Although the actual presidential election remains nearly half a year away, political bullshit has already overtaken our nation. Advertisement after advertisement. Slam after slam. I am ridiculously sick of it, and it’ll only get worse.
I blame money.
Money ruins so many things, and it has certainly ruined proper political discourse in this nation. Essentially, what we have in 2012 is a (relatively) small number of ultra-rich people funneling millions and millions and millions of dollars into campaigns. Though they would argue the dough is spent trying to “help America,” that’s not true. The dough is spent trying to brainwash you.
I know … I know—I sound paranoid. I get it. What I mean is, political advertising counts on a message being repeated so often that you, the receiver, ultimately state it as your own (original) thought.
Ad: Barack Obama is against education.
Ad played again: Barack Obama is against education.
Ad played again and again and again …
Barack Obama is against education.
Barack Obama is against education.
Barack Obama is against education.
Barack Obama is against education.
Barack Obama is against education.
Ultimately, me: Barack Obama is against education.
This is exactly how it works—and both ways. The Democrats will tell you things about Mitt Romney. Some will be true. Some will be false. But the ultimate goal is to convince you (facts often be damned) in 30 seconds that Mitt Romney is so and so; that Barack Obama is so and so.
Truth be told, we know precious little about either candidate. Instead, we know what we’ve been told to know.
Winner: Money.
