focus-group this, bitch.

nothing could be easier than for any politician to stop muttering a string of focus-grouped phrases, or mumbling sentences in unison with members of his own party, or taking positions based on the advice of pollsters and consultants. all he has to do is decide, and try to say something true. there's no one to blame but yourself if you yap like that. except under very rare circumstances, we are responsible for what comes out of our own mouths. for example, polling never forced anyone to do anything in a sense that would relieve someone of responsibility for talking nonsense. we should resolve to pay no attention whatever to anyone who does not make the decision every day to speak for herself and say what she believes. really, no resolution is needed, since paying attention to the other sort is physically and intellectually impossible. if there is no one to vote for who doesn't take this approach, there's surely no reason to vote; i will not be voting today. if you want to represent the people, you might start by becoming a person.