Paul Scott Comment: Sick of those political TV ads yet?

I have to confess that I don't watch over-the-air TV much anymore (Channels 7 or 9 or 2, etc.)  But I made that mistake the other night and was treated to an onslaught of messages about how unqualified various candidates are to be elected to office.

What surprised me most was that several of these political TV ads involved out State Assembly contest right here in Winneshiek County.  You know the ads I'm talking about—the ones with the grainy black and white photos taken with the worst possible expressions.  The ones with the sinister music in the background and the voice-over that says "Rick Edwards supports Obamacare" or "Darrell Branhagen is bad for Iowa Schools."

Stop it!

The worst part is that the candidates themselves have been running a polite, low-key campaign in the district.  It's only the political parties in Des Moines that are making it seem like a WWE cage match.

But instead of just complaining, I have a suggestion on improving our election campaigns: Outlaw political ads on television.*  That's right—I know this is an extreme proposal, but our current situation calls for extreme measures.  Political advertising on TV right now plays to our fears and ignorance and doesn't tell us much about the candidates themselves.  Plus it costs a HUGE amount of money—which means special interest groups have a HUGE influence on politicians.

It's time to end the nonsense.  It's time to change the channel!


(*--A less radical, but still effective change would be to require TV stations to devote time to public service election campaign coverage that equaled the paid TV advertising.)