The Jon Stewart effect?

You know Jon Stewart is affecting the political process when the “researchers” try to prove he’s dangerous for democracy.

Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart’s faux news program, “The Daily Show,” develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.

That’s particularly dismaying news because the show is hugely popular among college students, many of whom already don’t bother to cast ballots.

Notice the weasel word “could” here, as in these young potential voters “could” shy away from the voting booth, as if they were voting in droves now, as if Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and all the rest of vapid, ignorant talking heads on cable on both sides of the aisle were not already keeping them home. As if the corruption scandals, ugly partisanship and general bad behavior of the folks in government were not enough to scare them away.

The South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet