When you hear that more than twenty million dollars were spent in negative advertising in the Florida Presidential Primary, it is little wonder that the average citizen thinks our election process has become a joke, a necessary evil. But is that perception and resignation doing us more harm than good?
The body politic impacts our lives in all its aspects — from where our children go to school, what money is left from our paycheck to improve our standard of living, to the quality and bacteria-free food we put on our tables for our loved ones to eat. If one just stops to think, it becomes abundantly clear that decisions made by politicians every day, at every level of government are eventually felt in our daily lives. There are few or no exceptions.
But too often, we as citizens do not want to have anything to do with it. And little wonder when you look at the election and political process today. What is allowed in terms of false, distorted, and negative advertising during campaigns is a travesty, an insult to democracy and the fullness of its meaning.
Unfortunately, with the behavior of Congress and now candidates on the campaign trail, whenever we hear the word politics, anyone of a number of things probably come to mind: the often grandiose promises candidates make to get elected or re-elected to office, only to forget or ignore those same promises once in office. Or we think of the strategies, tactics, and contributions big business put in place to leverage influence and get concessions from governmental entities at the average citizen’s expense. Look at the political packs and their ability to put millions of dollars into a campaign to influence the outcome through negative and false political ads.
These practices are further confounded by the constant parade of elected officials lured by the temptation to line their own pockets, or those of their friends and family, or they insist on indulging in unethical and unsavory behaviors. The profile of the current Congress shows the wealth — whether members came with it or accumulated it since being elected.
Whatever the impressions that the average citizen holds, suffice it to say they generally carry negative overtones because of the way much of the political activities are carried out today at all levels of government. The bad or evil deeds of the few, too often, over shadow the good of the majority.
When the great Greek philosopher, Plato, wrote the seminal book, The Republic, on government and the role of citizens in governing, politics was not only an honorable and patriotic process, it represented the heart and soul of a healthy society. Politics meant those deliberations, active, sometimes vigorous and lively discussions, among citizens who diligently searched to determine and promote the greatest good for the greatest number with each policy decision made.
Two things are fundamentally different in our society today and they are mirrored at all levels of government. First, as the population increases, citizen interest and participation in the welfare of their government decreases. Fewer people bother to vote. Many cannot tell you who their city, state, or national elected officials are.
Secondly, consistent low voter turnout represents the feeling of powerlessness, and perhaps unconcern, on the part of many of our citizens. Somehow, too many citizens feel that their involvement or vote will not make much of a difference anyway. This deep-seated feeling of impotency, if not helplessness, is the most insidious and potentially harmful trend of all — particularly for those who are already at a disadvantage economically, socially, and educationally.
The consequences of non-participation in politics and the political process are grave and lasting. Just think about it. Many elected officials do not feel obliged to represent, protect, or fight for the interest of those who did bother to cast a vote. It is difficult enough for voters to hold many elected officials accountable once they get in office.
The critical question in the upcoming elections is: Can we afford to continue to be a spectator rather than a participant, irrespective of how disgusting some aspects of the process have become?
Our political process seems to be increasingly sliding to a place where negativity and incivility reign, but it is an integral and inextricable part of our lives. We can’t cut it out. Our apathy or disenchantment with it will not make it go away.
Then isn’t our only viable alternative to get involved and influence it? Stop the negativity? Change it?
Comments
Negative Ploitical Ads
As an older citizen, I can't believe how the majority of politicians behave. The lack of respect shown to one another mystifies me. There is a respectful manner in which to deal with your opponent. As I watch the debates, the politician's advertisements, and their comments about one another, I am so disappointed that persons whom we should be looking up to as our representatives are behaving so badly. The politicians are so disconnected from the citizens of our country. They appear to be serving the wants, not the needs, of a few,those that need leaders the least - the wealthy. Day after day, I see governors enacting laws that are out to destroy what little middle class is left and keep others at poverty level, impoverished. I look at what is occurring in Arizona, in Wisconsin and wonder where our Nation is heading to. Where are the voices saying enough is enough? Imagine what changes could be made if the number of people who will be watching the Superbowl game stood out and spoke out?
KNOWledge
Today most citizens do not realize that they can make a difference. Some belive that the government is a fixed organization filled with conspiracies while others like to think that the government only cares for political figures. I like to think otherwise. As a college student I am starting to see the effects of the government take a toll. For one, college tuition is increasing and less classes delay our graduation. I think that all citizens, if not all, students, should vote and have knowledge of how the country is governed. Students from other countries know more about OUR own soil. While most students here in America would prefer to go on facebook, hang out with friends, "experience" life under the influence. Students should realize they are the future and must take a stance on political issues especially this Presidential 2012 campaign. This comes to my second thought, I believe potential candidates should be donating the money they spend on adds to non-profit organizations rather than shoving a face down the drain. What good does it do? Yes, it may deliver a free ride to the white house on the basis of the individuals rhetoric, but does it support your claims of improving the country? Politicians keep talking about irresponsible spending, when in fact they are doing just that! If students are attentive about politics they will be able to have opinions rather than the, "I don't know's." I'm not saying the government is all RIGHT, I'm saying students should gain a political perspective to vote on whats ethical or not. Vote, it makes a difference for you and the future.
Enough already with the negative political ads.
Enough already with the negative political ads.
It’s time for our political candidates to outline their vision of how to specifically improve America and stop tearing down one another.
But that might not be easy to do.
Creating political campaign ads “with impact” is a big business in America, especially for television and radio stations.
Major national candidates have pretty much ignored buying ads in newspapers, and that’s a shame because the print industry sure could use some of the revenue.
One estimate was that politicians spent $4.2 billion on campaign TV ads in the run-up in 2010 to the last mid-term elections.
In 2010, there were 1.48 million TV spots — the most in history, according to MailOnline.
How many times did we in Michigan before the Feb. 28 primary hear: “Santorum voted five times to raise the debt ceiling?” It seemed like that commercial was on TV or a radio station -- and even the sports stations in the Detroit market -- every few minutes.
And Rick Santorum, the narrow loser in Michigan’s primary, had commercials that repeatedly reminded us that Romney voted to let Detroit go down without a federal bailout of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler.
Romney’s ads would shoot back that Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, voted along with “liberal” Carl Levin to “build a bridge to nowhere.”
Negative campaigns by politicians are turning off American voters who will ignore any political ads.
How many times do we need to hear about double-digit jobless rates or the loss of manufacturing jobs or how the Affordable Care Act is not tenable?
Romney said in one commercial he’d weigh what the nation needs by whether we should borrow more money from China to pay for it.
“I’d cut spending,” one of his commercials said. “And the first thing that would be easy to cut is ObamaCare.”
For someone who introduced medical coverage for everyone in Massachusetts when he was governor, that is a 180-degree turnabout.
Perhaps the politician who should speak on ObamaCare is Ron Paul, a medical doctor from Texas who has held up pretty well in the primaries, largely due to an army of young people who like his sound ideas.
We want to hear the next president say how he is going to save this nation from facing inevitable inflation, create jobs, provide medical coverage for those in need, stabilize the still crashing housing market and deal with stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Enough of putting down an opponent. It’s time for candidates to put their heads together and quit acting like squabbling kids on a playground.