Without further ado, here goes:
The way we talk about politics in this country is completely and utterly stupid. If you find yourself taking offense at this statement, I have two things to say to you: (1) The ease with which you get angry suggests you watch too much cable news; and (2) I’m sorry I’m not sorry.
Most importantly, our political discourse suffers because we are too easily outraged. Our news media, cognizant of our society’s bizarre anger fetish and anxious to expand the debate to appeal to the largest audience, focuses on items that provoke anger at the expense of critical thought. For example, the news networks had a field day covering the recent Donald Sterling imbroglio. Audience and analyst alike were afforded an opportunity to express their shock and indignation at the racist ranting of a demented octogenarian. Lost amid the sanctimonious browbeating was any serious discussion about the more insidious evils of institutional and structural racism, but such talk might veer into uncomfortable territory for an industry that remains overwhelmingly white.
Partisan networks like MSNBC and Fox News frame news segments in a way that will stoke anger within their viewership. While Fox News scours the news wire for any instance in which liberals are undermining the country’s so-called "traditional principles" and examines every nook and cranny of the country to ensure that Sharia Law is not being imposed, MSNBC is patiently explaining to its viewers how Republicans are ruining the "governmental utopia" President Obama is attempting to create. Meanwhile, CNN either ghoulishly obsesses over the fate of missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 or provides “expert analysis” of the trial of whatever wayward white person Nancy Grace has fashioned into a celebrity.
Moreover, we too readily cling to the ideological paradigm of liberal-versus-conservative, needlessly dividing ourselves into camps to which most of us do not comfortably belong. As Nick Gillespie affirms in a recent opinion piece for Time Magazine, Americans have been rejecting the false choice between the Democratic and Republican Parties. Gillespie points to a 2013 Gallup poll that shows 42 percent of Americans declaring an Independent political affiliation. Moreover, the author relies on polling to prove that broad areas of agreement exist on seemingly divisive issues like gun control and same-sex marriage, among others.
Furthermore, the language of politics relies too heavily on clichés and talking points that enable the speaker to avoid the difficult task of actually saying anything of substance. If I were given a quarter every time I heard a Democrat declare that his Republican opponent wanted to “ship our jobs overseas,” I could retire tomorrow. Conversely, the irritating Republican talking point about President Obama’s “feckless” foreign policy ignores the fact that the administration has essentially adopted President Bush’s aggressive counterterrorism campaign. For example, Obama has expanded military operations involving drones; these machines have infiltrated sovereign countries and in many cases indiscriminately killed terrorist and innocent civilian alike. The drone program actually screams for greater scrutiny, but the Republicans in Congress might have to drop their bellicose posture and blind devotion to the Defense Industry in order to pursue a serious inquiry. On second thought, it is probably safer (and more politically expedient) for them to stick with the “feckless” bit.
Additionally, this toxic environment has turned numerous charlatans and hucksters into millionaires and pseudo-celebrities. For one-time incompetent vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, political know-nothingness has become a lucrative cottage industry. Commentators like Ann Coulter and Ed Schultz have garnered fame and attention more for the extreme statements they make than for the intellectual value of their comments. Despite his controversial past, Al Sharpton has parlayed his fame into a daily show on MSNBC. Rush Limbaugh has made a fortune wading in the toxic swamp of conservative talk radio.
Finally, and most deleteriously, this noxious political environment has disenchanted innumerable voters. The resultant shrinking of the electorate has further empowered ideological extremists, party loyalists, and special interest groups.
Going forward, we would all do well to remember that idle complaining is easy. Visceral reaction is even easier. Getting educated on the issues and developing a nuanced opinion is a bit more challenging, but such is our duty as citizens. Otherwise, we’ll continue this fruitless cycle of changing our proverbial clothes every election season and then complaining that we don’t like the way we look.
Ultimately, as I survey the current landscape of our political discourse, I cannot help but recall an observation made by George Orwell, who remarked: “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” Perhaps by turning down the volume on our televisions and radios and resisting the reflexive urge to look left or right as we confront the problems we face, we might find the enlightenment we so desperately crave.
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