We already know how the 2012 campaign will end. Maybe not the exact results, but we already know the ugly process we are in the midst of and the one that will lead us to whatever conclusion, which the votes give us.
We already know record amounts of money are going to be spent producing television ads, websites, direct and email marketing, polling, etc. We also know that when one side makes a point, the other side will tell us they are wrong. And vice versa. We also know the tone of this campaign may be the most ugly and nasty any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes.
The frustration we have as consumers of this campaign is that we already know all this and we know nothing can change the course the 2012 election is taking. If you believe the polls, anywhere from 85 to 90 percent of Americans have already made up their minds how they will vote come November. This nation has become so polarized that we have stopped listening to what the other side has to say, making us part of the problem.
So here is my futile attempt to change the course of this campaign. Candidates and their advisors – listen up. You are spending money to try to convert 10% percent or so of the population. Stop the waste and put your money where your mouth is. You want to create jobs? Take a portion of your campaign war chest and go fund some jobs for up and coming businesses. Think of the positive publicity you would get for that move in the heat of a campaign.
You want to change the health care system? Take some more of your “hard earned” campaign dollars and buy some health insurance for someone who needs it. Again, think of the all the positive awareness you would garner.
As far as we voters go, what we ought to do is refuse to buy in to the impending nastiness this campaign season seems destined for and tell any candidate who might actually listen that none of our votes are guaranteed. You want our votes, then quit wasting millions of dollars on marketing that no one listens to and go out and invest in something positive that we might applaud you for.
Pie in the sky? Probably. Naïve? Likely. But don’t tell me you wouldn’t like to see these scenarios come to life. We control the destiny of every election that rolls around. We seem to have grown weary of it all and find it easier to ignore than to engage.
Political campaigns have become the least real branding and marketing there is going today. Until we as “campaign consumers” act like we actually care, nothing will change.
What do you think?
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