Musings on Civilisation

I'm back from the Big Apple, the large cheese, the Empire state strikes back etc etc.

Ghandi, when arriving in Great Britain, was asked:
"What do you think of Western civilisation?"
"What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea."

I was reminded of this quote as I arrived in Newark airport, late one evening last week. I don't mean any offense to Americans, I personally love the one's I've come into contact with during my lifetime, but there seems to be a group that arn't my cup of tea. Politicians.

While I was there, I saw a number of adverts that I personally thought were a joke:
"Bob Menendez sells drugs to children." (I embellish slightly perhaps.)
About 20 minutes later, I had the misfortune to catch another:
"Tom Kean Jr is a racist who WILL attack your mother." (My memory has faded a tad..)

I couldn't believe the dirty tactics used by politicians in what is supposed to be the most civilised nation on the planet. The idea of a Senator, surely, is to command the respect of their constituents; proving to the public that they are being led by mature, wise and well-rounded individuals. I found (find it, as afterall it goes on in my country too) it fairly disgraceful that the voting public are being patronised by their would-be leaders. From my experience, treat others with the respect they deserve; possibly why politicians get very little from many.

In the last General Election in the UK, the Conservatives led a campaign based on negative aspects of the Labour Party. They lost. It seems the voter doesn't like being treated like an idiot.

It's one step down from:
"Do you remember when old Mabel got run over?

Tony Blair does."