Politics as Entertainment

There was a time back in the dim and dusty past (before the days of television) when politicians were rarely seen or heard except at election time. News of what the politicians were up to was reported in newspapers and on the radio, of course; but newspapers were printed once or twice a day, and radio news aired only for five minutes every half hour or so.

Today, television news networks broadcast 24/7, and politicians have nowhere to hide anymore. Twenty-four-hour news networks need MATERIAL to broadcast, so politics and politicians have become a form of entertainment. The actions of politicians rank right up there with fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes in viewer appeal.

We all have preconceived ideas of what our politicians should look like and sound like. We certainly expect our politicians to be above reproach. So when a politician gets caught with his "hand in the cookie jar" or "with his pants down," it's news; and the politicians become the "stars," or at least the subjects, of network news programs.

The question is whether politics as entertainment is a good thing or a bad thing. It's just my opinion, but I think that this is an excellent turn of events. Political apathy is practically impossible. Everybody talks about politics and politicians because that's what's "on" television.

A greater percentage of Americans have registered to vote this year than ever before in history. More people write, phone, and email their congressional representatives today that ever before in history. In short, more people know what their political representatives are doing today, and they care enough to say what they think, they care enough to register to vote, and they care enough to actually cast ballots. That will make for better government for all of us.

I'm glad that politics has become a form of entertainment!