Change.
We need it.
The big theme of the 2008 campaigns has been change.
But recently the theme seems less about change... and more about ignorance. As in preying on ignorance, tolerating ignorance, and encouraging ignorance.
I've heard some really dumb ass things recently. Here are a few:
1) Palin Can't Name A Newspaper
2) People think Obama is a Terrorist
Because Sarah Palin alluded that he was
3) "He's An Arab"
I've read enough to learn that the premises of these videos are completely ridiculous (and I know of many newspapers, like The Wall Street Times...OMG).
But presidential campaigns seem to be built on the premise that a lot of voters are totally ignorant, and they'll believe a bunch of sound byte / emotional response crap like this.
So while I wince at comments like "he associates with terrorists" or "he'll negotiate directly with Ahmadinejad at the presidential level without precondition"... other people are nodding their heads.
They nodded their heads in the 2004 election won by a campaign of sound bytes: terrorism, freedom, war, our enemies, threat level orange, etc. To that I want to say: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... well, just don't go foolin people, it's bad.
I want people to question their assumptions. I want them to read the NYT. I want them to not believe every email forward they get I want them to not believe every sound byte they hear on TV. But they (we) need a little help.
It could start with the candidates by not spewing out all this mindless BS at their people. Be real. Be specific. Answer the question (Obama that includes you - nice dodge on last question of debate 2). Teach people what a pre-condition is. Show them where Iran is on the map. Don't pick VP candidates based on how good looking they are. Act like leaders. Inform us. Teach us. Inspire us.
We need change. Campaigns should start it.
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