Elections are often considered the ultimate proof of democracy. By voting, the inhabitants of a country exercises their most principal right and has a direct influence on who get to govern, or alternatively, how an issue is solved. Even nations under the absolute rule of a dictator often has elections and in theory, a democratic system, albeit the true power resides with one man or group. In practise this is of course nothing but a public secret, but the facade is kept up regardless. If you’re as lucky as I am, you live in a country where we do in fact elect our politicians. One can always argue how true and real one’s particular democratic system is in a theoretical and technical sense, but I’ll leave that for another time. What interests me is the way modern, western practical politics tend to work. As they say, voting is a privilege, and exercising that right is something that should not be taken lightly on. I’d like to spend some lines on the subject “voter-awareness”.
Populism
There’s always an election going on somewhere, but some elections get more media coverage and publicity than others. Right now we have an excellent example in the US presidential election coming up in a few days. This article is not really aimed at that election specifically, but rather elections in general. Nor it is my objective to front any particular candidate in this or any other election. What is interesting is that tendencies and trends initially seen in the US, gradually becomes common in other countries too. This can both be the ideological current of the time, or in relation to this article, the way politics are practised during an election campaign. Now, the US is often referred to, at least by Americans, as the finest democracy in the world. Even if this is not necessarily true, seen from a foreigners perspective, the US is indeed a country whose doings has a profound impact on the rest of the world. Thus, who leads it and how an election is conducted there, has interest for people all around the globe. Also, it’s difficult to think of any other election showing off the more extreme sides of modern politics and PR-techniques.
The trend for many years and elections now, is that the medias are becoming a more and more important factor in politics and society. They are aggressive, often focusing on secondary matters such as person rather than case or ideology. This tendency is a result of the modern-day mass medias and the many arenas they compete in. Information spreads more rapidly than ever, and the need to expose one’s own specific enterprise, leads journalists and reporters to use large and rather unfriendly letters in the headlines. This again makes it necessary for the politicians to try to catch the headlines themselves, giving rise to a populistic trend, where the messages are simple and grass very green.
Populism is not something new, it’s been around since before the days of ancient Rome and Greece. When the very first leader was “chosen” amongst a group of tribal people, let’s call him “Ugruk”, he’d probably fired of a few populistic statements (besides of the skull-bashing) such as “Ugruk will give you much food”. Thus populism has a long history, and it is not necessarily wrong itself either. Although, the way information is shared today, probably makes it a potentially more effective, and dangerous tool, for anyone seeking power. Back in Ugruks days, everyone knew this was all bullocks, they weren’t all that smart and educated, but they didn’t have to be to understand that Ugruks primary strength was just that, strength. A few small glimmers of cynicism and intelligence on top of that, made him a candidate for leadership.
The problem with modern populism is the fact that people are really quite smart, smart enough to feel certain that they are smart. People who think they are smart tend to be lazy and not really work hard, they feel no need to improve themselves. The access to all kinds of information and knowledge do not mean one use it. In the case of politics, the effect is that people tend jump on a bandwagon that sounds nice, without doing research. Of course that is their choice and they are free to do that, but personally I’d rather prefer it if they used their brains a little more. Not because I wish to change who they vote for or their opinions, but because I believe that choices should be as objective and well-founded as possible.
The Fourth Estate & The Price We Pay
Barack Obama -The new shiny model?
John McCain - Has he got a spare tire?
A teacher once told me, “politics is a lie, a damn lie!”. I do not remember the setting anymore, and being only about twelve at the time, what he actually meant or was referring to, remains a bit vague to me today. Yet, what I think maybe he was thinking of, is the tendency of modern-day politicians to be like fancy cars, sporting nice chromed details and a shiny paint job, with cause and ideology being the lousy 5$ can of “instant-tire-fix” the factory put in the trunk instead of a proper spare tire.
A politician running for a major office, becomes a public person the very instant he proclaims his candidature. This is something that is to be expected, not to mention, probably necessary. Being a public person in the 21st century meas you will get exposed to an extent our forefathers would have found unthinkable. Outward appearance, looks and speech are key factors that need to meet certain standards. What these standards are, is a subtle science, often incomprehensible to the common man. Also, the medias interpretation of a candidate often creates a consensus and a common view of the individual, which might even easily proven to be completely erroneous. A classical example in the US election campaign is the claim that Barack Obama is an Arab because his middle name is “Hussein”. Both in a genetic and cultural sense there is no doubt that he is in fact not, yet the claim has stuck. This is a typical example of some claim fueled by the media, becoming “truth”, at least among a group that need flimsy evidence to fuel their prejudice. Seriously, even if he was an Arab or Muslim, how would that matter at all?Are not all men supposed to be created equal and is there not freedom of speech and religion?
Bottom line, even if you do not agree to my previous example, is that we allow the medias to hold a power over ourselves, that is simply unmatched by any other institution of the society, and we did not even democratically elect the journalists that shape our understanding of the world! Never forget, that a reporter or journalist or even an entire institution might have an agenda of its own, and regardless of that, we allow them affect who to vote for. Ultimately, this is the price we pay for living in a relatively free world. We can only acknowledge the reality, but this doesn’t stop us from being conscious beings. As Robert Jackson once said:
“The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.”
Rubbish is the key point, the media presents us with a lot of it, but we do not have to believe it or take it for granted. A healthy dose of scepticism will not hurt! You should always be sceptic of what is told you, especially if it is in any way related to money, ideology or power. Just because someone in a nice suit with a pretty face tell you something, doesn’t mean they are correct. This sounds like social know-how that should present already in kindergarten, but people can be surprisingly naive.
Words Are Just That, Words
It’s not uncommon to hear phrases like “that man has a way with words”, or comparing a politician with a well-known charismatic historical personality with great rhetorical skills, for instance the infamous John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King. Good rhetorical skills have often been a much respected ability amongst us humans, at least in periods where expressing one’s views did not mean one would be beheaded. Developing language have been exceptionally important to the success of our race, and this is also an observation easily made by anyone. Other animals don’t talk, at least not to the same extent that we do, providing an obvious logical conclusion. Amongst man, a very common perspective is that the fact that we speak, puts us above all other creatures of this world. Yet, as man have a love for words, language and fine speech, we can easily be blinded by that fascination. Pretty things said does not necessarily mean anything substantial. On the political arena this holds very true and it’s something one should be very aware of when observing politics.
Rhetorics, regardless of its beauty and the fire it might light in our hearths and minds, are nothing but words, and words are very cheap. Exchanges of words, such as debates and discussions might reveal weaknesses with one, several or even all participants, but this is not always as definite as one can be lead to believe when watching a political debate. Don’t forget the fact that discussions in themselves have a certain pointless value, because discussions is basically about orally expressing views in such a way that others appear poor or inadequate. It’s as much about rhetorics and technique as much as about actual message. People are different and some have clearly better oratory skills. Yet, oratory skills are not the same as knowledge and it certainly do not mean that the orator is “correct”. Politicians strive to massacre each others with oratory skills, and many of them have such abilities far beyond the average. That’s probably why they become politicians in the first place. Many have come to places of power with a mediocre message mixed with charisma and an ability to appear genuine in front of people.
Whatever you do...
The man in the street is easily blinded by fair talking and sweet assurances. If you are supposed to be a conscious member of your society, a voter and a fellow man, having the will to actually try and see what is behind a politicians message is a primary goal. Being a little bit conscious about the mechanics that take place in modern politics and trying to view things from a different angle, can give you a new perspective and hopefully allow you to make a more educated choice when you’re in that booth with the ballot in front of you. Having the right to vote is a privilege many have died for, and others dream of. Even then, being spoiled does not mean we can’t think. Don’t pick your candidate or party on a whim, evaluate statements, have a look at their programs of principle, use different media sources and be sceptic to all of them. The truth is normally something in the middle. Be extremely vary of classical populistic promises such as lower taxes, more money for schools and roads and so forth. Money do have to come from somewhere and taxes is the primary income of most nations. Spending money on one thing, normally means less money are spent on other things. After you’ve thought through things like this, make your choice and pick the party or candidate because you truly believe they and/or he is the best suited to govern you, and your country as a whole.
Oh and whatever you do, vote!
