Why do Americans care whether their next President Barack Obama can score higher than a 37 in 7 frames of bowling? Why do Americans care how much time Hillary spends picking out her wardrobe in the morning? Why do you care that John McCain has received an endorsement from Heidi Montag from "The Hills"? If you asked the majority of America about a politician's standpoint on a certain topic, most would not be able to answer. What is wrong with us?!
In the June 9, 2008 article "Just How Low Will They Go" (http://www.newsweek.com/id/139440), NEWSWEEK writers detailed the job of Jin Chon, the Press Secretary for Specialty Media for the Clinton Campaign. It is his job to make sure that Hillary gets on shows like Entertainment tonight in order to reach out to the new "It" demographic. NEWSWEEK dubbed this title for the group of low-info voters who vote for a President based nothing upon his views or beliefs, but instead on how much they like him.
I am outraged by the ignorance of the American public. Look what happened in 2000 and 2004 when we voted for the President we like. Sure, I'd like to go have a beer with President Bush, but there is no way in hell that I would put him in charge of the 300 million American citizens. It is this ignorance that is pushing America into a recession, pushing America into a never-ending state of war, pushing America into a world that is going to be boiled due to greenhouse gases. We need to change our mindset and do it soon.
The article also said that out of the 300 million American citizens, campaign officials state that 299.5 million of them don't regularly watch the news. My false consensus bias told me to not believe this, but it is most likely true. Entertainment Tonight gets 7 million viewers a night, while the Daily Show with Jon Stewart (a fake news show that is considered entertainment) gets a much lower amount with 1.7 million. If entertainment posing as news gets a small number of viewers, how low do you think news is?
One more example about the dumbing-down of America and the lack of interest in the future of the country is local news programs. Now, obviously, I can't speak about the whole country's news systems, but at least here in Wisconsin, our morning news is filled with crap. If you watched the broadcast for an entire hour, you'd see about 20-30 minutes of weather and traffic (depending on how severe it is), about 15 minutes of local news (such as shootings, school problems, etc.), about 10-15 minutes of commercials, and finally about 5-10 minutes of politics. This short time span covers local politics, state politics and national politics. And, furthermore, most of the nationwide politics is filled with low-info popularity information. I remember when Barack bowled the 37. This was huge news in Wisconsin! I watched it for about 10 minutes on its own in the morning. I got many different images of the bowling, followed by in-depth analyses by our brilliant newscasters. We need to get America back into carrying about their future, and this must happen by getting America back into politics and out of the glamour. Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading.
I can not stand it when people say things like who do we expect obama to be a good leader when he can not even bowl a descent score. At least he can have fun like a normal person.
The value of voting and the political 'thing' was not taught to our parents and now they and the teachers no longer know how or what to teach to the up coming adults ie voters.
We have got to do something I just do not know what or where to begin
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
Exactly, we need to do something, but how do you educate an entire nation that doesn't want to work, how to become involved in politics. I guess it has to start in school, but, at least for me, parents tell you no to pay attention to your teachers because they all swing democratic. What else can be the first step?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
We do have to start some were. For me I would have to find the info for myself. then show my friend's and family. Make sure my kids grow up knowing what is important. Vote and write... to congress and here.
Become active in teaching our community.
I think there will be more then one first step to get change truely started....Let me think.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
I agree. The change has to start on the lowest ring of the ladder. I remember watching a Daily Show where the guest on the show was some guy (I can't remember his name) who wrote a book called "The Uprising." He says that there is a revolution starting (or going to start very soon) that is beginning at the local government level and will find its way to state legislatures and then to the national government. It will be interesting to see what happens
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
It is worrisome. We have a worldwide reputation as idiots. I blame the media a lot of the time, but I also blame our culture of materialism and the lack of a long history. We are a young nation that grew too big too fast. The ideal of immediacy and running from the past has been with us from the beginning.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
True story, but the media reflects the will of the people, most of the time. It is our culture (if you can even call it that) that is the cause of a lot of our problems. It is that we have no culture! We just do whatever we do with nothing but immediate gratification on our minds.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
The media is only selling what we're buying. It's simple supply and demand. They give us what we ask for. How do we get people to ask for something more substantive, though?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
That's a great question. We have to un-dumb America! But how?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032