Leaving Substance for Image leaves little room for true political understanding

Chuck Raasch, writing for realclearpolitics.com, recently published an article titled, "The Death of Writing, and Its Impact on Our Politics."
The author says that since the civil war,

"...we have evolved from word to image creatures, devaluing the power of the written word and turning ourselves into a species of short gazers, focused on the emotions of the moment rather than the contemplative thoughts about consequences and meaning of our actions."

Focusing on the emotions of the moment is the zeitgeist of the 21st century. It is the bedrock that supports Facebook, texting, and tweeting. A picture no longer need be worth a thousand words. It simply has to convey an emotional appeal. Image reigns supreme in today's society. Singers are judged as much on their looks and performance as they are their talent, as are actors and to some extent authors.

Raasch says we are content with sound bites. Even the 30 second sound bite is archaic.
The worst impact of all this is on our politics. We ignore substance and exult imagery. Ask yourself: Who was the last fat President? Who was the last bearded one? Candidates are hyped with flashy advertisements designed not to enhance the understanding of his or her positions on issues, rather the candidate's charisma and style, the ability to toss out a quick barb or derisive comment.

I don't know what to think of Governor Christie of New Jersey, because I am uncertain of his stand on many political issues, but I know a lot of people see him as no more than a buffoon. Why? The comedians and other politicians constantly deride him because of his weight. If they spent as much time studying the issues as they do making jokes, we wouldn't have such a dysfunctional government.

Don't Judge the Player by the Team

I don't know the reasons behind the current strike by National Football Referees, but it sure has raised eyebrows and blood pressures. Officiating sporting events, professional or amateur, has never been an easy thing. Nor has it ever been without controversy.

I suspect that the majority of those who officiate professional sporting events receive hate mail, possibly even death threats. Players who commit errors that lead to their team's defeat do.

Fans gather after a game to scrutinize every play, every decision on and off the field, and every call made by every official. Heated arguments erupt between fan bases of opposing teams. Rivalries sometimes boil over into violence. Sports fans can be very devoted, spending a great deal of their time examining the statistics of an individual player and his or her importance to the game.

So why don't we see the same devotion and passion among people when it comes to choosing their political representatives?

I'm an Orioles fan. I like to know if Adam Jones can hit sliders down and away. I want to know how Matt Wietters bats against left handers.

Politically, I want to know if my congressman will support my views. I want to know my representative's stand on the issues. And, just as I will demonstrate my support for a good ballplayer and my lack of support for a poor one, I will support those who prove to me that they will represent my views in congress.

To do that, I need to understand the issues. I need to see how a given politician reacts to these issues. How else can I make an educated vote? I read the opinions of sports analysts from different organizations to better understand a play or player. I need to do the same with issues and politicians  before I vote.

Sadly, a great many people I know don't see past the party affiliations of the candidates. It's like rooting for a player on your home team regardless of his lack of hustle, his lackluster play on the field, or his inability to follow the manager's orders.

I appreciate ballplayers on many teams. I want my home team to win, but that doesn't stop me from acknowledging the fine play of a player on another team.

If we followed the issues and the politicians as strongly as we follow our sports heroes, we might not be in the fix we're in right now.