re: #117 freetoken

As these “conventions” continue to change into entertainment events - soon I expect there to me other types of performance art than just small bands - the nature of the American politics has to be questioned.

We really are seeing the result of the TV generation, post 1960’s, where that revolutionary style of visual entertainment has defined more about us than could have been envisioned back in the 30’s when it was being designed.

I think that’s correct but there’s also another dimension. There’s always been the silly and simple angle to politics: dubious claims, factually challenged ads, silly conventions, gotcha sound bites etc. but there also used to be a more serious side to be found. I recently rewatched Buckley debating Chomsky (it’s worth watching just a few minutes to remember what adult discussions used to look like). Although Hitchens was more bombastic he was also a holdover of the era of more serious adult debate which doesn’t really exist anymore. Although the wingnuts have been more open in abandoning their intellectuals I think the problem is widespread in modern culture. There’s not much open honest exchange of political ideas. It’s been abandoned in favor of simplistic populism and showmanship.