If you haven’t noticed, politics begin in grade school. The most popular children are usually the most physically attractive, perhaps the most physically agile, the most intelligent, and often have every toy or advantage that money can buy. There are the children who stay home to help mom clean out the refrigerator, on their winter vacation, and others who visit Austria and do a little skiing.
For awhile, it seemed as though one multi-millionaire thought that he could buy the election. In this country, luckily, that is not how the system works. I have watched many television shows about the political scene this year, and must say that I have noticed, to a very great degree, how the media tends to sway public opinion. One way in which they do this is by revealing “surveys” conducted by this or that research group (of whom we’ve never heard before), or by commenting on “exit polls.”
As if they had a crystal ball, or a direct line into the brain waves of millions of Americans, the press “predicts” who will “take” this state or that one.
Campaigning for office is not a good choice for the weak of heart or those who lack determination. Have you noticed? Now that the field has narrowed even more, Democrats and Republicans alike are getting into more sniping of each other and are talking less and less about the issues.
I like to envision what political campaigning used to be like, when “stumping” actually meant standing on a stump, that was a little higher than the crowd, to give a speech. Perhaps it meant riding on a horse, to get from here to there, as did Abraham Lincoln, at least some of the time, if my memory of a PBS show a few years ago serves me.
One main campaign tool was the poster. Another common artifact from campaigns of the old days is the campaign button. Of course, old examples of those types of items are “collectible” today. Then again, there were political textile bandannas, today much sought after by collectors.
What did not exist was the constant bombardment of opinions via the air waves, and every news broadcast one turns on.
Has life improved or worsened? It’s hard to say. While it is interesting to listen to the pundits on television, I wonder if they are not swaying the voters far too much. I believe it is a fine line sometimes between reporting and trying to convince. Sometimes, it is not even what is said; but rather, the snarky way that the comment is made.
In a previous blog, at the very beginning of this primary season, I predicted that John McCain and Hillary Clinton would become the two main contenders for the presidency. In spite of the current train of thought in the news, I believe that I have predicted correctly. With baited breath, we shall just have to wait and see.
Patricia Cummings
‘bated’ (held in waiting), not ‘baited’ (attached to a fishing hook)…!!! (*gives a loving, cheeky little grin*)