What's the first verb you learn in any language? To be. That's because it is used in statements of fact -- the simplest and most obvious assertions you could possibly construct. Homecoming is fun. Fire is hot. The '12s are the worst class ever. Well, this verb is also the logical end to our polity's reduction of the big issues that our country faces in the 21st century. Our preferred euphemism for this upsetting trend is "labeling," but the truth of the matter is that the common voting citizen only cares enough about politics to listen to "this is that."
But doesn't this mean we're simplifying the issues and getting all of the political eloquence out of the way?
Take a look at the ongoing scandal surrounding Bill Ayers. Here's the only statement most Americans can give you: "Obama is associated with a terrorist." Well, now, that's provocative! I would think during a global War on Terror, that kind of statement would draw a lot of attention and intense examination. Instead it's been filed away with the rest of the issues: One side has their opinion, the other has theirs, and we'll just agree to disagree until the election rolls around.
How can we be so ambivalent about a potential president committing a crime that is putting Osama Bin Laden's drivers in Guantanamo Bay? Close research from many reputable sources, such as the New York Times and Time magazine, has shown there was no such relationship between Obama and Ayers, but the fact that people don't care enough to scrutinize these statements is a depressing sign of the times.
But where are these watered-down statements of (incorrect) fact coming from? I'll let you tell me: Would you rather listen to a male-female pair of local news anchors make terrible puns with Botox-laced grins permanently affixed to their skulls, or would you rather get your news from a pundit who will make a show of himself and make politics a lot more fun than C-SPAN is letting on?
Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann are two of the worst influences on America today.
That's a blithe statement of fact, but I can justify this one. Over the last couple of years, both programs have become more like bad radio shows. Every other statement is followed by cheesy sound effects, a dramatic countdown or a guest who says nothing but yes or no to the host's violent screaming. The only difference between these programs and Stephen Colbert is that Colbert is trying to look like a joke.
I support No Celebrity Left Behind, so let's not forget Kal Penn's recent visit to our campus. By golly, when I noticed that one of my favorite television actors was coming to Dartmouth, I could hardly contain my excitement! Lots of people I knew ended up going to see their favorite marijuana addict speak about something -- I think it was related to Obama, but I'm not sure. Who cares, anyway?
"Kumar is cool." "Kumar is a supporter of Obama." "Obama is cool." True, the statement of fact becomes a little more complicated in this case, but we're Ivy League students. We can handle the transitive property.
The media and our polity have made us so accustomed to blind and vociferous defenses of one of two possible causes that we now wear our parties on our sleeves. It's become part of the notecard of information that defines you: name, age, address and political persuasion.
Nowadays we don't care as much about who runs but rather which party they're running for. We've forgotten that all candidates are not created equal. Hillary Clinton is in no way identical to Obama just as Al Gore is in no way identical to Bill Clinton. The moment we lose the ability to distinguish a (wo)man from her party is the moment we might as well just vote "Democrat" or "Republican" on our ballots.
"If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost." Aristotle's advice needs to be closely adhered to lest we fall victim to the demise Plato predicted: "Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy." Regardless of whether or not democracy is the best possible form of government, democracy does not function without knowledgeable voters. Statement of fact: America is in need of knowledgeable voters.
