In my opinion, it has to do with the culture of our nation, but by and large sad to say, the American People are much more “dumbed down” and morally corrupted, as well as unread and insular if you ask me, in 2009 than they were in 1976. A lot has changed. I wouldnt put it past America to re-elect the jackass even AFTER major foul ups overseas for the next four years. Whereas they had the common sense, mental engagement and sense of responsibility as individual Americans, that Reagan HAD to be put in to stop that earlier disaster. I do wonder at times.
I agree that Obama can be re-elected, mainly because people I talk to are totally uninformed about the news because they watch the NETWORK news.
BUMP!
1976 and 2009 are worlds apart. Read my tag.
Folks under 40 today have no idea what they missed. A shame.
Agreed.
To what can we attribute this?
1. Consolidation of media outlets (broadcasters bought out by big corporations).
2. The Internet (which gives many people a sense of tunnel vision, search rather than browse).
3. Death of newspapers (related to 1 and 2, see above).
4. Lack of a civic culture.
5. Add more. Your thoughts?
With Reagan, America had a CLEAR choice, because Reagan represented a clear DIFFERENCE from Carter. In today’s politics, we don’t often have clearly different choices on our election ballots. Often both sides have made themselves so “moderate” (so as to not offend too many people) that they are too alike. Thus, we end up with elections that are 50.5% vs. 49.5%.
I am waiting for the day when a strong LEADER appears who can garner 60% or 70% or more of the vote. Where is someone that the vast majority of Americans can get behind?
(I have often used the analogy of a sports coach... If you had a coach that only 50.5% of the team respected, that coach would be out on his a**. That’s what we have had in the Oval Office ever since Reagan, I’m sorry to say.)