Politics and Sports

It seems to me that there are an awful lot of folk who view political debate and sides just the way they look at support their favorite football, baseball, foosball, basketball, soccer, etc teams. Well maybe we’re not very excited about foosball. If we are Democrats then we have to cheer for the Democrats and if we are Republicans then we have to cheer for the Republicans. And then there are always those who just want to cheer for foosball teams, or rather a third party. Then there are also a lot who find their greatest joy in booing all the teams or parties.

Sports have their place, even though I am not a very avid sports enthusiast. On our trips when folk find out we’re from Wisconsin they frequently say, “Ah cheeseheads, and you must be Packer backers.” I usually mumble something like it being a state requirement, but if pushed I merely say I don’t really care. I really liked cheering for our grandchildren when they were in high school sports and found that very satisfying up to the point when either our side or our opponents started acting like total boneheads, swearing and generally acting obscene. It’s just a bloody game after all. College sports are okay, but I think they should just be paid minor leagues. Professional sports don’t do much for me. I feel sorry for so many of them who have short careers, lack the maturity to manage their money and live lives injured and poor. But I’m wandering afield of my point.

The point is there is a big difference between sports and politics. The world is relatively unaffected by the outcome of a game despite of the media coverage they receive. But politics affect everyone. You can learn a few basic things about a sport and follow it okay, but you really have to work to be a responsible and knowledgeable voting citizen.

Sports, while they require some smarts (I am amazied at the amount of data about sports a lot of folk carry around in their head), politics demand rigorous intellectual skill and effort (and folk seem woefully ignorant of political science, history and economics). If sports commentators make a bonehead statement, it really doesn’t shake up the world much, but political commentators, newscasters have a responsibility to help the public ‘be informed. Unfortunately today’s media seem to treat political events like sports events, money makers. You cannot rely upon the major or minor networks to leave their big business biases behind them.

Fortunately we have the internet and if you use it wisely you really can find out good information. On the other hand there is an ton of crap out there. You have to factcheck every source and sometimes that is difficult but it can be done.

Perhaps I should make this anology: we take baseball’s World Series seriously but we don’t take the world seriously.