>>John Thornton wrote:
>>
>>>Am I being deliberately obtuse in not understanding the "need" for
>>>this narrative? I just don't get it. Why is it needed to win an
>>>election? Maybe I don't understand what is being put forth with
>>>the narrative idea itself. Someone want to explain to me what I am
>>>apparently missing because I think the narrative idea is a bit
>>>disingenuous and I don't think that is what others have in mind?
>>
>>People don't understand wonky stuff. They don't connect policy to
>>party or candidate in any detail. They need a one- or two-sentence
>>story that excites them about politics. "America is in danger and
>>Bush can save us!" Doesn't matter what the danger is - terrorism or
>>lesbianism - it still works. Things like that.
>>
>>Doug
>
>You are starting to sound like Aristotle in his critique of democracy...
Do you have any evidence to the contrary? I'd love to hear some.
I don't think it always has to be this way. But given the environment Americans live in - often socially isolated (see Brooks's column on the exurbs for an example) and relentlessly propagandized - that's the way things look now.
Doug