Editor:
Governance is serious work, but the political arena is mere theater — bread and circuses — with too few serious candidates among a parade of clowns, carpetbaggers, cultists, conspiracy theorists, and panderers.
Campaign rallies, ads, and debates are opportunities for personal attacks, fear-mongering, hyperbolic vitriol, false narratives, blame games and empty and unrealistic promises. The goal is to manufacture outrage, exploit grievances and manipulate and stoke the base.
Populist propaganda masquerades as true patriotism. Divisive rhetoric signals a willingness to fight. Well-reasoned, temperate voices are lost in the cacophony of the most controversial and inflammatory, which get echoed and amplified by the media for ratings, profit, and entertainment. The swamp gets deeper and more toxic.
Do character and competency still matter? Must civility, truth, honesty, fairness and common decency be sacrificed in order to win? What motivates the desire for public service? Is there a genuine desire to seek real substantive solutions or just to keep the controversial hot-button issues relevant for political gain? Are diligent and respectful debate, cooperation, negotiation, and compromise no longer valued as a means to problem solving and conflict resolution?
Does this reflect the behaviors and values we find acceptable in our politicians, society, or ourselves? I sincerely hope not. We can be better.
Cynthia Steele
Exeter Township
Source: Berkshire mont
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