Hmm?
These political campaign commercials on TV always show images of the politician talking to people. The commmercials are short, and the images are usually interwoven with some kind of narration, but they always portay some kind of idealistic setting, where the candidate seems to be lecturing to his listeners.
Isn't that counter to our idea of "democracy"? Shouldn't politicans be listening to the people, instead of offering excessive explanations of who-knows-what?
Just an observation.
Isn't that counter to our idea of "democracy"? Shouldn't politicans be listening to the people, instead of offering excessive explanations of who-knows-what?
Just an observation.
posted by Mike at 6:12 PM
5 Comments:
I believe that it is the role of our elected officials to develop policy and then teach/convince the rest of us why it is right. This is the very role that you are complaining about and a role that in fact is rarely played. The norm is more often that of politicians either blindly following the polls or pandering to special interest groups with complete disregard for the understanding or consent of the people.
I agree Mike. "Politicians should spend less time talking about people, and more time talking to them."
That's why I plan to vote for candidate X.
Political commercials are sound bites. They are supposed to quickly explain the positions and wisdom of the candidate. Also, the candidate wants to be presented as the man with the answers, instead of just someone listening.
I don't know, Mike...it seems as though this entry of yours has struck a chord with me. After hearing your excessive explanation of this issue, I am left with a strange but undeniable feeling that I want to vote for you...but I don't know why. Perhaps you owe me a further excessive explanation?
As Americans --and much of the "modern world"- we are overly concerned with image. Image is a powerful tool that politicians --along with the media and special interest "investors"- often exploit. Image can often distract constituents from the 'issues' --if there are such a thing; I would argue that the issues themselves are often contrived to present a carefully calculated and desirable image. I find it peculiar that these issues receive attention when it benefits on party in a power struggle and then disappears as people lose interest. Are we as people that inattentive that we value the immediate shock value of the breaking news story --that always seems to be a scandal, disaster, or other extreme word used to foster the initial emotive response that politicians seem to value...until people move on to the next shocking event! First the current Iraq War (old trusty...we can always find something there to fall back on)...then the Avian Bird Flu, a possible pandemic...then we got bored and moved on, this time to a runaway bride that captivated a nation because...she freaked out at the alter? Niiiiiiice. Tell me more.
A specific example of this occurs every 2 years as election time nears. We, presumably, look to vote for the "best" candidate. It would seem, however, that we are overly concerned with electing the "best" person based on presumed character as opposed to the candidate that is most suited to lead according to the needs and desires of the people...the reason for having a government? I don't know...perhaps I could write more on this weighty and extremely under examined subject, but I have to go watch my President who has on hell of a smile and is just such a great person...I just can't get enough. Consider me convinced, he's the best.
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