I believe it was Rodney King who once asked the question that serves as title to this article. It’s a good one, and often asked in interesting circumstances. If you don’t remember Rodney King, you might read up on him and you’ll know why his question was so interesting.
I’m currently aggravated (again) by the state of American politics. I’m not sure why this bothers me so much. By now you’d think I would have become as jaded and cynical at the campaign tactics of politicians, but I guess I keep wondering if this is the way things have to be.
Several months ago, I became aware that presidential candidate Barak Obama was calling for a new kind of politics, especially as it applies to campaigning. According to Obama, America needed a new approach to the normal rancor and bitterness that so often marks speeches, advertising, and more. I thought that was an excellent idea. Much of what appears in political advertising is little more than trash talk, bashing the opposition, taking words out of context, misrepresenting positions, and framing positions in the worst possible light. This has been a standard approach to political debate.
So, what’s the problem? Why do I continue to suffer aggravation? I suppose it’s partly now because we’re in the middle of a political season where the dirt is flying as much, if not more, than ever, and what really aggravates me is that both presidential candidates are up to their neck in efforts, not to talk about themselves and what they plan to do if elected, but trashing the other guy.
Lest you think I’m picking on Obama, I’m not. John McCain promised not to take the low road to the highest office in the land. Plenty of dirt is flying out of the McCain campaign in an effort to make Obama look as bad as possible, and not always for legitimate reasons. Both candidates promised, claimed, vowed, that they were going to operate above the slime level, but both candidates have clearly slipped and have fallen headlong into the political goo.
Of course, if you ask each campaign, they will say they’re just telling the truth about the other guy. Political reform, political decency, fair treatment, etc., always applies to the other side, but seldom to one’s own. Who is the loser in all this? It’s not the candidates. It’s us.
Frankly, I’m tired of being treated like I’m an idiot. Evidently, politicians and campaigners don’t think I can understand clearly stated positions. It seems that I must be incapable of recognizing a bad idea, or a good one for that matter. Someone must think I can’t make an informed decision unless I first know that the “other guy” is really Satan, and all his policies will send us to hell.
I try to pay attention to political campaigning. I try to understand the issues. I’m no expert, but I’ve noticed that at least half of all experts don’t have much more expertise on things than I do. By now, everyone is aware of the idea of political “spin.” What galls me is that the spinners don’t seem to think I know when I’m hearing spin and when I’m hearing straight talk. Spin is not just putting one’s own policies in the best light, it is inherently deceptive because a spinner won’t discuss weaknesses or potential for failure. Spin prevents us from getting the whole picture from either side.
Today, I’m aggravated not only by the lack of civility and common decency in politics, I’m aggravated because now the people who have said they will change the tone and live above the fray are just as much part of the problem as ever, and they are now whining about the other guy. Give me a break, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain. You have each said you wouldn’t run such campaigns, but you are each neck deep in the trash you’re throwing at the other guy. Frankly, any complain on your part is falling on my deaf ears, and isn’t touching my unsympathetic heart.
Of course, I know I’m whistling in the wind here. Why do campaigns throw political dirt? Because it works. The public eats it up. It’s the political equivalent of those newspapers usually found at the checkout counter at Wal-Mart. You know the kind. Wild headlines designed to get your attention. Read the story and there is almost always less there. But millions of copies of those papers are sold. People love this stuff. Democrats love to hear the trash about Republicans, and Republicans thrive on dirt about Democrats. The point is that there is a market for trash talk from politicians. If nobody bought it, I think things would change.
Back to Rodney King’s basic question. Can’t we all just get along? Evidently not. Then again, who’s trying?
