Sunday, November 05, 2006

2006 Campaign Spending Tops $2-Billion

That's what this story tells us.

In a campaign season that has been more negative and nastily personal than any in my memory--and I have a pretty good memory for things political, has all the cash spent on media been worth it?

I suppose it depends on who you ask. But if you ask me, all that money is more than wasteful, it's obscene. Obscene in the amount, to be sure. But most especially, obscene in how it's been spent!

Most negative ads--what the pols like to call "contrast ads"--incite partisans of the candidate flinging the mud to vote for him or her. They also anger the hardcore supporters of the opposition candidate. Both camps are thus jazzed up to vote. But in the meantime, a sizable and growing segment of eligible voters are disgusted and discouraged by the whole sorry spectacle. So much so that they don't vote.

That means that one of the biggest things $2.6-billion worth of political advertising has bought this year is a dangerous increase in disengagement amd alienation from the political process by Americans.

There is no way that can be good for the future of our country, no matter who wins the elections on Tuesday.

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