Consumer society politics

Sometime in the late 1960s, people’s involvement in politics changed from participation to consumerism. When I was a kid, our parents and grandparents carefully, not blindly, listened to, selected and exercised their right to vote for the candidate of their choice. No one waited for a politician’s mass-delivery message to reach them, they bought newspapers (many towns had more than two), they read editorials, they listened to radio interviews. They participated in the process of evaluation at meetings and debates. Yes, many politicians who told you what to think — like McCarthy — were dangerous for a while, or did actual harm, but the public wasn’t fooled for long.

Politics back then reminded me of the adage: You can fool all the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time.

Participation in politics was a personal matter. Yes, if you wanted to proclaim your preference you could wear an “I Like Ike” badge or the simple “Kennedy for President” button. But something happened as America turned to relying on television’s ability to convince you to consume product. Some early TV commercials simply informed the values of a product like “Our Repairmen are the loneliest guys in town” or that dishwashing liquid that made your hands softer, or “See the USA in your Chevrolet.”

That TV set, sitting in your living room, had become part of your family, a trusted member.

Political parties and politicians suddenly could speak to you in your own home. They could preach at you, they could tell you what was right and what was wrong. It did not take long for media expert candidates like Reagan to employ message writers to convince you what was wrong. This new breed of politician rarely offered a solution, but what they did, in their messaging, was sell you into agreeing with their assessment of what should be bothering you, what they proclaimed was wrong. No debate, no editorial discussion in competing newspapers or radio stations. You were — and still are — presented with absolute statements as if those were facts. “The immigrant crisis…” What crisis? Today there are fewer illegal crossings than for the past 10 years. The word “crisis” cannot be confused with “issue” or “problem.” Crisis is an absolutism. It is not true. And that’s just one example. Other absolutisms are “Right to Life” (anti-abortion might be accurate) or “Pro-Abortion” (woman’s right to choose) or “Critical Race Theory” (hypothesis might be acceptable) or “Gun Control” (which means nothing physically since guns can’t control themselves — so perhaps gun owners’ control).

If you were to become a participant, involved in your local and national politics, you could work at finding the truth, the facts. You would easily and quickly discount people who profess to be absolutists, you would look for consensus, you would want to evaluate, not merely accept someone’s word. Participants evaluate, consumers swallow what is fed to them. Consuming politics like it is entertainment, advertising seen in your home, can only lead to fake perspectives, McCarthy-like idolatry, and cult scare tactics. And why do you want to fall for that?

Admittedly, as a consumer, you may have learned to trust the TV set in your own home or that smartphone you stare at for hours each day. Remember, these “free” messages someone wants you to buy are a mistake in trust that you and everyone ought to correct before it is too late.


Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, now lives in New Mexico.

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Amelia R. Wright

Falls Village – Amelia Rosalie (Betti) Wright, 91, of Falls Village died September 30, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Robert Kenneth Wright.

Amelia was born September 6, 1933 in Torrington, CT, daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Eliza (Passini) Betti. Amelia worked at Camp Isabella Freedman as the Head Housekeeper. She was employed there for 35 years. She attended the Falls Village Congregational Church and had been very active at the Senior Center in Falls Village. She enjoyed collecting. She also enjoyed the craft classes offered by Adult Ed at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She enjoyed traveling, especially to the Cape, Vermont and New Hampshire. An avid flower person, Amelia had traveled to the major flower shows in both Boston and Philadelphia.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Osborn and her husband David of Falls Village, her son, Robert H. Wright of Falls Village and her son, Donald Wright and his wife Kate of Millbrook, NY; her sister, MaryAnn Betti of Falls Village; her grandchildren, Benjamin and Katie Osborn and Jacob Wright. Amelia is also survived by her great grandson, Gunner Osborn. Amelia was predeceased by her brother, Donald Betti.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in the Mountain View Cemetery, Sand Road, North Canaan, CT. Calling hours will be held at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, North Canaan, CT 06018 on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Association, 188 US-7 South, Falls Village, CT. 06031

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