The United States is a big country, and the political positions of the people who live here run the gamut. What plays well for Republican voters in South Carolina may completely miss the mark in neighboring Florida.
This campaign season is shaping up to be full of outright lies and gross distortions. Some people say all politicians lie. I'd say that's sad.
We are not talking about campaign promises here. Those can be dismissed as hopeful agendas that don't materialize because of time and circumstances. What I'm talking about is misleading statements about the historic record that many people won't take the time to investigate.
Campaigning in the age of digital coverage could be different. Instead of poring over old clippings and microfilms, anyone can sit at home and pull up a candidate's statements as he dashes from one state to the next, altering his position to suit the audience. Truth should not have a regional perspective.
Speaking of truth and regionalism, Congress gets back to work today.
The current approval rating is 13 percent. Since any member of the House not planning on retiring is now in full blown campaign mode, don't expect much meaningful legislation to be passed. Instead, we will see members posturing for the folks back home.
They want to say they've been in Washington looking out for your interests. If nothing gets done, it's those other guys' fault. Or "I worked overtime to keep them from doing that to you."
The professional protesters will of course be active. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and embrace a plethora of causes. They have a role to play in the system. They are the bones to which the flesh and muscle of dissent adhere.
In America, this is what democracy looks like. It may not be a perfect system, but at least most of us can play. Get in the game before those you disagree with run up the score.
This campaign season is shaping up to be full of outright lies and gross distortions. Some people say all politicians lie. I'd say that's sad.
We are not talking about campaign promises here. Those can be dismissed as hopeful agendas that don't materialize because of time and circumstances. What I'm talking about is misleading statements about the historic record that many people won't take the time to investigate.
Campaigning in the age of digital coverage could be different. Instead of poring over old clippings and microfilms, anyone can sit at home and pull up a candidate's statements as he dashes from one state to the next, altering his position to suit the audience. Truth should not have a regional perspective. Speaking of truth and regionalism, Congress gets back to work today.
The current approval rating is 13 percent. Since any member of the House not planning on retiring is now in full blown campaign mode, don't expect much meaningful legislation to be passed. Instead, we will see members posturing for the folks back home.
They want to say they've been in Washington looking out for your interests. If nothing gets done, it's those other guys' fault. Or "I worked overtime to keep them from doing that to you."
The professional protesters will of course be active. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and embrace a plethora of causes. They have a role to play in the system. They are the bones to which the flesh and muscle of dissent adhere.
In America, this is what democracy looks like. It may not be a perfect system, but at least most of us can play. Get in the game before those you disagree with run up the score.
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