I wonder what the effects may be . . .

[mbarker]

My wife (Mitsuko) and I were talking about the writers' strike in America, and she asked what might happen. Well, I started to reel off the standard stuff, about some talk shows and other topical shows immediately feeling the pinch, soaps having some 30 days backlog, and regular shows probably having the spring season before they start hurting. Then she asked what would be happening in the fall if they don't have writers.

And somehow we reminded ourselves that next year is the big election year, right?

So there's a strange thought - if the strike goes on so that there are relatively few new shows in the fall, will that affect the elections? I mean, people might have time to listen to the politicians, right? Which could be good for some, and bad for others. And who knows, we might actually get a significant percentage turning out to vote in the elections - which could change the whole picture.

Something to watch for. Imagine people not having their circuses to keep them distracted? Dangerous . . .

That (so-called) silent majority has a lean and hungry look without the TV to keep them quiet :-)

Comments

[drammar.livejournal.com]

What is truly frightening is the idea that if the writers strike continues, and if people are not watching much tube, that they may decide that they won't vote because they haven't seen many ads and don't "know enough about the candidates."

It always amazes me how many people actually make their voting decisions based on political ads. Ugh.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Definitely a possibility. The television folks might find political programming a good way to fill the void, although they may have problems with their advertising budget given that they can't promise large audiences.

It may be very interesting to watch how the strike affects the vote.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

"That (so-called) silent majority has a lean and hungry look without the TV to keep them quiet"

No; that's not the meaning of "silent majority."

The phrase originally referred to the large majority of Americans who weren't participating in politics because there was no Presidential candidate conservative enough for them. But now, with Barry Goldwater running, they will turn out and vote; and Goldwater will win by a large margin.

It didn't exactly work that way. But that hasn't kept conservatives from succumbing to the same delusion again and again. Or liberals, of course.