You’d have to be living under a rock to escape the barrage of negative campaign ads on display this election season. To add special flavoring to this “dish” personal attacks have taken on new meaning as consultants and media gurus spit out the nastiest gobs of copy masquerading as information about an opponent.
Imagine how our society would be if we advertised products with the same blatant disregard for the truth.
Coke would say that Pepsi caused some wretched condition. Pepsi would retaliate. One condom manufacturer would claim that their competitor’s burst under pressure. And Chrysler would show commercials with a Ford Explorer careening off the road after a tire blowout.
I listen to all this verbiage and go to the election booth like it’s Christmas morning. I scan the list of candidates and instantly, like a good jingle, the commercials are replayed in my head.
I scan the names and when I see someone unopposed I lift up the write-in section and write in a name.
If a candidate was particularly nasty regardless of party, I select an opponent and write him or herin. I’ve voted in every election (minus two primaries) in the last 25 years. And I look forward to viewing the candidates like the products they are.
Perhaps warnings should be added like side effects of a new medication.
“This candidate may cause nausea, diarrhea and has policies that smell like rotting feta cheese, but vote today for (insert candidate’s name here ______________).
My name is Ken Jackson and I approve this message.
