The Social Media of Politics - Have we Gone too Far?

Trump, Women and the Politics of Social Media

In just over three weeks we'll know who the next President of the United States will be. The third and last presidential debate will be on Wednesday Oct 19th, after 83 and 69 million reportedly tuned in to watch the 1st and 2nd debates.

Trumped-up

1. spuriously devised; fraudulent; fabricated: e.g. "He was arrested on some trumped-up charge."

When Politics Crosses the Line, We all Lose

The following article represents only my opinion and I'm neither for or against either candidate. Though as a citizen, I am concerned with social media and the media's role in political rhetoric, propaganda and their ability to serve the people objectively.

The evasion of policy issues and the sidestepping of actual political debates with guerrilla style media-bombing on social media, is a new all-time low for the relationship of media and politics in the world.

In fact, in the history of mass psychology, this might be largest media run campaign to discredit a candidate in all of history.

Sexual Harassment

Over the last week the media has been pretty crazy over allegations of Trump's conduct, or should we say gross misconduct towards women.

We've been bombarded by more videos, articles, tweets and more videos of speeches denouncing a presidential candidate than ever before, not on policy, but on his moral behavior and possible sexual harassment of women.

Trump in Hot Water

In an age of fact checking in real-time and politics on social media, where "character" for the job is a bigger deal than issue of policies, one is struck just how "insane" this election campaign has been from a media standpoint and for people trying to follow the campaign.

Donald Trump is persona non grata now on a public conviction of sexism. Are these allegations and media advertisements likely enough to make him lose the key swing states?

Is the Media Rigged?

The New York times reports that Donald Trump calls the attacks on him false smears. In a mainstream media (MSM), more about hype and hot topics than policy debates, it's difficult to find non-partisan journalism. Trump himself has stated that he believes elections are rigged.

For good or for ill, I don't believe we've witnessed a "character assassination" quite as blatantly orchestrated and it's reached such proportions that "circus politics" is further discrediting the institution of what democracy itself is supposed to be, and further damaging the national reputation.

A 10 Year Old Video Causes Media Storm

When a video surfaced of a very lewd conversation Trump had in 2005, that portrays Trump even as a "sexual predator" abusing his power to fulfill his illegitimate and unlawful appetites, the media storm it has caused appears to have poorly impacted public opinion with recent polls indicating his reputation has taken a big enough hit and in a significant manner that he now appears to be an even more significant underdog.

The Age of Inclusivity Politics

The momentum of character attacks on Donald Trump, fair or foul, have made Misogyny the new front-running topic of the elections. Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

This would usually be quite interesting, except that the other candidate, Hilary Clinton, is vying to be the first female President of the United States.

Attacking Trump on his treatment of women when he is competing for a job vs. a woman, is not a 'unifying' tone, but the sort of sour scheme that makes all of us a bit more jaded with the institution, the media and how social media itself is being used.

So instead of the economy, the environment, healthcare and actual issues being at the foreground of the campaign and media coverage; personality, scandal and history seem to trump issues in today's politics.

Social Media for Ratings

Just when you thought Donald Trump was causing racial divides by more controversial comments than (we've lost count) any candidate before, pitting him as the Anti-Christ of all women has produced online taunts on such scale and rapid intervals of denouncement the world has never seen before.

It may be good for "ratings", but as a consequence, it really does all seem staged, fabricated along the agenda and narrative of some ruling party.

It's ironic then that the internet trolling Donald Trump has become the new way to support women in positions of leadership, as if this magnified and glamorized dichotomy of extremes, would somehow improve real issues for American people.

Political Entertainment

When politics becomes non-serious entertainment for millions of people, as depicted on social media, on Saturday Night Live skits with a nearly total lack of serious depiction of the democratic or republican platforms, strategies and differences; the right to vote itself becomes a caricature of what democracy is supposed to be.

The idea of freedom once inherent in the right to vote, has become a sham. As a consequence, young people also known as Millennials, are less engaged in politics than ever before.

The collective narrative takes on a made for social media tone, from sub plots of Russians hacking the elections, to Trump's plan to build a great Mexican wall that the manufactured drama approaches Roman politics when its empire was on the decline.

It obscures more than it reveals, and distracts more than it educates. To make the political sphere a public spectacle is dangerous.

The first debate got such a high viewership, not because people are passionate about the future of the country, but because we were drawn to the "cheer to jeer" atmosphere the media and the campaigns has conjured. With so little substance to the campaign, accusations, drama and celebrity politics has become the new normal.

Watching it (the 1st debate), many of us found ourselves prone to laughter, not because it educated us or because the orators were charismatic & funny, but because it entertained us, embarrassed us and made for good banter with our family and friends.

Millennials Not Enamored with Either

Compared to the fresh enthusiasm that Bernie Sanders brought to political debate for Millennials, the "I'm with Her" or pro Trump rhetoric feels completely manufactured for many Millennials, the young people who the next 70 year old President's job will impact the most. In fact, Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump may be the least popular candidates ever.

What Ever Happened to Talking about the Economy?

In an era where the recovery after 2008 is still a dream for many of us, the slogans, promises, and hate-politics all sort of blur together into incoherence where the "winner" is still decided by too few people, in too few states in a system that is far too chaotic and messy to be respected.

Moreover, what is most worrisome, is how the manufactured drama is the lie that hides the real issues people actually care about.

That politics is now a game of deception, like a senior citizen's 'hunger games' of the media, is causing the entire world to roll their eyes at the legitimacy of either candidate.

Do you believe Trump's history with women should be the major headline this close to the election? Will you watch the 3rd debate?