Comments on: Special Election Coverage http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/06/special-election-coverage/ Challenge The Status Quo Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:31:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/06/special-election-coverage/#comment-14 Todd Sat, 18 Jun 2005 05:01:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=67#comment-14 That's exactly what got Bush re-elected. That administration knew better than to get too specific, but to be vague about all the things that *sound* like good ideas.<br /> <br /> This is what Schwarzenegger has done: his initiatives are vague enough that they sound like decent ideas. In reality, though, they don't have even the slightest thing to do with his job.<br /> <br /> If we keep hitting on Australia (I've thought of it too; well, there and Canada), I've got a <a href="http://www.leftjustified.net">friend</a> who lives in Australia. I'll get him to chime in later, if I can convince him to leave his work for a few minutes. That’s exactly what got Bush re-elected. That administration knew better than to get too specific, but to be vague about all the things that *sound* like good ideas.

This is what Schwarzenegger has done: his initiatives are vague enough that they sound like decent ideas. In reality, though, they don’t have even the slightest thing to do with his job.

If we keep hitting on Australia (I’ve thought of it too; well, there and Canada), I’ve got a friend who lives in Australia. I’ll get him to chime in later, if I can convince him to leave his work for a few minutes.

]]> By: Tom http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2005/06/special-election-coverage/#comment-11 Tom Thu, 16 Jun 2005 00:09:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=67#comment-11 Suppose people were better educated and trained to notice lies and misdirection, to carefully analyze what they saw, heard and read. Would that change things? I wonder if ads and spin doctors have just gotten too good. They know just what to say and the vaguest way to say it that will motivate the masses. No one aims for reality anymore just what they think will equal the most votes. It doesn't help that there are no punishments for lying either. <br /> <br /> It makes me want to move to Australia (which may have the same problems but I could claim ignorance, being just a stupid American, and spend my time on the beach). Suppose people were better educated and trained to notice lies and misdirection, to carefully analyze what they saw, heard and read. Would that change things? I wonder if ads and spin doctors have just gotten too good. They know just what to say and the vaguest way to say it that will motivate the masses. No one aims for reality anymore just what they think will equal the most votes. It doesn’t help that there are no punishments for lying either.

It makes me want to move to Australia (which may have the same problems but I could claim ignorance, being just a stupid American, and spend my time on the beach).

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