Cartoon Politics (or Watch How My Brain Works Since I’ve Had Kids)
| You Are Most Like Richard Nixon |
 But you’re actually quite diplomatic, even though you secretly hate your enemies. |
At the risk of getting in to a mildly political discussion…there’s a thing I’ve noticed. Until this year, my kids knew very little about current events or politics. They’re still on the young end of grade school. Up until now, they could both tell you who the President was, but that’s about it. With the election coverage, that’s vastly changing and I know that this year is the first year they will remember a presidential election and what it means. Mine was Nixon and it wasn’t an election, it was a resignation. But…I definitely remember a time when the correct answer to “Who’s the President?” was Richard Nixon. He left office when I was just shy of four. I also remember being able to correctly answer who the vice president and secretary of state were.
The thing is….I’m not any smarter than my kids. Probably far less so 
It is my theory that cable TV is the difference (and I suppose, to a lesser extent, computers and video games…though I do limit their time). When we were little, you could basically watch what, 3 channels? We saw the news. We heard those names and titles all of the time (even if we didn’t understand it, we constantly heard “Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State etc.). My kids don’t see as much news as I did. If the TV is on, it’s Nickelodeon, Noggin, PBS Kids etc.
I’m not saying it’s a good or bad thing, just interesting. Anyway…what got me to thinking of this (and you’ll see…my train of thought is always pretty serpentine) is a phenomenon I’ve noticed in both my husband and me. We’ll turn on the TV (Nickelodeon etc, when the kids are there). The kids will watch 5 minutes of whatever it is, then go off about their business. We, on the other hand, in kind of a mindless fog, will sit and watch Spongebob in its entirety before realizing…Hey, the kids left, put on Fox or CNN!
Sooooo, anyway, I think Spongebob would make a great President. He has charm and charisma and represents change. Squidward is too negative and too much of a Bikini Bottom insider for my liking. Patrick Star, being a starfish, is way too much of a flip flopper.
P.S. How weird is it that “Spongebob” showed up as a word on my spellchecker???
It’s funny you bring this up, I don’t recall Nixon in office, I remember Jimmy Carter-and his love for peanuts and Ronal Reagan’s love for jelly beans. Being we’re the same age, I have to think maybe my parents didn’t have the news on, or we were oblivious to it. Could be the latter, I remember coming home for lunch and dinner rest of the time we were out playing LOL.
When my kids were younger I refused to watch the news with them in the room-we’d wait until 11, reason being all of the negative reporting thats is released as far as murders, Columbine shooting, Waco, rapists etc. I know the news is VERY important, but I can’t help to think putting all the “gory”(sp?) details out there doesn’t give sicko’s more ideas. Totally my opinion, feel free to comment.
Now they are older (almost 15 and 11–still kids!) and I find myself saying “turn it back the news is on”. Sure we discuss many of the topics and the rights and wrongs, but I still think there is too many details released to the public. I’d like to see more “positive and upbeat” topics covered. Are ya feelin’ me?
Furthermore, Spongebob rocks my socks! Afterall, my son learned how to tie his shoes to “loopty loop and pull”
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — February 11, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
I definitely believe my kids are too young to fully understand the “bad stuff.” If they happen to be around when the “bad news” is on, they tend to tune it out. They are interested in the election coverage (for about 10 seconds) because they get it on a basic level. Also, my daughter is VERY interested in the idea of a woman president.
I TOTALLY remember Nixon being President. I remember being very concerned w/ what the word “resigned” meant and asked my parents repeatedly. I remember thinking it was something really bad like he was going to get physically hurt. I must have been 3 1/2.
Comment by Robin Dec — February 11, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Now this makes me feel old! I actually remember Johnson (LBJ–not Andrew!) being sworn in after Kennedy was assassinated (I was only 3 1/2, but it’s one of my earliest memories). I watched the Watergate hearings wehn I wasn’t swimming–what can I say, I was a geek.
I think the Internet is part of our kids not being so news-attuned. I’m on the Internet all day (obviously, but seriously, it’s part of my job), and I check the news sites regularly. Don’t always watch on TV in the evenings, or if I do, it’s in my office away from the kids.
Of course, I ALWAYS watch channel 13 in the morning, and I have to say, my 16 year old turns it on while he’s getting ready, so at least he gets some quality news.
As for this year, I’m taking Patti over Spongebob.
Comment by Phyllis — February 11, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Your right, I think they do tune out the “bad news”, I just wish they wouldn’t provide so many dang details–world news mostly.
I can remember when Mark and I were dating, his dad only watched Channel 13, it was like that was THE ONLY news channel and to be honest, its the ONLY news channel we’ll watch! Our kids are forming the same patterns when they turn on the TV in the a.m……its 13!!!
Your not old Phyllis, your more mature
We still love ya!
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — February 11, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
well, can’t say “mature” has ever been used to describe me before. Maybe well-seasoned.
Patti the squirrel for president; RR for VP (in the interest of good news!). Robin for Secretary of Sanity.
Cheryl–you and I can just ride their coattails like we always do!
Comment by Phyllis — February 11, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
I’m afraid about Sandi’s electability. She can be very polarizing.
Comment by Robin Dec — February 11, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
lol Phyllis, at least we know our position LOL
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — February 11, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
ya know, I asked my kids if the squirrel was sandi or patti (wasn’t she a singer?) and they said patti. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the show. My favorite is still Gary. he may be the sleeper candidate the crawls out of the shadows. He SHOULD know all of SBSP’s secrets… Of course, he does have somewhat of a slimy personality, but we are talking politics…
Comment by Phyllis — February 12, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Sandi is the squirrel. I’m not familiar w/ a Patti on Spongebob. I agree w/ the Gary assessment. His laidback personality often masks his superior intellect.
Comment by Robin Dec — February 12, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
I find it amuzing how quickly squidwerd can make those crabby patty’s! I don’t recall a patty, but its been awhile for me too.
Comment by Cheryl Engfer — February 12, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
I had the name mixed up. I kept thinking Sandi was Patti. My bad (and my kids went along for the ride!)
Maybe Rocky (the other squirrel can be VP for Sandi. Bullwinkle for secretary of education!
(Sorry Robin–the whole Rocky/Bullwinkle thing gets into the foreign affairs agenda… with a Sandi/Rocky ticket, when Natasha says “get squirrel,” there can be diversions set up.
Comment by Phyllis — February 12, 2008 @ 7:18 pm