American Presidential Election 2004 Observational Update

I have been able to establish a much needed clarity in my observation of the 2004 American Presidental election. At the outset I will declare that my observations are not coloured by any idealogical agenda or predispositions whatsoever. My concern is primarily the aftermath of this election and the effect it will have on future American society. In this regard I guess that I am in complete agreement with all of those involved in this election, with the exception that this is my opinion derived from my own personal observations during the past four years. President Bush and his advisors, quite by accident, are attempting to create a new American IDOL in national politics. Due to a multitude of local and international failures during his past four years, George W. Bush's only campaign slogan became an endless mantra asking the American people to believe in his resolution and strengths (whatever that is?). John Kerry on the other hand is running a traditional high powered campaign based on issues of great concern to the American public. The overwhelming majority of these issues comprised an extensive report card on the multitude of failures and blunders committed by the Bush white house.
So the imagery of the two contenders in this campaign could never have greater contrast. We have on the one hand George W. Bush racing around the country carrying his Alfred E. Newman (what me worry) smirk to as many stops as humanly possible, asking the American people to believe in him. He doesn't really say what he will do, but asks for people to trust his strength, resolution and faith. The religious tone is impossible to miss; it asks the voter to put his/her faith in this "born again sinner". This inference carries all of the insinuated power inherent in the reformed alcholic's attitude toward booze or the reformed ex-smoker's attitude toward smoking. The republican party has seized upon Bush's campaign message and has busily set to work turning George W into a national CULTIC figure. Their message is if you believe in George Bush, you believe in America; if you don't believe in George Bush, you don't believe in America! The Kerry campaign has had the misfortune of appearing to be completely unaware of these events and continues to push the litany of failures of the Bush whitehouse. Actually what we have here is two different presidential races, with each contender running against a non-existent candidate. Bush is campaigning hard against a non-existent personality candidate, while Kerry is running hard against a non-existent traditional candidate. No wonder the American people are confused!
The cultic politician is not new in american politics. We have numerious past examples on the state level in southern politics, such as Huey Long in Lousiana, Bilbo in Mississippi, and more recently Thurmond in South Carolina. These politicians established themselves as cultic figures and voters worshiped them as such with their voting faithfulness. However, this is the first time in American politics that such a cultic figure has been established in a national Presidental election. This sets a dangerous example for the future of American politics as the issues of concern to John Q. Public will cease to matter in elections, taking a back seat to the cult of personality, until it reaches revolutionary proportions among the citizenery. Many others are watching this election with great interest, people well experienced in cultic recruitment and management of millions of people such as Reverend Moon (owner of the Washington Times); or even less experienced public cultic figures such as hollywood movie actors. The American voter must consider and take very seriously this new path in American politics. This election is really about the politics of the future, which unless changed from its current direction will continue to pit the cult of personality against all of the practical issues of deep concern to the public.

America's 2004 Presidential election, an anthropological view

I have been reluctant to initiate this particular blog due to the overwhelming complexities and passions associated with any discussion of matters in this domain. Since my instinctive behaviour places me in the category of the observers among us, I have reached the point where I am filled up with the cacophony currently swirling around us. Not only are we inundated by political messages in all available media (audio, video, and print) but it is extrapolated into two further dimensions, TRUTH and LIES. Whenever a noteworthy event occurs, we should examine it in two ways; the general effect of the event itself, and the personal impact of the event on each and every one of us. Life in this world is based on this truth. What is really at stake for Americans in this election? It is all of the possible future secenarios described by each candidate, but even more consequential it is the astounding increase in the public's tolerance for officials public uttering of obvious outright lies. The most serious loss to any nation or community is when truth in the public sector becomes a casualty. This is true, no matter what the circumstances. A nation can survive as long as a strong appreciation and value of the truth survives and influences the body politic.Deterioration of this standard marks the erosion of the strength and viability of the society so effected in the world community.
Why so much fuss over preserving the truth in society? The truth is the only absolute that is beyond compromise and corruption. The truth is even known well to a liar. But most important, the highest sanctuaries of a society are created upon certain ideas whose concepts are in accord with irrefutable universal truths. How does one determine that public acceptance of lies is increasing? It is self-revealing in the number of people that not only tolerate lies but become a passionate believer of a certain group of lies and thereby an active exponent and frequent repeater of such lies. Such members of society embrace the cult of personality and become active proponents of the lies associated with that cult, and thereby reject the truth. When such members proliferate in a society, the truth is slowly squeezed out of the public commerce and legal interface of that society such that the scales of justice are completely compromised and subject only to the strenth of the greatest lie.
The greatest damage caused by the decline of truth in society is to future generations whose framework of knowledge is what is bequeathed to them by their parents. They will attempt to exault the society they recieved in the manner that they have been given to understand, and if lying is acceptable they will strive to create even greater lies as their legacy. How can a society thus sickened continue to exist within the family of nations in the world. Such corruption will almost certainly attract many forms of international mischief that will eventually contribute to internal destruction and dissolution.