Off To The Races!

It hit me on the way in this morning. I know why I am getting so disgusted with the media this election cycle: more than any previous election (as far as I can remember) the election coverage is more of a horse-race handicap than coverage of an important decision to be made.

There is practically no coverage of issues, no discussion of how the candidates compare on the economy, the mess healthcare is in, or the stand they take on the war. Nothing that could even remotely be considered as helpful! It's all about the handicapping.

"If ____ wins in ___ then they will get an additional ___ delegates. But ___ has the opportunity to take ___ and so the total gain will be..." and so on!

While the handicapping is marginally interesting, it is really unhelpful! For those of us who are more interested in the policies than the party, the news coverage is sorely lacking. It is precisely this mindless coverage that turns people off of politics. It further proves that the parties are more interested in perpetuating their own power than helping the public.

Altruism aside, the candidates, and by extent ion the parties, have a responsibility to allow the public to know where they stand. The media have the responsibility to report the news, not to generate hype by handicapping the horserace! It's like the endless inane blather that spews forth from the untethered tongues of the insipid sports commentators that cannot seem to just shut up and let people watch the game.

Wherever you are today, I hope you'll press for more news in your news coverage!

Don Bergquist – March 12, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA