There was a time in this country, when politicians got into a fight in the media; they REALLY got into a fight. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton and Vice-President Aaron Burr talked all kinds of defamatory smack in the papers during the 1804 NY gubernatorial race. That particular media fed rivalry ended with a duel. With pistols in New Jersey. Hamilton died. Burr was indicted for murder. His political career was toast. The political and ultimately personal conflict between these 2 men developed over years before that final, fatal face-off.
Today it takes but one 2 minute appearance on MSNBC or Fox News or Breibart to get the duel started. And today’s political dueling is usually done by “experts” and “pundits”, rarely the principals. Why? Simple: if you have someone to speak for or about your cause, you don’t have to directly state and defend your case against reasonable questioners. And if you do speak for yourself, you have the luxury of choosing a network and interrogator who sympathizes with your cause. And this can go on 24/7 or as long as any particular pissing match takes to taper to a close. To of course be replaced by another almost immediately.
What has this done to our political landscape? Well, seemingly, polarized it as never before. Democrat X simply can’t be seen agreeing with Republican Y on CNN, even if they are actually not that far apart on a particular issue. Social support services cut in the name of lowering the budget? Absolutely not! Increase revenues to lower the deficit? No, no, no! The volume rises, Bill and Rachel and Sean and Keith make sure of that.
But does all the sound and fury lead to any worthwhile results? Do we learn? Does the process move forward to our benefit as citizens? Or do we just get caught up in the drama and lose sight of what really matters?
By: Rick Wilkinson
