When did politics in this country get relegated to the same level of importance as professional sports?

Question

I'm not kidding. The public views the two major parties as teams, the high-ranking political officials as the star players. Does it sicken anyone else that we've reduced our political process to nothing more than entertainment? That we don't take it seriously AT ALL any more?

Save your wise-craking and party-bashing... unless you want to get reported. I'm looking for sincere, non-partisan answers only.

Answer 1

The other posters beat me to it...I think if people paid as much attention to politics as they do sports, we'd probably have much better representation.

Answer 2

I can't give you a difinitive answer here, other than to say it has become such a shame that politics have become what they are now.
just last year I ran for the Michigan senate seat for my district I ran as a Democrat, mind you not becuase I am, but because it was eayser than trying to run as an independent.
Why you might ask ? well the answer is simple, the hoops that a person has to jump through to run as an independent was outraigious to say the least, but to run as a Rep: or a Dem: all you had to do was pay the $100 fee and you were done.
I ran in a predomintly Republician area and gave a valant effort to win I had only six hundred dollars to do this with,and no help from anyone in the party.
My oponnet spent thirty thousand for the same campaign, that's right you read that right.
And even with his outraigious budget I still took allmost half of the votes!
I didn't expect to win but I was tired of just what you were saying.
I wanted to make a diference and was willing to do it for less pay.
the Senator that won makes an average of 86,000 per year before perks.
I felt like most do that is way too much for these guys to be making, and not getting the job done that we all know needs to be done.
any way I wanted to put my two cents in here because I have allways said that no matter what the game is with politicians now days, one person can make a difference, and collectivly we can change goverment if we take a stand and say enough is enough!
thank you for the chance to give you my verson and thoughts.

Answer 3

Relegated? I think it would have to raise up to catch up to sports at this point. To answer your question, it porbably happened with the advent of television. Sports on TV (and even radio) are far more entertaining than C-Span. Also, the decline in the quality of politicians has probably added to this demise as well. Did you not get sick when you looked down at the ballot in 2004 and were faced with a decision of Bush and Kerry? I know I was.

Answer 4

When politics proves itself to be as important to most Americans as sports, we'll pay more attention. Look, we all know we have very little say as to how our country is run. I'd rather watch sports and view more entertainment than to listen to what those Washington idiots have to say. All they do is bash one another and bend over backwards so as to not offend any of the infinite number of special interest groups and lobbies. Screw politics!

Answer 5

Actually, I think people could tell you more about their sports teams than who represents them...which is very sad.

Lately, politics has come down to "I win" and I am going to throw it in your face until the next election.

Answer 6

Ok. So,, today if Philadelphia beats Atlanta, what difference willit make on our lives??
After about 2 seconds, none.
Ok, so now the senate has a hearing on,, well, whatever. What will come out of it ??Probably nothing, so , really, what has a greater impact on our lives??

Answer 7

I agree 100% with Evil Video.

Answer 8

When did Professional sports become more important than the people? RE: we can build stadium's but not shelters.
We will buy tickets for large amounts of $$ but not make donations. THINK ABOUT IT

Answer 9

Well, when the participants consider themselves entertainers, what is the public supposed to do?