Where did the issues go?
It seems to be that the race for president has become more of a "look at who I can get on my side!!!" Now I know what you are thinking, "yeah it has always been that way..." I agree that popularity is what gets you elected, but back in the day it was the senators or house reps that were on your side. Maybe a well known public figure who had a good moral standing with the voters. However, today it has become who knows the most famous people in Hollywood. Hollywood...where the people are paid to be different then who they are. Most people couldn't tell you how Brad Pitt feels about the national debt, but since he is voting for Obama then so will they. I know that most of you who are reading this are smarter than to fall for they hype, but think of all those people who read US as their source of news. Don't get me wrong it is a very smart strategy to get a vote, but maybe this is what is meant when the framers look at the mob theory...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I absolutely agree with you in saying that we, as a society, put too much emphasis on celebrities' political ideologies and campaign contributions. However, I also know that in 2004, the presidential race alone cost over $1 billion. They've got expendable income and a high profile associated with being a celebrity. The problem here is that it is less about the celebrity and more about idolization. As citizens, the majority of American celebrities have as much right to contribute their $2000 as anyone else. The very fact that MSNBC is showing wall-to-wall coverage of Anna Nichole Smith hearings, rather than talking about the issues of Iraq, Iran, North Korea, energy independence, health care costs, etc...shows that society is more about who'll be the next American Idol than who'll be the next American President.
I agree there is a celebrity gossip problem in the U.S., but aside from contributions, how many people are really mobilized by Brad Pitt?
Seriously, I wonder what kinds of effects he has.
I also agree that Americans care too much about celebrities. Every successful person in Hollywood automatically gets their opinion heard in press around the world. Sure, celebrities help foot the bill for candidates but they are becoming too much apart of campaigns. Politicians need to worry about real everyday people and most celebrities have completely lost touch with that part of the world.
Post a Comment