Mudslinging

[ExodusinFlames]

I know for a fact I'm not the only person who has noticed this in recent years.
I followed politics ever since I could understand what it was all about, so bout 12-13 years old. I've noticed more and more as years went on, that it stopped being about being the better person to lead a nation and more about explaining how bad the opponents are. Don't get me wrong, thats ok too. Showing that you're better by being average, I suppose works.

But here in Canada, one of parliaments major factions over the last few campaigns have gone balls out crazy. Outright stating that foes were incompotent, thieves and in one case full accusations of being paedophiles. The questions I present here, has mudslinging gone too far? Has it taken the concept of an electorate vote and made it into a circus? And is there any way to bring it back to the way it was: a time when a politician was better by being better, not just average and bitchslapping their opponents down?

 

[ExodusinFlames]

And thats the shame, that its come down to that. They just squabble.

 

[JanatUrlich]

haha that's like in England. David Cameron (Conservative Party leader) is very vague when asked about his policies, but is extremely quick to take the piss out of everything Brown (Labour party leader) does.

The sad thing is, he's most likely going to get elected, purely because everyone hates Brown and Cameron goes along with them XDD

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The thing to remember is the slander laws. In this, you can be sued for saying something nasty about someone, even if it's true.

 

[TheLastCylon]

Wait a minute....I thought watching elderly (wo)men bicker was the point of politics.

 

[ZZ-Tops89]

I know for a fact I'm not the only person who has noticed this in recent years.
I followed politics ever since I could understand what it was all about, so bout 12-13 years old. I've noticed more and more as years went on, that it stopped being about being the better person to lead a nation and more about explaining how bad the opponents are. Don't get me wrong, thats ok too. Showing that you're better by being average, I suppose works.

But here in Canada, one of parliaments major factions over the last few campaigns have gone balls out crazy. Outright stating that foes were incompotent, thieves and in one case full accusations of being paedophiles. The questions I present here, has mudslinging gone too far? Has it taken the concept of an electorate vote and made it into a circus? And is there any way to bring it back to the way it was: a time when a politician was better by being better, not just average and bitchslapping their opponents down?

Too much circus and not enough bread for the plebs. Apparently the democrats are trying to change that ratio.

Politicians are evil, despicable, and generally corrupt. I trust them about as far as I can throw them, which often isn't very far (Ted Kennedy!). Politicians seem to have the same viewpoint but categorize themselves as not being politicians. The problem isn't so much the opinion itself as the hypocrisy and "pot calling the kettle black" element.

 

[InvisibleSeal]

Outright stating that foes were incompotent, thieves and in one case full accusations of being paedophiles. The questions I present here, has mudslinging gone too far? Has it taken the concept of an electorate vote and made it into a circus? And is there any way to bring it back to the way it was: a time when a politician was better by being better, not just average and bitchslapping their opponents down?

Wow that seems a little... drastic.
Here we just have those big bilboards with the irritating smiling candidates saying "we work for YOU" or whatever. It doesn't really say anything about policies either. I suppose it's only if you listen to the really serious programmes and the right questions are asked, then they will answer what you want.

It just seems sad that politicians don't feel they have to impress people with their policies any more, and it is irritating.

 

[disfunkybob]

Mudslinging is a tried and true method. I still remember reading about the Adams v Jackson presidential election. Adams was accused of using public funds for his own use and stopped just short of saying he might be running a casino out of the white house. Of Jackson they questioned his habit of dueling, rumors of executing deserters and the nasty little technicality that his wife was an adulteress and bigamist.

And this was in a time, at least I like to think of it as such, of greater sensibilities in the 1820s. Compared to today that's probably 'Anne Coulter'-like dickishness.

Edit: Beat me to the punch xmetatr0nx.

 

[Biek]

Ive seen some of the McCain/Obama adds to realize that these days elections have dropped to a mud flinging shitfest.

 

[teisjm]

I would love to see an actual mud-fight between politicians. you know, like a snow-ball fight, but with mud.

Maybe mud wrestling, but i would prolly save that for the younger politicians.

 

[purplegothchick]

haha that's like in England. David Cameron (Conservative Party leader) is very vague when asked about his policies, but is extremely quick to take the piss out of everything Brown (Labour party leader) does.

The sad thing is, he's most likely going to get elected, purely because everyone hates Brown and Cameron goes along with them XDD

That and few people seem to be able to remember what it was like when the Tories were last in power and are subsequently being taken in by their empty promises of change.

Sure they'll change things...Change it so that the working classes get an even worse deal.

Sorry, rant over. I'll go sit in a darkened room now.

 

[dodo1331]

The sad fact is that none of the politicians are fit to lead because all they do is kill each other's reputation and ignore the actual issues.

 

[ExodusinFlames]

I just find such slanderous shite reprehensible. Deal with some issues if you're pulling 180k out of the government coffers. Canadian Progressive Conservatives are the worst for it that I've seen lately