Okay, the attack ads have to go! We've been getting these American-styled political ads on TV since early summer, and I was sick of them then. Now they're getting me angry.
The content of an attack ad is usually about as stupid as the people they expect to buy what they're selling. Getting your message out to the voters has been pushed aside for getting a catchy negative nick name for your opponent(s).
It works like this: "Hey, do you like that guy?" "Sure, he's okay." "Well I think he's an idiot...so that makes you an idiot. But my guy's not an idiot." "So what if I say I like him?" "That would mean that I won't call you an idiot anymore."
A typical attack ad shows an unflattering picture of the person we're supposed to NOT vote for, plus his name, perhaps his catchy negative nickname. Then it proceeds to slander him in a subtle and legal-enough way. Then it switches quickly at the end to a shot of the guy they want you to vote for and his colourful party logo.
Make the other guy look as bad as you can and hammer away at any one easy to remember perceived deficiency until the public starts to buy it.
The "debate" won't be any better. The ones who aren't in power will gang up on the one who is. They'll speak in carefully crafted sound bytes and move their hands in carefully learned gestures, and promise nothing.
Do I sound cynical? Well I should! I've been fed this crap via TV for years. What makes it even worse is that if any other product was sold this way, there'd be lawsuits and great loud of anguish from the attackees.
What makes me really queasy about all this is that these moronic ads work. They've become such a part of the American political landscape that anyone who tries to run a decent issues-first campaign and who shows respect and admiration for his opponent is doomed. Look at the wahoos that poor nation elected...then RE-elected.
I know I'm just one person, and I'll never stem this tide of negative name-calling, but at least it's given me inspiration for how to vote in this election. I'm dumbing myself down even further than the ad agencies are willing to go. The first politician whose face I see or name I hear in every ad, is the one I vote for. Regardless of who it is, or what the ad is saying about them. I'm keeping tabs of all the ads I hear and see. Whoever has the most points on October 10th gets my vote.
Think of it as just my tiny personal plan for electoral reform.
The content of an attack ad is usually about as stupid as the people they expect to buy what they're selling. Getting your message out to the voters has been pushed aside for getting a catchy negative nick name for your opponent(s).
It works like this: "Hey, do you like that guy?" "Sure, he's okay." "Well I think he's an idiot...so that makes you an idiot. But my guy's not an idiot." "So what if I say I like him?" "That would mean that I won't call you an idiot anymore."
A typical attack ad shows an unflattering picture of the person we're supposed to NOT vote for, plus his name, perhaps his catchy negative nickname. Then it proceeds to slander him in a subtle and legal-enough way. Then it switches quickly at the end to a shot of the guy they want you to vote for and his colourful party logo.
Make the other guy look as bad as you can and hammer away at any one easy to remember perceived deficiency until the public starts to buy it.
The "debate" won't be any better. The ones who aren't in power will gang up on the one who is. They'll speak in carefully crafted sound bytes and move their hands in carefully learned gestures, and promise nothing.
Do I sound cynical? Well I should! I've been fed this crap via TV for years. What makes it even worse is that if any other product was sold this way, there'd be lawsuits and great loud of anguish from the attackees.
What makes me really queasy about all this is that these moronic ads work. They've become such a part of the American political landscape that anyone who tries to run a decent issues-first campaign and who shows respect and admiration for his opponent is doomed. Look at the wahoos that poor nation elected...then RE-elected.
I know I'm just one person, and I'll never stem this tide of negative name-calling, but at least it's given me inspiration for how to vote in this election. I'm dumbing myself down even further than the ad agencies are willing to go. The first politician whose face I see or name I hear in every ad, is the one I vote for. Regardless of who it is, or what the ad is saying about them. I'm keeping tabs of all the ads I hear and see. Whoever has the most points on October 10th gets my vote.
Think of it as just my tiny personal plan for electoral reform.
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