1. Stop using humiliating candid photos of politicians in your real, professional news stories.
Covering a Hilary Clinton speech? Why not use a photo of her with her mouth half-open and her hair flying everywhere, to show that she is doing it while also … being a goon! Talking about George Dubya’s low popularity ratings? Find a picture of him looking like he’s picking his nose. I get that these are funny but people who read publications pay attention to these subtle cues, and they come from a lot of places that technically “aren’t biased.” There are better ways to challenge our politicians to be more dignified.
2. Stop using bumper stickers that do nothing but piss off other drivers.
Even a sticker that just says, “I am a Democrat” has the implication, “I am proud to tell everyone that I am in the RIGHT party to be in.” What does that accomplish other than being divisive? Also, bumper stickers suck. Let’s just drop the bumper stickers and walk away.
3. Put down daddy’s words.
Yes, we were all raised to hate the other party by our parents. I admit, when my dad uses the term “Republican fat cats,” it always tickles me. Cute terms and cute parents aside, we need to be less divisive in our attempts to criticize the opposite party. No Republican is going to negotiate with someone who starts an argument by calling them a fat cat.
4. Ignore the negative political ads.
No matter how many millions politicians put into negative political ads, they’re old fashioned. All that negative ads do is create misconceptions and fear, and it’s one of the most common campaign strategies, for both parties. Every time you see one, just put earmuffs on. And try to guarantee that the money you donate won’t go toward this destructive type of campaigning.
Photo by swanksalot
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