Politics And Business As Usual
Friday, January 25, 2008 Filed in: Media
I'm not a media or news junkie, but I have my days.
The news from modern media has become more
entertaining than informative.
Nothing makes that phrase more true than a season of national politics. Regardless of your religious affiliation, political affiliation, or attention span, this has been a banner year for political entertainment.
Never in the country's history have there been so many nationally televised political debates between so many candidates vying for public office. Never in history has the media taken a more active role in fomenting political discussion both between candidates and their supporters.
Yes, foment. That seems to be what modern media does best.
Despite the breadth and scope of political debate these days, it's still business as usual in the political arena. Politicians make promises and seek money from supporters.
Politicians make accusations and draw negative comparisons and seek to diminish the fine, upstanding character of their opponents (that's a broad assumption, I know). Facts and truth don't mean much to politicians during an election campaign, so those of us on the sidelines cannot always be sure that what we hear, see, or read is truthful and honest.
If anything, we can be more sure that what we hear, see, or read is probably the opposite of what a politician is saying.
Regardless of the number of politicians vying for an office, regardless of the number of televised debates, regardless the number of web sites extolling virtues or vilifying candidates, one thing is for sure. It's politics and business as usual.
It's also great entertainment, and with scandal in the national pastime of baseball, it's probably the new national sport.
Nothing makes that phrase more true than a season of national politics. Regardless of your religious affiliation, political affiliation, or attention span, this has been a banner year for political entertainment.
Never in the country's history have there been so many nationally televised political debates between so many candidates vying for public office. Never in history has the media taken a more active role in fomenting political discussion both between candidates and their supporters.
Yes, foment. That seems to be what modern media does best.
Despite the breadth and scope of political debate these days, it's still business as usual in the political arena. Politicians make promises and seek money from supporters.
Politicians make accusations and draw negative comparisons and seek to diminish the fine, upstanding character of their opponents (that's a broad assumption, I know). Facts and truth don't mean much to politicians during an election campaign, so those of us on the sidelines cannot always be sure that what we hear, see, or read is truthful and honest.
If anything, we can be more sure that what we hear, see, or read is probably the opposite of what a politician is saying.
Regardless of the number of politicians vying for an office, regardless of the number of televised debates, regardless the number of web sites extolling virtues or vilifying candidates, one thing is for sure. It's politics and business as usual.
It's also great entertainment, and with scandal in the national pastime of baseball, it's probably the new national sport.
