WHAT Are You Going To Vote For?

No, I didn’t make a mistake in my title. My question is what, not “who,” are you going to vote for? In past elections voters selected people to speak for them. Now they vote based on the level of gifts to expect from their candidate of choice. And unfortunately the candidates are all too happy to accommodate today’s selfish voter regardless of the impact on city, state or nation.

What About Platforms and Positions?

In today’s election cycles platforms and positions are used to couch the free stuff. After all, a candidate can’t just come right out and say I’m going to gut Medicare or raise your taxes. Position statements today are attack your opponent with factual or un-factual information. Whichever sounds better gets the, “I approved this message,” seal of approval. It’s not like anyone will actually look up the actual information. Isn’t it much easier to re-post it on Facebook or Twitter? So what if it stretches the truth a little?

Beauty Contests and Fashion Shows

There are tough choices facing the voters in November. So what are the top issues of the day? The economy? Unemployment? National Debt? The effect of the European Elections? No, those pale by comparison to, gay marriage, Obama’s Hollywood fundraising party, and Romney’s car elevator. Great news organizations of the past used to report actual news. Today it’s hard to tell the New York Times from the National Enquirer.

In the last election more printer’s ink was used to talk about Sara Palin’s wardrobe, and who paid for it, than any issue of substance. John McCain made the front pages because he wasn’t sure how many houses he had. Not to mention the president’s birth certificate or school transcripts.

Product Marketing vs. Candidate Marketing

It never ceases to amaze me how little business spends to reach a customer who is going to give up cash, yet political marketing still operates like it’s the 1940’s. Put Apple’s marketing team in charge and they could get “SpongeBob SquarePants” elected on half the budget it will take to elect either Obama or Romney.

Apple apparently knows something that political campaign managers do not. People don’t buy products and people don’t elect candidates. People buy how the product makes them feel. People elect candidates for the same reason. Issues are a smoke screen. Voters make up their mind based on looks, personality, envy, and a dozen other emotional reasons that have nothing to do with the issues. Then they use issues to create a logical reason to vote for their bozo. If issues were really important you would not see half the electorate giving candidates a pass on their past records of dismal performance.

Congress has an approval rating of less than 15%. Eighty-five percent of voters think they suck yet continue to send them back. Why? Because of how the candidate makes them feel. Congress SUCKS! ... Oh, but not OUR guys.

Ok, so they get drunk and wreak boats or vote in the worst health care bill ever. We still love them and we’ll put up the yard signs, make calls for them, pass out expensive four-color crap about what stand up people they are and when the smoke finally clears and the mirrors are removed, nothing has changed except we’re stuck for four to six more years of the same. And the saddest thing of all — we feel so good about our guy or gal winning.

Some Final Thoughts

Anyone remember the battle between Obama and Clinton three years ago? They were ready to change the convention rules to get Obama in. “He makes people feel good sweetie — you don’t.” “How about Secretary of State instead?”

I think there should be a federal law that every ballot, in every election, across the county, has to include, “NONE OF THE ABOVE,” as an additional choice in each race. Then we might eventually find some people who are serious about tackling the important issues of the day. Regardless of where they put the dog when traveling.

So, What are you voting for??