Ohio’s primaries were yesterday and I’m just now coming down from my political high. All that lever pulling and sticker wearing makes me feel so powerful, as if I’m actually making a difference. It’s only later as I watch the results on the news that I discover how woefully ineffective my sordid little life can be. But the high is still there, and I’d like to ride it a bit longer.
Now don’t you worry. I’m not going to use this space to champion specific issues. No, that would be getting involved in government, and I’m learning that has very little to do with politics.
I’m finally starting to get it. I know that the exact definition of the word centers on the art and science of government and influencing government policy. But that is not the nature of the beast. Politics has so much more to do with image and influence these days. Any interest in governance or the legislative process is old hat. And to think, this whole time I was focusing on specific issues, getting to know what the candidates felt strongly about, what their voting histories were, what I was passionate about as a participant in democracy. How embarrassing.
As it turns out, elected officials ARE interested in what we think and believe ... but only because our thoughts and beliefs get them elected or otherwise move currency into their pockets. They're in luck, for most voters in America today have very short attention spans and even smaller capacities for critical thinking. Our decisions seem to be swayed easily by imagery and slander, character assassinations, partial truths and other assorted trickery.
In short, we are easily manipulated. This comes as no surprise since most people become agitated when asked what exactly is going on in their heads. Or worse, they find the whole business of self reflection to be a waste of time, not worth the trouble of dealing with what they find. After all, the average human brain isn’t even wired for basic cable.
No, it doesn’t look as if introspection will ever catch on as a cultural phenomenon. This is unfortunate. It has given us a vulnerability that can be exploited by anyone who knows it exists in us. I’m talking about our leaders of course, but more than that. Corporate entities, advertising executives, public relations officials, law enforcement and anyone else who is put in charge of pushing or pulling us in a particular direction for profit. Scads of research have been done, our brains dissected while still in our heads. Human consciousness and perspective have been meticulously studied so as to gain the upper hand on what we are conscious of and how we perceive.
So when an election arises, we never see an open and honest account of the candidates involved. Truth is slaughtered, quartered and served in sound bites we can easily digest. They say only what they know we’d like to hear. What we don’t want to hear is associated with their opponent. We’re only ever given glimpses of the real people involved, the smoking heads of wizards. Pay no attention to what’s behind the curtain.
We are comfortable with this. We prefer it. It’s easier this way. By the end, we’re more interested in who we’d rather have a beer with than any real involvement in democracy. As if we’d ever find ourselves sipping hops with the truly elite. Oh but we can dream, and we usually do.
The zombie dance continues well past elections. Matters of legislation are presented just so. Decision making is explained to us using a creative spin that any radio DJ would give his right earpiece to possess. Governance doesn’t even have to be involved. Partisanship is well known and well played, and always to sway general opinions on two different sides to the same coin. It’s a contest to see who can gain the most voter support and, thus, lobbyist dollars and associations.
It’s a game, and we are the pieces. Certain concepts move us two spaces left and one back. Scandals slide us across the board. “It’s for the children.” “Cut and run.” Good and evil, adequately funded by our tax dollars. Nobody is ever kinged, nor do they even know they can be.
Perhaps if we became aware of our herd-like placement in society, we might be outraged, incensed, ashamed of what we’ve become, and other assorted strong feelings that have nothing to do with being entertained like children at a puppet show. Maybe seeing ourselves at the mercy of the well informed would make us wary. The knowledge that we are vulnerable to manipulation may be the only way to begin a slow change toward free thinking. But I fear we’ll only see it if nothing good is on T.V.
Now don’t you worry. I’m not going to use this space to champion specific issues. No, that would be getting involved in government, and I’m learning that has very little to do with politics.
I’m finally starting to get it. I know that the exact definition of the word centers on the art and science of government and influencing government policy. But that is not the nature of the beast. Politics has so much more to do with image and influence these days. Any interest in governance or the legislative process is old hat. And to think, this whole time I was focusing on specific issues, getting to know what the candidates felt strongly about, what their voting histories were, what I was passionate about as a participant in democracy. How embarrassing.
As it turns out, elected officials ARE interested in what we think and believe ... but only because our thoughts and beliefs get them elected or otherwise move currency into their pockets. They're in luck, for most voters in America today have very short attention spans and even smaller capacities for critical thinking. Our decisions seem to be swayed easily by imagery and slander, character assassinations, partial truths and other assorted trickery.
In short, we are easily manipulated. This comes as no surprise since most people become agitated when asked what exactly is going on in their heads. Or worse, they find the whole business of self reflection to be a waste of time, not worth the trouble of dealing with what they find. After all, the average human brain isn’t even wired for basic cable.
No, it doesn’t look as if introspection will ever catch on as a cultural phenomenon. This is unfortunate. It has given us a vulnerability that can be exploited by anyone who knows it exists in us. I’m talking about our leaders of course, but more than that. Corporate entities, advertising executives, public relations officials, law enforcement and anyone else who is put in charge of pushing or pulling us in a particular direction for profit. Scads of research have been done, our brains dissected while still in our heads. Human consciousness and perspective have been meticulously studied so as to gain the upper hand on what we are conscious of and how we perceive.
So when an election arises, we never see an open and honest account of the candidates involved. Truth is slaughtered, quartered and served in sound bites we can easily digest. They say only what they know we’d like to hear. What we don’t want to hear is associated with their opponent. We’re only ever given glimpses of the real people involved, the smoking heads of wizards. Pay no attention to what’s behind the curtain.
We are comfortable with this. We prefer it. It’s easier this way. By the end, we’re more interested in who we’d rather have a beer with than any real involvement in democracy. As if we’d ever find ourselves sipping hops with the truly elite. Oh but we can dream, and we usually do.
The zombie dance continues well past elections. Matters of legislation are presented just so. Decision making is explained to us using a creative spin that any radio DJ would give his right earpiece to possess. Governance doesn’t even have to be involved. Partisanship is well known and well played, and always to sway general opinions on two different sides to the same coin. It’s a contest to see who can gain the most voter support and, thus, lobbyist dollars and associations.
It’s a game, and we are the pieces. Certain concepts move us two spaces left and one back. Scandals slide us across the board. “It’s for the children.” “Cut and run.” Good and evil, adequately funded by our tax dollars. Nobody is ever kinged, nor do they even know they can be.
Perhaps if we became aware of our herd-like placement in society, we might be outraged, incensed, ashamed of what we’ve become, and other assorted strong feelings that have nothing to do with being entertained like children at a puppet show. Maybe seeing ourselves at the mercy of the well informed would make us wary. The knowledge that we are vulnerable to manipulation may be the only way to begin a slow change toward free thinking. But I fear we’ll only see it if nothing good is on T.V.
2 comments:
Your best post ever...bravo!
I think what you say bears heavily on a religious individual as well - so few are that self-reflective to wonder why they believe what they do. And better yet to confront their fears.
I tried to wake up this morning having more efficacy in my fellow man when I saw those votes yesterday but it has been an uphill battle all day.
Hey dude, thanks for the compliment. I'm pretty proud of this post too. Cynical, yet refined. I have a feeling that's going to be etched on my tombstone.
Thanks also for sending a link to that site on the psychology of politics. If anyone reading this is interested, that link is as follows:
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/
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