"That a politician is charismatic, or can give a good speech, should matter less than what laws he or she would support."

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Tune out the political theater: Column
Pay attention to a candidate's positions rather than how attractive he looks on TV.
By Duncan Blake, April 23, 2014

As the 2014 midterm election season heats up, with the 2016 presidential primary season beginning just after, it's important to keep in mind one simple little thing that is often lost in our public political discourse: policy matters.

Ultimately elections are about giving people immense power over shaping policies which directly impact all of our lives. That a politician is charismatic, or can give a good speech, should matter less than what laws he or she would support.

It's understandable that people respond to these more aesthetic considerations. Not everything about a candidate is knowable, and campaign promises can be just that. So we rely on our interpretation of social cues to inform us about a person's fundamental nature. The ability to charm might matter, but it isn't the only thing that matters.

Many pundits and political reporters seem more comfortable focusing on the theater criticism aspect of politics, focusing on how well an office-seeker is performing in his or her role as candidate. Again, one cannot deny that such considerations might sway voters, but what they plan to do while in office is far more important than how well any particular matinee performance is received by the critics.

Even discussion of policy too often focuses on where a particular candidate rests on some largely imaginary ideological spectrum rather than on its actual impact on people. Some people have the interest and luxury in seeing politics as some sort of esoteric debate about how the world should work, but most of us should be focused on electing politicians who support policies that make things better in practical terms.

There are consequences if women are denied access to safe and legal abortion. There are consequences to policies which impact whether people are likely to have sufficient funds for retirement. There are consequences to policies which affect access to, and affordability of, health insurance and health care. There are consequences of choices to intervene militarily, or choices not to.

My advice is to do your best to ignore the theater critics and also to ignore the temptation to play theater critic yourself. When the discussion turns to how candidates "performed" at a debate, rather than the substance of what they said or the policies that they advocate, do your best to tune that discussion out. Being adept at public speaking, having a quick wit, and being able to avoid supposed gaffes are all skills, but are they really the important skills we should demand of our policymakers?

Tax policy affects you. Retirement policy affects you. Health care policy affects you. Education policy affects you. Transportation policy affects you. Environmental policy affects you. How good somebody looks on television doesn't really affect you all that much.

You might end up voting for the candidate that you'd prefer to have a beer with, but don't listen to anyone who tells you that's the candidate you should vote for you. Politics isn't a reality show for our entertainment, it's a system through which power is granted and wielded. The policies that politicians support, or don't support, impact us all, and that's what really matters.
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