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Sat 3 Sep, 2005 08:51 pm
Politics is not my forum of choice because I'm not good at gloves-off infighting. Please, if you choose to comment on this topic, be civil.
Over the last 25 years both major political parties and a number of minor ones have become very adept at putting "spin" on the issue of the day.
Over the last few days the Mayor of New Orleans, the Mayor of Houston, a Senator from Louisianna and a number of other people have abandoned the measured cadences of press releases for unvarnished outrage.
Blunt Talk to the people who don't have entre to smoke filled rooms is a major change in political discourse. I'm of an age to be a bit suspicious of change, even though politicians now caucus in no-smoking areas and that change is all to the good.
Speaking one's mind and heart with sloppy, sincere syntax to the National Media breaks the traditional rules of traditional political rhetoric.
Furthermore this off-the-cuff honesty may jump start balky bureaucracy.
Finally, the American public is exposed to raw opinion as opposed to poll
determined spin.
Change is inevitable. Good? Bad? Just different?
I think it's too dependent on circumstances. Things are desperate, and high emotion is understandable. I don't think either high emotion or lack of filters would be as appreciated in other situations. (That is, people like lack of filters until either a) something boneheaded is said that turns them off or b) something boneheaded is said that turns off the opponents and makes the bonehead less likely to be able to accomplish anything politically...)
Sozobe--
Obviously letting it all hang out won't work every time. In fact, overuse will turn it into another form of spin.
(Incidently "spin" wasn't invented recently and "spin" isn't limited to politics.)
When high emotion is appropriate--and makes good copy, footage, whatever....
As long as news is reported, news will be shaped.
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