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CAMPAIGN PROMISES by Ardon Schambers
All of us have seen the various styles of campaign strategies over the years. There is the appeal to a minority segment, the consolidating of the “base” whatever that may be, attack ads regarding past indiscretions, and even a new twist, being positive and not lashing at your opponent, that is until the campaigner finds that doesn’t work.
Using the various types of social media has now been added to the mix. And, if you are following them, the countless debates that the Republicans have been having all over the country are designed to get the evening sound bite. In all these instances and strategies, the task is to increase visibility, and hope someone can catch the voter’s ear and attention. The method of reporting the events of the campaign support the “sound bite” mentality. It is difficult to figure out if it is the politician who is the egg or the media that is the chicken.
There is also one other element to the short cycle focus. If there are enough promises in the air, it is more difficult to keep track of what is being said and how it can “morph” into a new position as the current circumstances might dictate. It is a form of non-accountability or slipperiness that politicians thrive on.
Proposed New Practice
Instead of complaining about what is happening, I’ve decided to take the approach of offering a potential solution. Let each candidate pick a topic and develop an actual plan to address the issue. The plan should be put in writing with the key points of action or critical consideration underlined. Since most successful plans revolve the KISS strategy of simplicity, require that the statement paper is limited to two pages, so all of us can actually get through the document and hopefully understand it. If you can’t understand what the politician is saying, that tells you something too. Of course we want them to put a date on the statement just below the place where they say “I approve this message” and they sign it.
Now they can talk about the statements in debates, ads, news shows etc. Now we can track the topics, and what they intend to do and hold them accountable when they get elected.
Last Suggestion Today
Let the public pick the topics we want addressed. A few opinion polls with the top ten items of interest could be the starting point. My number one suggestion is creating and retaining jobs. I don’t want to hear what you’ve done in the past. I want to hear about what you will do now in today’s situation.
Using the various types of social media has now been added to the mix. And, if you are following them, the countless debates that the Republicans have been having all over the country are designed to get the evening sound bite. In all these instances and strategies, the task is to increase visibility, and hope someone can catch the voter’s ear and attention. The method of reporting the events of the campaign support the “sound bite” mentality. It is difficult to figure out if it is the politician who is the egg or the media that is the chicken.
There is also one other element to the short cycle focus. If there are enough promises in the air, it is more difficult to keep track of what is being said and how it can “morph” into a new position as the current circumstances might dictate. It is a form of non-accountability or slipperiness that politicians thrive on.
Proposed New Practice
Instead of complaining about what is happening, I’ve decided to take the approach of offering a potential solution. Let each candidate pick a topic and develop an actual plan to address the issue. The plan should be put in writing with the key points of action or critical consideration underlined. Since most successful plans revolve the KISS strategy of simplicity, require that the statement paper is limited to two pages, so all of us can actually get through the document and hopefully understand it. If you can’t understand what the politician is saying, that tells you something too. Of course we want them to put a date on the statement just below the place where they say “I approve this message” and they sign it.
Now they can talk about the statements in debates, ads, news shows etc. Now we can track the topics, and what they intend to do and hold them accountable when they get elected.
Last Suggestion Today
Let the public pick the topics we want addressed. A few opinion polls with the top ten items of interest could be the starting point. My number one suggestion is creating and retaining jobs. I don’t want to hear what you’ve done in the past. I want to hear about what you will do now in today’s situation.
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