It’s been hard for me to decide what my actual “first” blog was going to be about. There are so many topics to visit, yet not nearly enough for me to feel good about ranting. Either way, I’m pushing myself to get something out, and this will be the result. Though this particular entry is political in nature, this is not a political blog. Politics are stupid. I’m merely here to point out why you’re causing your own problems!
I watched the debate last night between presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama. Throughout the election process, here in the United States, the candidates are given three chances to debate each other together, at the same time, on national television. Let me repeat that, as this is the basis of my argument: in the near 20 months that this race (and most races before it), the candidate meet only three times, for a grand total of 6 hours, to debate their politics against one another.
The first issue I have with this--almost unrelated--is the stupidity of American voters. We are media hogs. You’re proving that right now by reading my blog. I’m proving it right now by writing the “feed.” The American people love to rush to any and all media sources to “learn” about their candidate. Often, people visit the interwebs, specifically to their particular candidate’s webpage, to learn more about a candidate’s positions. This, unfortunately, is a dumbass idea. Though it does provide the viewer with marginal information, it’s obviously written with a candidate-specific bias. “Obama will lead us…”; “John McCain has the experience…” These phrases mean very little when describing actual politics, yet American voters flock to these sources.
Additionally, we Americans love to get our information from the television. We watch ad campaigns for candidates and, for some reason, think very strongly that what is said is verbatim fact. Some fail to realize that commercials for presidential candidates are no different than advertisements for Big Macs, Whoppers, Triple Decker Bacon covered Myocardial Infarction with cheese, or whatever disgusting pressed patty fast food is popular at the time. They’re still selling a product. Be it a presidential candidate or heart burn on a bun, you’re still paying for it in the long run.
What we don’t do, is watch the debates, or even promote the candidates to have them more often. Yes, candidates travel across the country for nearly 16 months, trying very hard to convince those that are willing to listen that they are the best deal on the menu. But rarely are they put to the true test of facing off against each other in a candid debate. We, as the voting base of this country, continue to illustrate to these political parties, that 6 hours every 4 years is enough. That’s fucking stupid, and irresponsible, and serves as my first blog as a dumbass thing we do.
Instead of listening directly to candidates, we go to what we believe to be the most unbiased news networks, spokespeople from both Left and Right, and websites to get our “true” information on “the real facts.” We proudly send out emails with subject lines reading “Compassionate: NOT!” address to our political affiliates, as well as interpretive fact sheets to our political adversaries. If you’re not smart enough to watch the man or woman running for an election, and rather, base your vote on these sources of information, not only are you not fit to vote, you’re not fit to comprehend common sense.
The debates are our only window into how these men or women will react when truly under pressure. And a few of them will actually address the camera, speak clearly, and describe in full their honest opinions regarding their political platforms. Unfortunately, most focus not on themselves and how they stand out, but rather how their opponent is less qualified than they are at almost anything. I feel, at times, like I’m watching a pre-game show to the super bowl. This is where our country fails to address real issues, where we fail to get the appropriate information, and rather focus on pot-shots, and low-blows for entertainment value. The result is either humorous slaps across the face, or unrelated, scripted answers to questions no one asked. An unfortunate side effect of this is that viewers tend to avoid debates, knowing that nothing important, nothing pertinent will be said. We perpetuate the cycle, and justify the myth that the interblogs, news shows and advertisements will sufice as all the honest information we need.
So, what does all this result in? What makes it a dumbass thing we do? Well, as you can see, without really exposing ourselves to the candidates we’re forced to choose from, we blindly vote for the man or woman who will lead us in the world’s eye in foreign policy, economics, civil rights, and whatever hot-button topics are available at the time. We’re more interested in watching the show, the fight, the ups and downs, the low blows and scandals, than thinking about what really matters, and who really is up there. Sure, emails and bloggers will claim they know the truth about who someone really is, but it’s all just bullshit. You are your only true source of information. You MUST be the one that makes the decision, rather than a blogger, a commercial, or heaven forbid this raving maniac. We need more debates. We need more public appearances that are televised. We need more direct information, live, so we can see and understand what each candidate actually said, rather than relying on others to interpret it.
And keep in mind, the best thing to do, as I’ve always done, when the debate is over, turn off the television. Turn off the immediate commentary. Turn off the advertisements, and interwebs and lunatics, and “sources” and “truths” and just figure it out on your own. We’re all stuck here in the U.S. because we’ve alienated ourselves to the world community. Moving won’t help, so stop saying that! It’s up to us to regain our respect. Figure it out.
