My blogs have been a bit hit and miss this year. I blame that in part on the fact that days go so much faster than they did years ago. But last month I had a better reason. I was often nauseated. Nothing permanent (I hope) – I expect to be well for at least four years. Might be slightly nauseous about this time in two years. Actually, it comes almost every time there is an election of any kind.
For the first time in my adult life I got bogged (not blogged) down in the campaigns. What a disgusting thing to do. First, I have never been a dedicated political junkie. I always looked into a candidate’s background and platform before voting. In doing so I was attempting to be well-prepared and making what I believed to be intelligent choices. A good model for decision making might be a high school debate – you may have some preconceived notion about the “better” choice from the two sides presented but in order to be sure, you need to hear both.
Then came decision 2016. Long story short – I got hooked – not by one particular candidate or another because I’ve always believed that to make an intelligent choice one had to be open-minded and listen to both sides, not just one publication or television channel, not always to the same writer or pundit. It’s quite apparent that they have at least a leaning if not an outright bias. So, I sat with my printed publications and my TV remote and read and listened to both sides. Thanks to the age of technology with my remote I can switch between channels effortlessly using the “prev” function.
I was tempted to scream questions out when interviewers missed an obvious follow-up or opening. I wanted to be an instant fact-checker with a way to flash my proof in the face of the interviewee. I wanted to ask about the methods of polling employed, what information was generating the endless screens of percentages. How reliable was the information being used? Why waste so much time re-living the same BREAKING NEWS day after day. I wanted to make a check list of the words and phrases used. The words which indicate that what follows is not necessarily fact, just opinion and rumor: I think, could be, might be, possibly, maybe, what he/she is saying is, what he/she meant was, perhaps, people say, people believe, and on and on and on. These are a few examples of what broadcasters use to protect themselves. Modern CYA.
The good news is – this blog is being put up on election day. Having already cast my ballot I now plan to: 1) go out for coffee, 2) attend a movie with a friend, 3) enjoy a meal without fear of campaign induced nausea, 4) perhaps even read a periodical and enjoy television again. I refuse to sit today and tonight with a remote in my hand watching the myriads of talking heads opine as they rattle off the ‘updates’ on voting results.
I’ll be back in better health and a better frame of mind next month. Meanwhile, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.