It's election year as everyone knows, and it's time once again for our favorite mud-slinging, reputation slashing television commercials. Most of the commercials we are currently viewing are sponsored by Political Action Corporations, groups I've never personally heard of. I guess I could take the time to find out more about them, but their fear-mongering reputations are off-putting for me. The best part about these PACs is their ability to distort the truth until no one really knows what to believe. And while the internet is a great resource, who wants to tear themselves away from the latest news of TomKat and Suri, the Kardashians, or even the Sly Stallone tragedy to do any type of research? Naturally, there are the YouTube videos to watch, especially the "People of Walmart" videos. Research takes time and it's boring! I'd rather watch Sasha the talking dog than find out more about what each candidate believes.
Of course, it's hard to know what each candidate believes. Each is trying to win an election, and each is prepared to say and do whatever it takes to "lead" this country. One candidate supposedly cost people jobs; the other is supposedly not really a US citizen. Repeal Obamacare! Support gay marriage! Attack! Attack! Attack! Since the current president is solely responsible for the state of the economy, nevermind a pointless and expensive war, the natural movement of a bull and bear market, the housing bubble, or problems in Europe, I'm waiting for more problems to be ascribed to him, like the drought across much of the United States. I'm sure he's at fault for that as well. I mean, really, the weather was much better under the previous president, and I'm certain had McCain been elected, it would have continued to improve!
The hate-mongering that occurs during this time is foul. It's hard to escape it as well as social media, like Facebook, the internet, and television are riddled with people expressing their opinions, trying to persuade others to vote for a particular candidate. Isn't it important to listen to a variety of channels to try to determine the most accurate information? If Americans only listen to a certain opinion, how can they make informed decisions?
The media is incredibly powerful for politicians, and they definitely use it to their advantage. Isn't it up to us to determine our opinions? Shouldn't we do a little research instead of, like lemmings, follow a particular vein of thought?
I'm holding out hope for someone to determine that the current president is to blame for the drought across much of the United States. I'm sure there's a PAC somewhere that wants to make that connection!
