Informed Politics?

Relief. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think about the election for the
President of the United States. I am relieved that this election is over. I am relieved to see the myriad of advertisements, news and messaging that relentlessly hammers away at the same main line issues. While I am 24, and this is only the 2nd election that I have participated in, it does truly seem like America Politics have become more of a show and spectacle than anything else. Everyone that I have talked to from older generations make the same claims-that American Politics has lost its finesse. Even with the excitement for Obama to take the presidency and thousands of supporters chanting “Change, Change” and “Yes We Can”, “Maverick” and “Country First”-I wonder to what extent these same people know of the policies that the two candidates have. It seems that even with the best of intentions and goodwill that people may have for supporting their candidate, how much does that person really know about who they are voting for? I think that as American’s, we like to be entertained, and that our attentive can be hard held. Given this, it’s not completely governments/Washington’s fault that this election was such a “show”. It is a cycle-the media give us what we want to hear/see and we in turn make a big deal of it and ask for more.
I am excited for the next four years but also nervous as this country is at a huge turning point. I only hope that people become more informed as this country goes on it’s road to recovery. Obama has a lot of work to do and the people need to be informed beyond media headlines and SNL skits.
Erica S.