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I'm young, so I don't know. Are elections always this gross and filled with political mudslinging?

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9 Answers to "I'm young, so I don't know. Are elections always this gross and filled with political mudslinging?"

  1. AnonymousButCandid - 56-60 years old - male

    Posted by AnonymousButCandid Oct 21st, 2012 at 11:18PM

    Hello Miss ScatterHeart,

    One of the greatest "motivators" in people is FEAR. You will notice advertisements on television that state things such as: "Hurry! Sale Ends Monday!", and "Prices will never be this low again!" Advertisers prey on our fears in order to get people to move and do something.

    Well, the same goes for Politicians and their mudslinging campaigns. Each political side attempts to scare the BeJezus out of the voting public, so as to cause them to run to the ballot box and (hopefully) vote for a particular negative advertiser's candidate!

    In truth, about 40% of the voting public is going to automatically vote straight Democratic tickets, regardless of the ads or the debate results; also, about 40% of the voting public is going to automatically vote straight Republican tickets, regardless of the ads or the debate results.

    The remaining 20% of people -- called the "swing voters" are the people these mudslinging advertisers are attempting to scare into NOT voting for the opponent candidate!

    Isn't it interesting that a given political party will spend hundreds of millions of dollars for a candidate who will supposedly earn about $400 thousand dollars in annual salary? That does not make much sense -- until one realizes that the untold hundreds of millions of dollars happen to "buy" favors after the election!

    It is a sad and distressing state of affairs, but I hope this sheds some light on the mudslinging you are witnessing with the 2012 US Presidential election.


    Cheers,

    AnonymousButCandid

    Like (1)

  2. 85continuum - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by 85continuum Oct 21st, 2012 at 11:09PM

    Yup, welcome to American politics. No matter who you pick we lose.

    Like (1)

  3. NigelDoes - 46-50 years old - male

    Posted by NigelDoes Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:58PM

    I can only speak for American politics but yes, they are. Just ignore it as best you can, for ever and ever. :-)

    Like (1)

  4. mindgirl - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by mindgirl Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:56PM

    Yes... Politicians will say whatever they can to get your vote. Even if they have the best intentions at heart, like I think most do... the political game and their campaign staff formulate ideas, lectures, speeches, spin negative and positive news to show their candidate in the best of light. Its all about posturing and looking better than your opponents. You may think that candidate "so-and-so" is good at heart, but he/she has a few people on staff to do the dirty work they cannot be seen doing. Its a vicious game and in my opinion, its cruel, misleading and very opportunistic.

    Like (1)

  5. CountSpatula - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by CountSpatula Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:52PM

    Sadly, yes. It's been this way for a very long time, and it is getting worse, I think. Do a search on log cabin politics in United States history. That one sure backfired. :)

    Like (1)

  6. TheRelentlessOne - 16-17 years old - male

    Posted by TheRelentlessOne Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:52PM

    Yep

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  7. chimbie88 - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by chimbie88 Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:51PM

    yes... pretty much

    Like (1)

  8. Makessense - 66-70 years old - male

    Posted by Makessense Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:51PM

    Get use to it, it's going to get worse in your future.

    Like (1)

  9. GideonGraves - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by GideonGraves Oct 21st, 2012 at 10:51PM

    To some extent, though I feel like it has gotten worse over the years. This year it's especially bad since now both candidates have SuperPACs spending millions to buy attack ads on their behalf..

    Like (1)

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