Article February 23, 2004 Issue

VOTING for good government

Find a manipulation-free zone.

By Richard Bergenheim

A Few Years Ago, sensory deprivation tanks were one of the fads in New York. People would lie down and float in a strong solution of Epsom salts in a lightless, soundless chamber. Right now, I think that might be one of the few ways to escape the barrage of political messages assaulting everyone in the United States.

Television, radio, mail, e-mail, leafleteers in the streets, pollsters on the phone—every means of communication is being used to sway voters one way or another. And I'm using the word sway deliberately. I don't feel there is always a strong urge to inform people, but simply a desire to sway their emotions or opinions toward or against the various candidates.

Sway has a negative feeling to me. It suggests someone is trying to manipulate me. Have you ever felt that way? It's not a comfortable feeling. And when it comes to something as important as electing government leaders, manipulation is the last thing I want.