Sean Dengler.

With the election around the corner, a lot of information exists to inform how one can vote. If one is not planning on voting, no decision exists. Despite what one might believe, voting is the most American act a person can do. Not every person or country has the privilege to do this democratic act.

While many issues appear across the political spectrum on what people agree or disagree with, most Americans agree on more than they realize. Whether left versus right, red versus blue, or whatever dividing line one wants to make, one issue unites most, if not everyone – how annoying political advertisements are, particularly the attack ads on television.

These ads start off showing the opponent in black and white in a compromised, ugly, or weird looking image. Then a voice comes in talking stunned, terrified, or upset, about the said opponent while big bold, bright letters come across the screen further solidifying how terrible this politician is. The ad goes on for 30 seconds with these images as more than likely lies or very out of context situations on votes a politician has taken are uttered, which no one is taking the time to fact check either. Finally, after the longest 30 seconds in one’s life, the ad ends with an image of the opponent happily kissing a baby or hanging out with their family on the front porch while their voiceover happily approves the ad.

Then this ad is repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again over the airwaves. Currently, these ads are all television has to offer. The streaming apps have also not been spared. It is awful, and no one likes these ads.

Unfortunately, blasting these ads everywhere must still be effective because they are still being aired. Most importantly, the amount of money in politics does not help. After the Citizens United decision, more money than ever is being spent on electing candidates. This influx of spending means more money for ads and not necessarily by the candidate’s campaign arm. Sometimes, the happy part at the end of the ad does not exist. This slightly less annoying part has been left at the editing table due to money in politics.

Getting money out of politics or limiting how much people, corporations, unions, and everything in between can spend should be a priority. The number of ads this amount of money creates is annoying. When running for office is more about raising money versus debating ideas, the whole running for office reason becomes more moot. These structural changes need to happen. It will take a lot of leg work but getting money out of politics will clean up what we see on television or streaming platforms. Otherwise, we are stuck with more ridiculous ads.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, now-retired beginning farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.