Thoughts from the Middle

October 20th, 2006 at 04:49pm B Jon Traylor 199

The right wing conservative and replublican pushers of talk radio -- namely Shawn Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, turn my stomach sour and actually are the source of headaches as I drive up and down this valley.  From atop the perch of my own handcrafted soapbox, I will glady proclaim that what people like them are doing is in fact splintering and dividing this country. 

The latest figures I've read indicate that 28% of working adults in this country receive their news information from talk radio.  Hmm?  So 28% of Americans get brainwashed by the far right wing, republican party neoconservative talk show hosts who consistently inform us that to have a viewpoint other than theirs is evil, liberal, left wing, whacko-based thinking?

I make no bones about it... I dont' want to be termed or stereotyped as a liberal or conservative (hence either a democrat or a republican).  Why would I want to place a limitation on my cognitive, intellectual truth seeking aspirations? According to the the two aforementioned 'celebrities', one must choose.  In their words, those that don't choose republican conservatism are the evil that is hindering this great country from moving forward.

What?  If one were to take an honest look at our society, at our government's policies over the last 6 plus years, one could easily question just how "conservative" these policies actually are. 

What is wrong with being a proud independent?  What is wrong with taking a fully educated and informed approach to viewing and interpreting and understanding our culture, our policies, our value systems? 

Is it time for a third political party?  Yes, I believe so, and I think we can thank the Hannity and Limbaugh's of the world for helping to perhaps foster this.  Perhaps the last great opportunity to make that happen was back in '92 when H. Ross Perot energized the real grassroots, working class electorate of our country. 

I remember walking across campus at Texas A&M University back in the early 90's, following a group of students who were talking about who they all would vote for.  As I eavesdropped on their conversation, I was warmly enlightened as I listened to this one guy state, "You know... I plan to vote for the little rich billionaire guy with the big ears... you know... Ross Perot.  I think its time we change how our government works, and it is time we get more people involved.  I never really heard anything from a candidate that made me want to listen more and get involved and become a part of our democracy until Ross Perot."

  Personally, I think Perot energized the base of our country, the grassroots people, and I think he could have been a very popular President, perhaps not at first, but people would have believed in him versus the system we have (had)  in place.  In two years we would have seen a wholesale change in both the house and senate as people would have voted for candidates that would have actually worked with our president for the betterment of our country instead of continuing the never-ending game of partisan politics.

However, I will grant Shawn Hannity one thing.  Yesterday, I listened to his show during the third hour (because I couldn't find anything else on the radio speed dial... or perhaps I needed a few laughs.)  During his third hour, on Thursdays, he does a segment called "Man on the Street."  The reporter on the street, this time being in Mid-Town Manhattan, in NYC, would randomly choose a subject and show them pictures of six people.

The first three pictures were of Harry Reid (Senate Minority Leader), Nancy Pelosi (House Minority Leader) and Dennis Hastert (Speaker of the House and third in line for the Presidency).  Of the 10 or so people randomly selected, not a single person knew who any of the first three people were.  Conversely, when each was shown a picture of the next three people -- Jessica Simpson, Alec Baldwin and Paris Hilton... almost all of the subjects knew of and identified all three.  I must admit, I found this very humorous, yet very sad.

Perhaps this is the real problem in America.  Do people really care?  Are people too busy trying to advance their own agendas and paying bills and working and surviving?  Do people really not have time to get involved?  Do people just not want to get involved?  About 25% of registered voters actually turn out to vote, so this should dictate something. 

Perhaps it is time for another Ross Perot?  Perhaps it is time for people to rise up and say, "this is my country, that is my government, that party of republicans is not mine... and that party of democrats is not mine, and those choices our President is making are not my choices!"

I truly hope I am fortunate enough to live long enough to see the change that theoretically could really happen.  I hope I could be part of it. 

B. Jon Traylor, Carbondale, CO. 

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