It is possible to write about how silly our “politics” has become and never run out of new material. That much has to be obvious by now. But it is still amazing how far from reality the election year chatter has become. Dark Issues have taken the place of any sense of reality and rationalism.
Are we really that scared of what is happening to our nation that we’ll talk about nearly anything else?
Any business use of social media ultimately has to form a Community to be successful. That may seem like an overly strong absolute but it is easily justified.
The main difference between social media and traditional media is the interaction between people who use the service – users writing their own content on their own terms. Without interaction the entire medium is nothing more than a traditional outlet where information is pushed. That’s why it is important to separate the difference between a real social media Community and a “Scene”, or a place where the hip gather to show their fashion power and prowess.
This election year, like any, has a large number of issues that politicians use to distinguish themselves from each other. Budget deficits, immigration, gay marriage, jobs, and corporate misdeeds are all big hits. But what is less obvious is that these issues that appear in the press in long scorecards and lists as if they are important are nothing more than pointless noise. A big bundle of issues, however eagerly they are debated, is no substitute for a genuine strategy – and the real leadership that shapes and executes that strategy. But this point is utterly lost in what pathetically passes for “debate” in our politics.
We’re in the middle of an election season in Minnesota and across the USofA. Everything is certain to become hotter, more partisan, and much louder. I think there’s only one course of action for people who care about our state, our nation, and our planet:
Opt out.
No, I’m not calling for people to boycott elections or debates or politics in general. I want to see something far more active bubbling under the noize. I’d like for everyone who reads Barataria to reach out and spend at least 30 minutes talking to someone they are sure they disagree with politically. Why? Because I’m guessing that you’ll find something you agree with if you let it roll.
August 10th is Primary Day in Minnesota. For those of you who live in other places, I have to apologize. We have work to do here at home, so I have to talk to the family for a bit.
For those of us who live in Minnesota, you are like family to me. I’m proud of this state and all that it has accomplished towards building a decent life for everyone. That’s why I’m proud to support Margaret Anderson Kelliher in our primary and I hope that you do, too.
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 