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For the last 30 years, we made voting decisions based on 30 second messages. That has worked so well, it's time to shorten those messages to 140 characters. Bec

For the last 30 years, we made voting decisions based on 30 second messages. That has worked so well, it's time to shorten those messages to 140 characters. Because apparently less information is more in politics.

fleitz 14y ago
Considering that most of the messages in politics are false or distorted you could probably make a more informed decision knowing nothing about the candidates.
- mindslight 14y ago
  Yep. Stand proud with the silent majority who've decided that a feel-good media popularity contest is not a reason to go out of their way.
- jmsduran 14y ago
  While your cynicism is understandable, people need to be educated in order to make informed decisions, otherwise voting becomes pointless; that is a basic tenet of Democracy.
  - mey 14y ago
    Question is who is providing the information that makes us informed?
  - fleitz 14y ago
    I believe we have similar conclusions but differ on the facts, I don't vote because it's pointless because education has revealed that... What politicians and the media say are mostly lies (intentional or not). It's difficult to tell what is a lie from what is the truth. I don't live in an area that can affect the outcome of the election. Considering the entire spectrum of choices available the two or three options you have are almost identical: Democrats are the left wing of the plutocratic party and Republicans are the right wing. Tide or Sunlight isn't a choice either way you're buying soap from P&G. Any time, including writing this point, spend worrying about politics is time I could have spent improving my life or the lives of others.
verisimilidude 14y ago
The 140 character limit wouldn't exactly be new. Some voters base their decisions on even less information. Hope, Change, Flip-flop, Romnesia, etc.
- clarkm 14y ago
  The memeification of the election has been pretty interesting. The biggest examples: - "You didn't build that" - "legitimate rape" - "Big Bird" - "binders full of women" - "the 47%" - "horses and bayonets" There's a lot more context to all of these statements, but no one seems to care.
Zenst 14y ago
That is certainly one approach and for some thats more than they need. Thing is when it comes up towards election the various parties wake up and startup the PR spin and with that you get more and more targeted via the communications tools at hand. This has always meant manipulation for PR gains nomatter the form of communication, be it twitter or Facebook etc today or the Newspapers of yesteryear. Nothing new. If people want to base the vote over advert based timespans then they will, though I always found it better to look at what they have done outside that PR window and not on the PR spun, vote for us ones. In the UK last election I saw the concervatives saying they were about local jobs in a leaflet from my local candidate. Said leaflet was printed in another county and with over 5 local printing companies I did see thru the PR spin on that one. Personaly if you vote based on what your told by the salesman only then you are opening yourself up to mistakes. If you do your own research and look at the history of the product or party in this case and what it has done and is doing; Then you see the true picture. Whoever wins I hope they don't suffer the act of children fillybustering and turn the seats of power into a school yard name calling session. In the UK I watch the parlement channel and the way they act at times would not be tollerated in a School Playground, fine examples. But it is the same when you get people fighting for there party and not the greater good of the country it serves. But humans are not perfect; Though we do aspire. So for me politics can do blipverts and 1 character information posts as I do my own research and make my own mind up based upon actions and effort and not the one year running up to an election, pile of spin. Whatever form they pick. I guess in that sence, less information from parties blowing there own trumpet is more politics being done instead of being talked about. Be nice if they could agree on a few more things so that at least those can get actioned and things done that need to be done instead of being blocked just because the other guy came up with the idea, thats my dream and I had it.

fleitz 14y ago

Considering that most of the messages in politics are false or distorted you could probably make a more informed decision knowing nothing about the candidates.

mindslight 14y ago
Yep. Stand proud with the silent majority who've decided that a feel-good media popularity contest is not a reason to go out of their way.
jmsduran 14y ago
While your cynicism is understandable, people need to be educated in order to make informed decisions, otherwise voting becomes pointless; that is a basic tenet of Democracy.
- mey 14y ago
  Question is who is providing the information that makes us informed?
- fleitz 14y ago
  I believe we have similar conclusions but differ on the facts, I don't vote because it's pointless because education has revealed that... What politicians and the media say are mostly lies (intentional or not). It's difficult to tell what is a lie from what is the truth. I don't live in an area that can affect the outcome of the election. Considering the entire spectrum of choices available the two or three options you have are almost identical: Democrats are the left wing of the plutocratic party and Republicans are the right wing. Tide or Sunlight isn't a choice either way you're buying soap from P&G. Any time, including writing this point, spend worrying about politics is time I could have spent improving my life or the lives of others.

verisimilidude 14y ago

The 140 character limit wouldn't exactly be new. Some voters base their decisions on even less information. Hope, Change, Flip-flop, Romnesia, etc.

clarkm 14y ago
The memeification of the election has been pretty interesting. The biggest examples: - "You didn't build that" - "legitimate rape" - "Big Bird" - "binders full of women" - "the 47%" - "horses and bayonets" There's a lot more context to all of these statements, but no one seems to care.

Zenst 14y ago

That is certainly one approach and for some thats more than they need. Thing is when it comes up towards election the various parties wake up and startup the PR spin and with that you get more and more targeted via the communications tools at hand. This has always meant manipulation for PR gains nomatter the form of communication, be it twitter or Facebook etc today or the Newspapers of yesteryear. Nothing new. If people want to base the vote over advert based timespans then they will, though I always found it better to look at what they have done outside that PR window and not on the PR spun, vote for us ones. In the UK last election I saw the concervatives saying they were about local jobs in a leaflet from my local candidate. Said leaflet was printed in another county and with over 5 local printing companies I did see thru the PR spin on that one. Personaly if you vote based on what your told by the salesman only then you are opening yourself up to mistakes. If you do your own research and look at the history of the product or party in this case and what it has done and is doing; Then you see the true picture. Whoever wins I hope they don't suffer the act of children fillybustering and turn the seats of power into a school yard name calling session. In the UK I watch the parlement channel and the way they act at times would not be tollerated in a School Playground, fine examples. But it is the same when you get people fighting for there party and not the greater good of the country it serves. But humans are not perfect; Though we do aspire. So for me politics can do blipverts and 1 character information posts as I do my own research and make my own mind up based upon actions and effort and not the one year running up to an election, pile of spin. Whatever form they pick. I guess in that sence, less information from parties blowing there own trumpet is more politics being done instead of being talked about. Be nice if they could agree on a few more things so that at least those can get actioned and things done that need to be done instead of being blocked just because the other guy came up with the idea, thats my dream and I had it.