For Drew

Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security would deserve neither and lose both."

As mass media has allowed information to reach more people, an inadvertent thing has happened--the message has been dumbed down. It's the democratization of info--now everyone can understand!

I'm reminded of politicking's most absurdly vague statement this year. Barack Obama, after losing at NH, roused his troops (how, I'm not sure) with this: "something in America is happening." I shit you not, he said that, and all drawn-out and dramatic too.

Gone are the Abraham Lincolns and the Teddy Roosevelts. With less media, there was less campaign cost--presidents only had a few backers. You were for steel, or railroads, or cars. Now candidates have so many competing interests, you'll be lucky to see any spine. The word "stump" speech is quickly losing its grassroots allusion, and is taking on a new meaning: a word for the truncated, tell-nothing speeches of candidates.

On one side it's the appearance of change (race, sex) and on the other side, it's the reincarnation of Reagan. Let's not forget two very important things:

1. Just because you redecorate a room in your house doesn't mean you've changed it. Even with all that tribal South American get-up, it's still your "family room."

2. Remember that Reagan's unstated policy was to ignore any information that spoke to the contrary of what he believed. That's why they called him an unflinching idealist.

I wish I could vote for Mario Cuomo. I don't think there's been a better speaker since.