Randon Muse on Economics and politics and train wrecks

a few nights ago, i had the good fortune to listen to
NPR, world affairs, a member of Council on Foreign relations.
James F. Hoge, Jr., Editor of Foreign Affairs and Dan Yankelovich, Chairman of Public Agenda


Tue, Nov 15, 2005 -- 2:00 AM
Are We Doing the Right Thing? Public Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy
Are We Doing the Right Thing? Public Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy -- James F. Hoge, Jr., Editor of Foreign Affairs and Dan Yankelovich, Chairman of Public Agenda, discuss which international issues weigh most heavily on the minds of the American public. Foreign Affairs and Public Agenda unveil a "Public Agenda Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index" to help leaders look beyond the ups-and-downs of weekly polls and to provide on-going assessments of the public's confidence in this nation's role in global affairs.

a fascinating interchange ensued about international vs domestic politics
politicosm, ignorance of US citizens to thing international and train wrecks.

US citizens generally heed nothing outside of our daily circle internationally
or domestically til a "train wreck" occurs. Further international affairs are meaningless to most Americans, and functionally ignored.

Politicians understand this and cater to it; further politicians only adjust when an issue moves to tipping point, like 70% of the population engaged...

thus politicians say one thing, do another, til the cognitive mass get's high enough.
usually they just ignore international issues.

Bush suffers from attention refocussed on katrina and iraq.
the dismal response of Bush in reponse to Katrina, convinced
the average joe, that something is amiss in washington, and homeland
security isn't.... and isn't all that important..

people suddenly discovered that 200B spent on Iraq could be spent instead on NO. that is the money could be better used at home.

all this has suddenly "TIPPED" in view.

the media jumps from topic to topic, attempting to follow
their viewership, who is perversely, disinterested with a 5 second
attention span, little critical thinking skills..

what occured to me is all this seems to be a function of economics
short term, we're all pursuing our immediate interests. the media
chases a viewship who really is fickle and couldn't care less, so
the media keeps them busy with superficial rapid fire reporting.

the media chase ratings, because that's their job, but essentially
the problem is US. we don't care, apathy or disinterest.

in the long run, we all lose. economics doesn't promote any sort of
long term strategy, just "today's" transaction, whether political,
economic or media.

the politicos know few notice observe or track issues and results and outcomes.

the Bush' gang, has a really poor track record, their results are frankly
horrible, nearly everything is mangled or messed up..

when did it become "republican" to indulge massive debt on pet ideological
projects. where did the true "republican's" go, the fiscal conservatives..

i was one.. but i feel nothing in common with what's happening now.
my countries been hijacked, i want it back.