Probably a Good Idea

North Miami Beach, Florida 1-9-2000 Aaron H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA
Good ideas are not so common that they should be dismissed cavalierly. An
opponent can crush a good idea by simply saying no. The idea I am
addressing is the one advanced by Vice President Gore. He called on
candidate Bill Bradley to join him in abandoning television ads in favor of
debates. Bill Bradley unequivocally said no. And, he did so for a good
reason.

Actually, think about the image of presidential candidates going public
with their ideas and personas. One mistake and you can lose the entire
campaign. In television advertisements you can hone your message in such a
fashion to make something quite unimpressive look very important.
In live interviews you can misspell a word or perspire heavily and look in
need of a shave.

The major reason I think it is wise to abandon the television robotic route
is its cost. We no longer hire bandwagons as the major entertainment to the
mobs that come to see the show. Investment in hats or buttons is really
quite modest when compared to the expense of hiring firms of experts to make
a candidate look better, best and paramount.

There used to be a publication called "Major Speeches and Addresses" which
appeared every year in the early days of politics and slowly disappeared as
the number of charismatic speakers declined. There are no longer
Lincoln-Douglas spectacles where those just a few rows away could not hear
what was said. There are no longer the William Jennings Bryan's whose
oratory rocked halls filled with perspiring masses.

Voters are not willing participants in the electoral process anymore.
Today, voters sit like couch potatoes and compare political advertisements.
The cleverness of the ad rather than the qualification of the candidate is
often credited with the reason why someone was elected. What is probably a
good idea is not good merchandising. Good ideas may not make good political
sense.
Carol's Evaluation: 9 out or 10.