Distraction Politics

Michael's doctor to turn himself in; Brittany Murphy died of an overdose; the "boss" is suing a NY bar. Aren't these the key "issues" of the day? Ignorance is bliss, true, and it's very easy to take each day as it comes, put in your 8-hour work/school day, eat dinner with the spouse & kids, and sit down for a few hours of Fringe, Desperate Housewives, and Lost. I call this "distraction politics." You're distracted from the real issues by silly bits of information posing as "news."

What's hard is keeping up with your American freedoms and responsibilities--the freedom we enjoy over most other countries and the responsibility to uphold those freedoms. We take US Govt class in high school and think we know what's going on. Maybe, if we're lucky, we take a poli sci or history class in college and learn a little more about tricky things like Brown vs Board of Education, Teapot Dome, and the New Deal. Then we think we're done...until the first time we step up to vote. If we vote.

And boy do we have some "doozies" to explain why we don't vote: "I don't have time, I don't know where to vote, my vote doesn't make a difference, the system is so corrupt I'm not going to support it with my vote...." And then a few months later we criticize some law that we don't like, or that hidden tax increase, or the loss of habeas corpus. While we sit back and do nothing, the Earth does not stop and those in power push the envelope to maintain and increase their power.

I'm not suggesting that all Americans know all the issues--that's a pretty hefty challenge (even Congress doesn't know the issues and they're voting on them!). But when you walk into that voting booth, do you have the latest political jingle in your head that you heard on the radio on the way to the polls or do you have one or 2 pieces of information on the candidates to help you make an intelligent choice?

I live in IL and just experienced a primary election. I was appalled by:

1. the lack of a line waiting to vote
2. the lack of information available on candidates (other than their official web pages which are mostly biased and unreliable) and
3. the lack of public interest.

So, we nearly lost the Democratic governor, one of the few fellows who seems to have integrity while getting a Lt. Gov. candidate who's pretty much a criminal and is being asked to step aside. Then, for the US Senate race, we get a fellow who's part of a banking family involved in the Rezko fiasco and other shenanigans. His Republican competitor, posing as a moderate, has huge coffers from which to pull so we can enjoy many more jingles! And this is Barack Obama's former Senate seat!

Now I know this is not news. Study after study has been done over the years about American voting, participation, and knowledge. A catalyst of some kind seems to be the key to getting attention and getting more voters to the polls. But, in the absence of such a key thing, studies also point out that, where fewer participate, a conservative minority takes control. If you're a conservative, I'm sure that's fine with you. However, if you want health care reform, Wall Street regulation, or a job, why didn't I see you in line at the polls this Tues?