They’re finally over, the conventions I mean. It used to be an exercise in civic duty and pride, now it has become a three-ring circus of blame games and fear mongering the lights of which I have never seen.
The fact that the incumbent is an unflattering demagogue who cares less about anyone but himself, is beside the point. Both sides paint a dark and gloomy picture of this country should one or the other become President. Neither Party showed us an opportunity for greatness that is the hallmark of this country. Neither party bestowed virtues for future generations to aspire toward.
Instead, this week, Republicans had the nation’s political stage to make their case, just as Democrats had it the previous week to make theirs: against Trump as a lying, racist, corrupt, would-be authoritarian.
Trump pointed out in his closing Speech, “Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens.”
It sounded like the same speech writer wrote out the same speech but for different audiences. I know from my college days in Advertising 142 that negativity sells better than positive messages of hope and greatness. The Electorate will vote on the better of two evils: Two old men who shouldn’t even be here in the first place trying to convince us voters they will save us from them.
I think that is why I liked a more moderate, positive voice to come out and beckon our better angels to greatness. I remember Reagan’s campaign ads in 1980 and 84. They were full of
hope for the future. Certainly there were the negative ads too, but the ones I remembered were more positive messages.
While I don’t personally remember JFK’s election, being I was just two at the time, the Advertising class I mentioned above, did play them out, and for the most part Kennedy used a lot of positive messages to promote him and his style. We weren’t shown any of Nixon’s ads, though I’m sure they had the same theme, though with more Republican message.
I don’t remember who the speaker was Monday night, but he made a statement that gave me pause, that it used to be we Democrats and Republicans believed in the same things but had different results and our job as voters was to choose the best possible solution. Not anymore, and he’s right. The extremes of both political Parties have taken over and it won’t improve until more moderate, positive thinking Americans step up to the stage and make their cases for American greatness.
Jerry Schellhammer 