Tracy's thoughts

Do people really listen to politicians? If a candidate were to get on TV and tell me about himself, what he will do for education, taxes, etc., I would (unfortunately) have a "Oh, that's nice. I'll have to see it to believe it" attitude. While this attitude is probably wrong, I think that people are cautious to believe anything politicians say...even if they are telling the truth. So, saying that, I think that is why they use the shock tactic in their campaigns. Cause otherwise they are just another random candidate telling me what I want to hear. It's like when I was in highschool and running for the ASB treasurer position. I assumed that every other candidate that had ever campaigned for the position had probably said they would be great at handling the finances, work really hard to do this, and accomplish that....blah, blah, blah. And I knew that no one was probably going to listen or care what I said anyway. So, when it came time for my election speech I made a joke in the middle of it about some kid in the 3rd row wearing Bugle Boy Jeans. People laughed and I won. Lame story, but I guess my question is, "do people really care, or is it a popularity contest"? Are we a society that bases character on being funny or different, or in the case that you said being the better "basher"? My other thought is...maybe people care more about voting on "issues" rather than candidates. I think I would rather concentrate more on the issues (ballot measures) and which way I will vote on them. It makes me feel like I have an ounce of control in an out of control system. It seems like the record shows that a candidate is probably just telling me what I want to hear, and when elected, doing whatever he wants.