Message to the pols: Listen to college students

From the Minnesota State University Reporter, 10/24/06:

Time for Politicans To Grow Up

Whether focused on Republicans, Democrats or any other party or individual, political attack ads and smear campaigns are fueling the "lesser of two evils" approach to voting.

When candidates spend millions of dollars trying to discredit each other, voters are led to believe both sides are unsuitable. While in some races this may be true, it's certainly not the outcome any politician or party would, or should desire.

While many of these candidates need to be called out for claims they've made or actions they've taken, these attack ads are immature and inappropriate. If one side wants to expose the other, it should take place during a debate so the side getting attacked has an opportunity to explain or discredit the claims. Just throwing accusations at the voters without giving an opponent the opportunity to respond is backhanded and cowardly.

Nothing good ever comes out of these ads because they don't generate any real communication between candidates or deliver anyone's stance to the public. All these ads do is create a seemingly endless chain off "he said, she said" ads that yield the "I never said that" ads.

Politicians and groups funding these ads need to focus on which side is right instead of which is wrong. Candidates should be trying to inform voters why they should be in office, why they're the best candidates or what they're going to do if elected.

Voters shouldn't have to see candidates repeatedly explain what's false or what they didn't say. We should be hearing what the candidates stand for and what they stand against.

Is this what politics have really become? Is no one talented and creative enough to persuade the public to vote for them rather than against the other guy?

A great number of Americans have lost faith in all politicians. When those involved with politics continuously stoop to this level, it's not hard to figure out why.