For many of us as freshman or sophomores in college this is most likely the first presidential election we are paying close attention to. We are now at the age where many of us are now registered to vote meaning we are now eligible to decide who gets to run the country, and quite frankly it seems that no one is really fit for doing so. Keep in mind however this isn't the point. Whenever I come in contact with someone who is significantly older than me and the topic of politics is brought up (which it usually every time is) they always seem to complain about politicians now. I can’t help but wonder what the difference is between politicians now and politicians then?
Well here is what I believe it to be. Years ago presidential campaigns were very focused on what plans each candidate had in store for the nation. How they would fix the economy, how to find a solution to a foreign dispute, or even how they would fix social problems in the country. Today campaigns seem to be just nothing but “attack ads” on other candidates. No one is focusing on making themselves seem better because they are so focused on making each other seem worse! Things such as Trump tweeting “Lyin' Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad, Be careful, Lyin' Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!” Or Bernie Sanders attacking Hilary Clinton saying “My opponent says that as a senator, she told bankers to ‘cut it out’ and end their destructive behavior. But, in my view, establishment politicians are the ones who need to cut it out. The reality is that Congress doesn’t regulate Wall Street. Wall Street and their lobbyists regulate Congress. We must change that reality, and as president, I will.”
I asked a few people what their thoughts were. Joseph Famulari 19’ said “Well, I think the biggest difference between then and now is the Internet. Everything a candidate says or does will be known on a worldwide scale in potentially minutes afterwards, making it harder to hide certain things but also much easier to spread any message they want. When people say that campaigns are nastier today I don't really think that's true, they've always been nasty; people just have an easier time finding out about things and everything on the Internet sticks.”
Jennifer Covais 19’ said “Elections now are more of an entertainment source for American people, they are now a spectacle while for our parents they were a sacred, serious, American tradition”
Jack Gersic 17’ said “I think what's different is the "political correctness" and the "cut throat" politics that the politicians are using recently to attack one another.”
From what I can see I concluded that many kids no matter who they support believe the same thing as myself. However it would be nice to see some change in this process, not only me but many others believe politics have lost touch with their actual meaning and this needs to change. All though we can’t change the way politicians promote their campaigns we still have the power to choose who runs the country. So please stay updated with the candidates and remember to vote!
