We live in a world today of buzzwords, catchphrases and sound bites which, in itself, is not all that bad a thing. However, when we start making decisions based on these impulses, we may at times think to ourselves, “what was I thinking?” We are influenced to buy things based on images that appeal to our deepest sentiments, emotions, and desires. Whether I’m in a restaurant, driving down the street, shopping at the mall (or at home) listening to the radio or just watching tv,
I think it’s reasonable for one to expect one’s fancy to be tickled. From the time we get up to the time we shut off the late show, we are constantly being treated as consumers, being bird-dogged by slick marketing techniques to get us to buy something.
These techniques, when applied to our political processes, are where we need to begin to cut the pork. Or, more to the point, cut the bull! The “buy” or “ad” in many political campaigns are in their very intent meant to deceive, manipulate, deflect, spin or over-react to. How healthy can that be? Should we implement a “truth in political advertising” policy for our local, state and national elections? So far, we have survived for over 243 years through some pretty raucous periods in history that have stretched the bounds of our republic to its limits. The sanctity of the vote has remained constant in that process to ensure the inalienable and individual rights that breathe life into our founding documents and institutions of government that are continued to be held in high esteem. It may be time, or actually past time that we begin to re-examine how we honor the vote. We must be transparent in all our public service endeavors, in a day and age of alternative facts and fake news.
In this age of social media, we are now the media. We are reporters of the news when we share posts, and we make news when we post something. Will we hold ourselves accountable? Will we pursue slick marketing concepts to champion our causes? Will fake news win the day, or will logic, common sense and the purveyors of truth prevail? At this point, I’m not sure. I really can’t say. But one thing is definitely sure; words mean something. They could mean the continued exceptionalism that this country has always exhibited, or they could be the demise of our society as we know it. Whatever the case, we have a choice. I hope we choose to think twice before we hit “send”. It’s time we use intellect and not emotions to contemplate the issues of the day!
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Jacque
Jacque Williams is the host of City Views, a Radio personality at WAPJ FM 89.9 & 105.1 Torrington Community Radio and Founder and Program Director of Culture for a Cause, whose mission is to build communities through music and the arts.