What would our Congress look like today if false ads were banned from political campaigns with the consequence being disqualification and not being able to run again in the next election? One thing is certain--candidates wouldn't need to raise so much money to put out the number of lying ads that are out there.
Of course, here in the USA there would also have to be something done about the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that allows large corporations to lie anonymously on a candidates behalf.
Wouldn't it be nice if the people that we elected to office were honorable people that had some personal integrity? Wouldn't it be nice if they couldn't be bought or bullied into making decisions? Wouldn't it be nice if they could actually talk to one another and work out differences without resorting to temper tantrums, lying, name calling and behaviors more likely to be found in a junior high student council (my apologies to the junior high council members)?
We do have laws that keep people from lying...slander, libel. Why don't they apply to campaign ads?
All-in-all, I have to say that I'm glad it's over for this election cycle. We ought to have a few months of the normal sex filled beer commercials and normal false stories and inflammatory reporting from Fox News. The return to the normal everyday lying and hype that we've grown accustomed to will be a relief!
John
The talking heads are already yakking about 2012. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteIt won't work because it requires honor, logic, and common sense.
ReplyDeleteYou need to post something. I check here every day or two and I know you have some thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSorry this comment is late, but I wanted to jump in anyhow. Yes, the lies are terrible. Nut I believe the worst campaign ads are not necessarily the outright lies, which can be refuted easily enough, but the half-truths and distortions that take things out of context and twist their meanings, or the audio and video clips that are shamelessly cut and re-edited to make it look as if the individual is saying something completely different from what he or she actually said. It's enough to make you give up on the integrity of those who would be our leaders.
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