This is it; the final stretch of what is probably the most costly, and longest election season in my lifetime.
Tuesday cannot come fast enough for me, as noted in last week’s column.
On my weekly walk with my longtime childhood friend, Rob Seeley, we discussed the upcoming election and I mentioned the negative advertising part of the election.
Personally I despise the negative ads, and it’s too the point when a political ad commercial comes on TV, I turn the channel. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.
Rob said the reason why there are so many negative ads out there is because they work.
Negative campaigning is so prevalent, you actually forget about the good in either the incumbent or the challenger.
It would be nice to be refreshed, once in a while, on a candidate’s platform – what platform?
Everyone is so interested in bashing each other on the side of their heads to the point of ad nauseam.
Here’s an explanation to uphold Rob’s point on negative campaigning.
According to the University of California, “There’s no shortage of insults, mudslinging and distortions in politics. And no matter how often candidates swear they’ll run a positive, issues-oriented campaign, negativity seeps in. Why? Because our brains respond to it.”
It seems positive images are easily overtaken by negative, and again, quoting the article, “Our brains are hard-wired to seek out and remember negative information.”
That’s terrible.
As we all know, the King of Negativity is the undisputed champ, Donald Trump. It was clear during his run, name-calling was the easiest way to put down an opponent. Everyone had a negative nickname in his path while running and that didn’t stop with people.
Besides Lyin’ Ted, Crooked Hillary, Pocahontas, and of course, Sleepy Joe, Fake News became a buzz word that everyone used and believed.
I guess we do dwell on the negative over positive, but how do we get over that?
Some sources suggest turning the switch and make a negative into a positive. That may not be an easy task, but one theory is to rebrand an idea.
Ronald Regan was the master of positivity so much so, he was also known as our nation’s biggest cheerleader. He had charm, he had wit, he was fast on his feet and he had that undeniable smile.
Barack Obama was fresh and new on the scene, how did he come to prominence? His mantra was about hope and change.
I brought up the point during my walk with Rob, I believe there is so much distain for the opposition party, and people just vote straight party and not break down individual candidates on their platform.
We’ve come to a position and division that even though we are all Americans living and breathing the same air, we have come to hate the other side. Hate is a strong word, very strong, but this is our state of mind in 2022.
This is also terrible.
My side is not better than your side and visa versa, different maybe, but not better.
Having an elitist attitude is never good when it comes to compromise. Reaching over to the other side of the aisle in Congress is a thing of the past because of our current arrogance.
When I hear people talk about political leaders as sucking, awful, terrible, incompetent, loser, or the worst one, “he’s not my president,” I just find it appalling.
It surprises me we haven’t had a civil war yet.
I believe we have become a society of extremists – you are either too far to the right or too far to the left. I’ve said before and will continue to say it; we need to get back to center somehow.
What worries me is, children are easily influenced by what they see on TV and certainly they are products of their environment.
Ever since I covered the last Trump rally at Mohegan Sun Area, I’ve been bothered by one child, I’d say about 12 years old. I’m not sure who he was with that day because I saw him walking alone.
What really disturbed me was what was written on his shirt. On the front was written, “F*CK BIDDEN.”
Honestly, that really bothered me than and it bothers me now.
Again, this is where we are at in society and these are the life lessons we are teaching our youth.
If this 12-year-old is walking around with this shirt on, what is happening in his home?
If I had ever worn a shirt like that, my mother would have ripped it off my back, torn it to shreds and hit me over the head with a stone to knock some sense into me.
Look, I’m all for freedom of speech and people backing candidates, but a) this kid can’t even vote and b) his parents are teaching the wrong set of morals.
When you go to vote, try to look at the positivity of each candidate and put the mudslinging in the back of your mind.
Remember, people don’t run for office to ruin your life, or my life, or the country’s wellbeing.
Don’t let negative campaigning shape your decision on who would do the best job for our towns, state and country.
Get out and vote, it’s important and your right.
Quote of the week
“The sun is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from darkness, that we too can shine our own light.” – S. Ajna
Thought of the week
“When you are thankful for what you have, you are always rewarded with more. Try to stay positive and things will get better.” – Anonymous
Bumper stick
“I never lose, I either WIN or LEARN.” – Nelson Mandela
