Pull Up a Chair:
Come on in, folks. The coffee’s hot, the chairs are comfortable, and for the love of common sense, let’s try to have a conversation without anybody yelling at us.
I’ve got something on my mind today, and I suspect I’m not the only one feeling this way.
I’m tired of political advertising.
There, I said it.
Turn on the television, and somebody is telling me the country is doomed if the other candidate wins. Pick up my phone, and there’s another political ad. Watch a video, read an article, or try to enjoy a ballgame, and sooner or later, here comes another politician explaining why they’re our only hope and everybody else is the enemy.
Good grief! Can’t a fella enjoy a cup of coffee without being recruited into a political war?
Now, don’t misunderstand me. I believe voting matters. I believe we should pay attention to what’s happening in our country, ask questions, and hold our elected officials accountable. That’s part of being a responsible citizen.
But there’s a difference between keeping people informed and wearing them down.
The Cost to Our Peace of Mind
Think about what these ads are selling most of the time. Fear. Anger. Suspicion. Outrage.
One side says the other side will destroy the country. The other side fires right back. Everybody is supposedly a threat, every election is the most important one in history, and we’re constantly reminded that disaster is just around the corner.
After a while, it gets exhausting.
That constant barrage can leave people anxious, frustrated, angry, and mentally worn out. It can turn a simple conversation between friends into an argument and make family gatherings feel like political debates waiting to happen.
Some folks stop watching the news. Others stop talking about politics altogether. And some of us just sit there wondering when everybody decided that keeping Americans upset was a good way to earn their trust.
We’re human beings, not campaign targets. We need a little peace now and then.
Follow the Money, Folks
Then there’s the money.
Political campaigns spend enormous sums on television commercials, internet ads, mailers, consultants, and all the other machinery designed to get our attention and influence our votes.
Millions upon millions of dollars go into convincing us who to trust, who to fear, and who deserves to lose.
Imagine sitting at a table with someone struggling to pay rent, a senior trying to stretch Social Security until the next check arrives, or a veteran trying to get the services they’ve earned.
Now imagine telling them how much money is being spent on political advertising.
I wonder how that conversation would go.
To be fair, campaign money doesn’t simply turn into money for housing, health care, or veterans’ services. Those are different budgets and different decisions. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question our priorities.
We can find plenty of money to tell people what to think about politicians. Yet we still argue over how to tackle the problems people are facing in their everyday lives.
Seems to me we ought to be asking some hard questions about that.
Can We Talk About Solutions for a Change?
I don’t expect political advertising to disappear. Candidates have a right to make their case, and voters deserve to know where those candidates stand.
But wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear more about solutions and less about scare tactics?
Tell me what you intend to accomplish. Explain how you plan to do it. Show me the numbers. Admit what you don’t know.
Don’t just tell me the other guy is terrible. Tell me why I should believe you’re the right person for the job.
And please, stop treating every American who disagrees with you as though they’ve lost their mind.
We can disagree without hating one another. We can care about our country without being angry every minute of the day. And we can stay informed without letting political campaigns take up permanent residence inside our heads.
One More Cup Before We Go
Here’s the thing, friends.
I’m an old guy who enjoys his coffee, his music, and a little quiet time. I don’t mind discussing politics, and I certainly don’t mind asking tough questions.
But I don’t want to spend every waking hour being told what to fear, whom to blame, or which politician is going to save me from the last politician who promised to save me.
At some point, enough has to be enough.
Our attention is valuable. Our peace of mind matters. And the money spent trying to capture both deserves a closer look.
So let’s talk about it over a cup of coffee.
Are you feeling worn down by the endless stream of political advertising? And when you see how much money is spent on it, do you ever wonder what our country could accomplish if we put more energy into solving problems and less into selling candidates?
Pull up a chair, friends. The coffee is on, and everybody gets a seat at this table, regardless of their politics.
Let’s keep it honest, keep it respectful, and remember that there’s a human being on the other side of every opinion.
Until next time, keep your coffee strong, your mind open, and your common sense handy.
The Old Guy ☕
Leave a Reply