make a stand on those and suddenly people will be serious about your candidacy. (The proiblem, of course, is that they could seriously oppose you and lord knows politicians don't want to tick anyone off, even their opponents, during an election) As long as people toe the line or dance around issues, how can you expect people to respond seriosly to them?
Elections have become glorified dating shows. You say the right things, give off the right vibe, and you'll be in. Whether anyone will get what they were expecting out of the relationship is anyone's guess.
Seriously.
