In 1973, there were three TV channels and the average “screens” per household were rarely more than one. That same year, Frank Zappa released “I’m The Slime,” prophetically warning about “vile and pernicious slime oozin’ out from your TV set.”
By 1979, average screens per household had doubled, and The Manhattan Transfer released “Coo Coo U.” It cleverly asked, “How did you get so coo-coo? You are paranoid, and your head is void — you are loco!” The obvious reason for societal ills, according to the lyrics, was “psycho-neurasthenic from too much TV.” In 1992, Bruce Springsteen lamented that there were “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)”; too bad nobody took his wisdom to heart.
Today, there’s a screen in everybody’s pocket, and large ones in each room of every house. In Orwellian fashion, they’re in every bar and public lobby space. The scourge of social media has transformed cable newscasts and newspapers alike. Thoughtful and civil public forums such as Letters to the Editor pages are often reduced to outlets for adolescent diatribes attempting to validate hatred for the president and his supporters. Imagine for a moment a sober-minded society that heeded the wisdom in popular music of the time? One can only dream.
The 2020 election is only in its infancy. To eliminate the likelihood of acting like you should be wearing a diaper, turn off your TV now, and keep it off. Discover life with no Russia, no racists, no recession, and simply relax until Election Day. You can then cast your ballot cheerfully, instead of in anger.
Joe Schmidt
Lower Burrell