Celebrities And Politics? What do you think??

I personally think that the reason that celebrity activists get the attention they do is because, for whatever reason, most of us don't appreciate what it means to have a say in the rules we live by and the people who will make decisions on our behalf.

Most people -- the overwhelming majority -- of people who are eligible to register to vote don't register. Of those who do, only a fraction show up to the polls. Many of the people who complain about their neighborhood schools haven't ever voted in an election that determines who's on the school board, who heads up the Department of Education, who sits for them in the state legislature, or even for Governor. Most of the people who complain about law enforcement in Maricopa County won't vote for a sheriff or county attorney.

I have yet to meet an elder who, at one time (whether by law or practice) was denied the right to vote who didn't take some time to make up his/her mind, and, by heck or by gosh, cast his/her ballot.

To make it simple. A fraction of citizens vote, and a smaller fraction of those take the time to evaluate their choices. If you're a politician, you can figure out who both groups are demographically. Then, you court the people those groups like. Oprah likes Obama, so people who like Oprah vote for Obama. It would be very interesting to ask the Oprah following what Obama's plans are for the economy, health, education, and international conflict. They'll probably just repeat whatever Oprah's said.

Today's adult U.S. citizens can't fathom how many people have fought, both on battlefields and in courts, for each U.S. citizen's right to have a say in his/her government. They can read about bloody uprisings, military coups, civil wars, refugees, famine, starvation, political prisoners, and genocide across the world -- and none of that reminds them that our democratic government is the reason we can just go about our daily lives, and not ever worry that our country will end up like that.

If we don't want celebrities to have an influence, that's easily repaired. Register. Vote. Get everyone you care about to register and vote. Until we do that, then we're letting a small minority of people make decisions for all of us.

I think celebrities are helpful in encouraging others to vote, but that's where it ends for me. I heard a news report the other day in which a certain movie star "endorsed" a candidate. I thought that was an odd way to put it. I would think endorsements were reserved for newspapers and political insiders who really understand it. In the end, celebrities telling me who they are voting for doesn't affect my decision making at all and I worry about people whose judgement it does affect.

sure, fine, whatever

I think they are just like everyone else. Some are well informed and able to articulate their opinions and actually contribute to the conversation. While others just go with whoever is hip, or make decisions without really looking in to a candidate and the issues.

I think if celebs can get people to focus a few more minutes on important issues, they've done a good thing.

Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.