Page 50 - Cityview_Jan_Feb_2014

think

illustration by
LOCAL POLITICS
Danny wilson

by george Korda

We Don’t

Know Jack

A
ll politics may be his state senator. he turns to his son and lined, “Why don’t Americans trust
local—but not all locals are into asks, “do you know?” he doesn’t.
government?,” said that surveys in the

politics.
Another Knox County resident, strug- 1950s and 1960s showed most Ameri-
once when Mike Ragsdale was Knox gling to put a face to his county commis- cans believed the federal government

County mayor he took his seat on an sioner’s name, says, “I don’t know the would do the right thing most or all
airplane. A couple passed him, and the one in my area but could probably tell the time; today 78 percent of Ameri-

woman said to the man, “do you know you a few of them. Amy broyles (only cans don’t trust government “most of
who that is?” When he said no, he didn’t, because she’s been in the news recently the time.”

she said, “That’s bill haslam.” haslam for her county-paid travel) and Nick At the local level, when the gallup
was at that time Knoxville’s mayor.
della Volpe or something?” della Volpe organization surveyed people’s confi-

Is it that bad? Are people generally is a Knoxville city councilman.
dence in their local officials, responses
so unaware, as is suspected, of the iden- finally, a Sevier County man in his consistently show those leaders only

tities of their closest-to-home leaders?
mid-40s, says, “Yes, my county com- receiving between a 40 and 50 percent
Perhaps nothing confirms political missioner’s name is Carroll Rauhuff,” “fair” rating.

indifference more than asking Mr., one of two 4th district commissioners.
“fair” doesn’t encourage passionate
Mrs., or Ms. Citizen if they know the This awareness deficit is unsurpris- involvement in politics. The practical

names of their local leaders.
ing. The cause, here and around the result is that fewer fundraisers and
A Saturday morning at a west Knox- state and country: noise. There has political activists have a greater say in

ville car dealership: Like a doctor’s been an explosive growth of news the political process.
waiting room, people of various ages, sources—and corresponding “noise”— Moving local elections to gubernato-

genders, and races await service to be but no corresponding increase in politi- rial or presidential election years in
completed on their cars.
cal interest or awareness.
the expectation that it will grow voter

one by one they are approached and According to the Encyclopedia of interest will be as ineffective as early
asked two questions: “In what county American Journalism, in the mid-1970s voting has been to increasing turnout.

do you live?” And: “do you know the some 46 million adults watched just Early voting has generally only made it
name of your county commissioner, the daily AbC, NbC, and CbS evening easier for people to vote who planned

state representative, or state senator?
news broadcasts. In November 2013, to do so anyway.
Twentyish Emily smiles sheepishly that figure was 25 million for all three. What to do? Editorials, speeches, com-

and says, “No.” her county commis- The united States population in July mentaries, and news stories urging voters
sioner’s name escapes her.
1975 was 216 million. Today, it’s about to do their civic duty appear worthless.

Asked if he could identify his state 100 million more.
People not overtly partisan are inter-
senator, a Knox County man in his News audiences today are highly ested in politics for two reasons: when

early 40s looks as if he’d learned he diffused because of network news, they’re angry about something a politi-
needs a root canal and is allergic to newspapers, 24-hour multiple cable cian has done, or when they’re afraid of

anesthetic.
news channels, talk radio, the Internet, something a politician might do.
“Yeah,” he says. “duncan.” Actually, bloggers, expanded local news pro- And so a lot more people to get mad,

u.S. Rep. Jimmy duncan is a united grams, and more.
scared—or at least very concerned—and
States Congressman representing Ten- As this has occurred, in the last 40 stay that way.

nessee’s 2nd congressional district.
years Americans have undergone a
A McMinn County man, there with radical change in their attitudes—or George Korda is a longtime news media political analyst and

his teenage son, replies, “I’m not in- distrust—toward government. CbS the president of Korda Communications, a public relations
volved in politics at all,” so he can’t place
News, in a february 2013 story head-
and communications consulting f̈rm based in Knoxville.

48 cityviewmag.com maRcH aPRiL 2014