After work, the first thing I want to do is go inside and promptly strip off my clothes. We have a rather strict dress code and work which requires long sleeves, formal outfits, and even the occasional tie. The suits are black and white is preferred for blouses and shirts. It is rather… frustrating for someone who shovels their driveway in shorts and a heavy jacket. My preferred outfit is to wear as little as possible while spread out over a bed, preferable ass in the air.
Sadly, I don't get to strip down when I get home anymore. I haven't been able to do that since Spawn showed up and Fork just made everything worse. So, now when I get home, I stagger down to the street and empty out the mailbox.
Lately, the only thing that shows up are the full card glossies for political ads. I hate those glossies more than almost anything else. The biggest reason is because they always focus on attacking an opponent. It isn't about what a political can do for me, it is how one political or the other is going to ruin my life if they get into office.
I seem to recall when there was a time when politicians went on the television and basically tried to chat me up, to tell me all the good things if I just let them into my pants and voted for them, but I can't remember anymore. It's like a good dream that had long since faded.
Fear is the easiest emotion to manipulate, that is why I don't see “I like you” ads anymore. Attack ads create fear and that is a good way of shifting public opinion. Statistics have proven that “being my friend” doesn't work nearly as effectively as “OMG, look at the enemy!” Which means, in the goal-oriented field of voting, that is why there are only attack ads.
These days, most of the attack ads say “not endorsed by any candidate.” I know this is a lie. Politicans are all about Big Data these days. Shell organizations, PAC, and everything else is just to create an illusion of multiple groups all expressing their opinion. It's a lie, just like a corporation pretending to have grassroots organizations.
Whenever I see an attack ad, I know I'm being manipulated and that makes me not want to vote for that person. My opinion has never been swayed by an advertising or commercial. It probably never will since I toss them aside and look up existing politician's voting records. I believe in voting objectively based on my beliefs, not on a shiny glossy card in my mailbox. I do it because I know that they are trying to get me to be afraid and therefore easier to manipulate.
Still wish the election season was over, though.