Why is it that Americans are so obviously apathetic when it comes to politics in general, yet when the election cycle completes a revolution we allow ourselves to be separated like the waters of the red sea? Are we that susceptible to propaganda? Are we that driven by our preconceived notions? Are we so blind that we cannot see through the candidates' fog of empty aspersion? It would seem so.
Most Americans will tell you when asked about politics, that “politicians are all the same.” They often say “they’re a bunch of crooks and they’re all on the take,” or “it doesn’t even matter if I vote, nothing ever changes.” And my personal favorite “I just vote for the lesser of two evils.” Even people whom you could consider “political” will admit to this mindset from time to time. So, what is it that manages to divide us like the blues and grays of old? In my opinion it can be summed up in one word: propaganda. We are propagandized like no other generation of Americans has ever been. To all but the most diligent follower of politics and legislative proposals, and their outcomes, the propaganda is like a hypnotic spell that gets the minions goose-stepping in the same direction. I hate the term “fire up the base.” When both parties simply say this or that to hear to get you all fired up, isn’t that a clear sign of your status as a mere commodity? They don’t ever have to present any evidence for their claims nor do they ever have to follow through on any of their grandiose promises and guarantees. Americans just get all fired up about empty rhetoric and we proudly go out and “vote hard.” Why you ask? Because Republicans want to feed the elderly dog food and the Democrats want to give all illegal aliens Social Security of course!
Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
"Democratizing the world by force" is something most of us can agree on??!
Did you just throw that one in there to see if anyone was paying attention?
2 - Clavos
Um, I don't think he meant we agree on it in a pro sense, Doc, though it does kinda read that way...
3 - AH Dowden
You're right! It reads as if I am advocating democratizing the world by force! I will edit it to say NOT democratizing the world by force. Thanks...
4 - Dr Dreadful
It does read that way, and I'm glad that's not what was meant... considering how well that policy has worked out in Afghanistan and Iraq so far!
On getting the electorate more involved in the democratic process, well, it's a biggie. You seem to have reverted, in a way, to the paradigm of the early United States, where only a privileged elite was eligible to vote. By and large, the rest of the populace didn't much care about politics as long as the economy made them comfortable.
One positive trend, which in time may neutralize the superficiality-obsessed mainstream media, is that there is an engaged and growing political blogosphere of informed and interested people - like this site, for instance!
5 - Clavos
"One positive trend, which in time may neutralize the superficiality-obsessed mainstream media, is that there is an engaged and growing political blogosphere of informed and interested people - like this site, for instance!"
The political blogosphere is literally still in its nascent stages, and yet is already making noticeable waves in the real political world; witness for example, the recent DailyKos convention, which was attended by several pols, and the increasing frequency with which various bloggers are being quoted, not only by the MSM, but also by the pols themselves.
It will be very interesting to watch how politics will be transformed as the blogosphere develops and conyinues to grow in influence...
6 - Dr Dreadful
Although of course, Clav, there's as much drivel out there in cyberspace as there is good political commentary. We've seen some shining examples of the former even here on BC... if you know what I mean!
Hopefully a different side will win this particular battle for minds.
7 - Dan Miller
Bismark (along with many other luminaries), is reported to have said that we should not know how our sausages or our laws are made. Right or wrong, we don't. Perhaps that is why civics teachers don't dwell much on either topic, and the latter only very supeficially.
Dan