Now that we are in another full swing of political advertising, it’s time to make a suggestion to eliminate many of the distortions, manipulations and downright lies spewed in ads across our television screens. Our democracy will be much better served if we implement this idea. Someone running for office, in fact, could likely run on this platform and get elected. So, here it is.
First, let’s get some anger out first. For anyone who is parked in front of the television set during any election cycle, you are assaulted by so many egregiously incorrect statements, distorted images, falsified information and outrageous claims made by one candidate against the other, that it’s difficult not to vomit. If you’re smart, you record every single show you watch and fast forward through all the ads.
Most people don’t do that, so the manipulation continues to assault their senses, raising cynicism, causing sarcasm (which makes sense) and ultimately raising angst and anger. We get hyped up. People think, “I can’t believe that guy would do something like that. What a jerk. I can never vote for him.”
Our default becomes, “I can’t vote for that candidate,” as opposed to, “I trust this person and believe that they will do what they say they will.” When you speak to people about who/what they support, they often respond with a statement about being tired of all the BS (read: misleading attack ads) and they just want someone who will work hard and be upfront with them.
Here’s the proposal (up for sale or theft): implement legislation that ONLY allows the candidate to speak on camera. It’s a simple piece of legislation. Someone could get elected on the premise, so I’m throwing it out there for all you candidates looking for a last ditch great idea to reform our election process and restore some faith in how we are represented.
The legislation would prevent/ban/disallow voice-overs, video, music, imaging, props, anything except the candidate. The candidates can still say whatever they want. They’ll have free speech. And, of course, they will still lie and manipulate data to try and convince you to vote for them.
But, they will have to be the one saying it. No soft voice-over with the wonderful soothing sound that makes you feel relaxed and better about someone you know is a liar and a thief. The words must come from the candidate’s mouth directly.
This serves several very important purposes. 1) You get to see and hear the person directly and form your opinion of the candidate in a direct way rather than by innuendo and third-party intervention as current political advertising allows.
2) You be the judge. You see the face of this candidate, and how that person speaks. They must be able to communicate effectively, explain things accurately, demonstrate to you what they are capable of to earn your vote.
3) Without music, images, video, you are left with solely the individual. Who is this person? They must speak “to” you. If there’s no connection, your attention span goes away. They must come at you from their heart, along with a passion about what’s important in the years ahead.
The snake oil salesmen will always be with us. Attempts are made on multiple fronts to distort an issue in one direction or another. This proposal ain’t gonna solve it all. But, it sure would go a long way to dialing back the anger and finger-pointing, and just maybe bring us a little closer together as a country, trying to reconcile how we want this complex, diverse, modern ship to sail.
First, let’s get some anger out first. For anyone who is parked in front of the television set during any election cycle, you are assaulted by so many egregiously incorrect statements, distorted images, falsified information and outrageous claims made by one candidate against the other, that it’s difficult not to vomit. If you’re smart, you record every single show you watch and fast forward through all the ads.
Most people don’t do that, so the manipulation continues to assault their senses, raising cynicism, causing sarcasm (which makes sense) and ultimately raising angst and anger. We get hyped up. People think, “I can’t believe that guy would do something like that. What a jerk. I can never vote for him.”
Our default becomes, “I can’t vote for that candidate,” as opposed to, “I trust this person and believe that they will do what they say they will.” When you speak to people about who/what they support, they often respond with a statement about being tired of all the BS (read: misleading attack ads) and they just want someone who will work hard and be upfront with them.
Here’s the proposal (up for sale or theft): implement legislation that ONLY allows the candidate to speak on camera. It’s a simple piece of legislation. Someone could get elected on the premise, so I’m throwing it out there for all you candidates looking for a last ditch great idea to reform our election process and restore some faith in how we are represented.
The legislation would prevent/ban/disallow voice-overs, video, music, imaging, props, anything except the candidate. The candidates can still say whatever they want. They’ll have free speech. And, of course, they will still lie and manipulate data to try and convince you to vote for them.
But, they will have to be the one saying it. No soft voice-over with the wonderful soothing sound that makes you feel relaxed and better about someone you know is a liar and a thief. The words must come from the candidate’s mouth directly.
This serves several very important purposes. 1) You get to see and hear the person directly and form your opinion of the candidate in a direct way rather than by innuendo and third-party intervention as current political advertising allows.
2) You be the judge. You see the face of this candidate, and how that person speaks. They must be able to communicate effectively, explain things accurately, demonstrate to you what they are capable of to earn your vote.
3) Without music, images, video, you are left with solely the individual. Who is this person? They must speak “to” you. If there’s no connection, your attention span goes away. They must come at you from their heart, along with a passion about what’s important in the years ahead.
The snake oil salesmen will always be with us. Attempts are made on multiple fronts to distort an issue in one direction or another. This proposal ain’t gonna solve it all. But, it sure would go a long way to dialing back the anger and finger-pointing, and just maybe bring us a little closer together as a country, trying to reconcile how we want this complex, diverse, modern ship to sail.