Perspectives: Sam’s Perspective – New Rules

I’m Sam Jones.

Who would have thought that when we started sending pictures and sound though the air in this medium called television, that we would ever see the day when it would end up just wires and lights in a box? Edward R. Murrow worried about this in the beginning of what would become television news. There is so much it could be doing for us instead of to us. It could be used to enlighten and inform and communicate. Rather it has become just another vehicle for bad decisions that result in the dumbing down of those who turn it on.

Alleged reality shows and keeping up with a California family has done nothing for the country but it has made that family very rich. The other end is what should be history in the making, the Presidential election cycle. But that too has become nothing short of yet another reality show, and a bad one at that. Of course I’m assuming that there are degrees of bad.

O.K. class, here is a question for you,… what happened to the really good minds that could be running for office? You know the ones that take on the really serious issues like the economy, threats to the nation, educating our young and so fourth. I’ve said it before, our Republic will survive the trash its currently being spoon fed but it sure would be nice if we could get back to a place where really serious candidates ran for office. Back to a time when American voters had something to think and talk about rather than laugh and shake their heads over obstructionism and blustering. And folks wonder why the voters don’t turn out in larger numbers. Maybe its time for new election rules, rules that force those who choose public service would have to live by, not the rules of big money and special interests. We can’t even get those already in office to give serious thought to filling a vacant seat on the Supreme Court.

All they seem interested in is raising money and holding on to their jobs. It’s a sad state of affairs. New election rules? But who would pass them, certainly not those already elected. So it appears we are stuck. The old saying “You got to dance with those that brung you” applies here. Maybe its time to take someone new to the dance. What do you think?

That’s my perspective.