Why I Hate Politics
Published October 27, 2004
Believe it or not, there are times that I really hate politics. If political discussion focused on issues, I would love it. I could argue discuss the merits of the death penalty, war, welfare, taxation and other things forever. And that is what I attempt to do on my blog.
Yet for some reason political discussion is not about issues, with the current Presidential Campaign being a perfect example. In the primaries we had Democrats bashing Democrats. Then as soon as Kerry was chosen, the same people that were bashing Kerry started to praise Kerry. And now we are subject to the Republicans bashing Democrats, and Democrats bashing Republicans. Both of the main candidate's campaigns have run away from any true conversation on issues. They avoid discussing anything issue related like the plague. And this is for both candidates. Both John Kerry and George Bush have done little but bash the other. Often they are not even bashing each other's ideas, policies, and plans, but instead they bash each other. They bash character flaws. They mock each other.
And then they turn so-called "issues" into campaign material. While I have supported John Kerry through much of his campaign, I still cannot stand some of his methods. In the last two weeks George Bush has been blamed because grandma could not get her flu shot, which was somehow the fault of the President. And the he got blamed for 380 tons of explosives that are missing in Iraq. Do you really think that President Bush was responsible for these two things? Nor can I stand some of the Karl Rove methods that Bush uses. And then John Kerry is still attacked for what he did when he was 27 years old - 30+ years ago. Should it really matter that John Kerry protested the Vietnam War in terms of his current ability to be President? No matter what your views of Vietnam are, will John Kerry be a better/worse President because protested it?
American politics has become somewhat of an art form, but a very dirty perverse form of art. It has become about who can find the dirtiest secrets (Please tell me what Clinton's affair had to do with his presidency?). It has become about who can create the most effective "anti" television ads, drumming up opposition against a candidate and rarely support for themselves. It has become about who can use the current events in order show their opponent as weak. It has become about who can attracts that 5-10% of undecided people in the middle, with the other 90+% of America already deciding who they are going to vote for before they even know the candidate.
- Why I Hate Politics
- Published: October 27, 2004
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- Section: Politics
- Writer: davel454
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Dave, Craig already posted a shorter version of this opinion. I, and some others responded on that thread. You can read it here. I believe this election will have long-lasting consequences.
very good points Dave, and I agree entirely that our system forces presidential candidates, in particular, toward the center (the entire point of the electoral college), but I actually see this as a strength of the system rather than a weakness. If forces coalition building during the campaign rather than afte rthe election as in parliamentary systems.
from The Onion Election Day Guide:
If you are a Flintstone, make sure to put the granite slab arrows-first into the dinosaur's mouth.
;-)
I really understand where this article is coming from. I'm currently in my senior year at university majoring in political science and I literally detest politics now. I'm seriously considering adopting an apathetic attitude to it all and just basing my vote on issues alone...if I decide to vote at all.
i wandered like a dove they said
and silent slowly softly bled
and thorugh ndd through the raps day ding
they liked the off the roofs of thing
s and close by as scertt code
codes that lfet and codes thea mooed
a woman above killed my fmaily and soul
and they found new ways to spin the yarn
and hunry new generation they found
and they did hte same hate that hate was yarend
and after yeaers i foudn the toss
of poice states who killed for money and recruited fat thugs
and they reaped the sould from my fmily too
and prmoed them media jouys of trues
and flew past meadows tha stank like cues
and past dates round like a a camels' fool
and so silently they told the coutnry it was not
mnad
i hate p9olitics because it isued to kill
As if there are any less problems in my own life: a divorce, diabetes, stress, head-aches, family problems, financial mess, a pending legal case. Reading the newspaper only exacerbates this condition. I recently took a conscious decision to TOTALLY AVOID any interest in politics; as an individual belonging to a disadvantaged minority, I'm too powerless to change things around me. Reading about injustice to others used to make me hate the whole world.
I've finally redeemed my life by avoiding newspapers, news channels etc. And I'm very happy now.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/21495)
We passed the point of talking about issues long ago, unfortunately. It's nothing more than marketing a candidate now.
If Bush thinks the "rich" should get tax cuts because it will help drive the economy (which I agree with), he should say that. Instead, he defends the "rich" tax cuts by saying it's small businesses who benefit.
If Kerry thinks gays should be able to marry (which I also agree with and suspect he does, too), he should say that. Instead, he talks of "civil unions" while defending "traditional marriage".
It sure would be nice if the politicans would actually say what they believe in and let us make choices on that.
But that's too much to ask, apparently.