[Poll] Election Campaign
An election process can be stressful and rigorous. How do you feel your campaigns match up to those of "real" political campaigns? Do you feel that platforms are acknowledged by all delegates in campaigns? Or are campaigns mainly about smearing other candidates, and the best smear campaign wins?
6 Replies
i would say Simon due to the reason that he actually is trying to help around with everything he can unlike the rest of the islanders ex building shelter, hunting and making signal fires (last 2 apply because he's part of the choir and its their job)
The more I think about it, the more I think that not one of the boys would make an ideal leader. I think the boys should make more of a government standing with advisers to a leader to put all their strengths to use. Coming to a consensus for actions and letting more than only the chief input key ideas would help the tribe be balanced and happier.
I believe that our campaigns are more similar to "real" political campaigns than one might concieve at first glance. Our primary focus is to present a platform that will get us into power; our platform is built around that goal, not necessarily around honesty or practicality. That said, each presentation of plan has to be believable and with a valid argument. In these ways, our campaigns are very alike in concept. Though, of course, there are the obvious differences between real campaigns and our own in terms of guidelines and professionalism.
In regards to the best choice of chief, I maintain that Ralph is the most suited for the job. He is able to identify with both Jack and Piggy, and therefore has a wider range of insight in terms of how the group thinks and behaves, as Jack and Piggy display nearly opposite ends of the spectrum within the group.
While Piggy is an intellectual with perhaps useful ideas, he lacks the ability to implement them without someone to guide or approve him, making him a naturally passive follower. His physical and mental differences are far too great; there is a mutual difficulty in understanding between Piggy and everyone else.
On the other hand, Jack is way too aggressive and quick to turn down ideas that don't favor his will. He is excessively authoritarian, though comes across as a natural leader in the way that he paralells a lot of what got Hitler into power (promising food, revolution, burning the current methods and reviving the 'old' means of power). He is talented in his ability to gain followers, but this simply feeds him the power which all too easily corrupts.
Simon is more insightful than Ralph, but lacks an obvious self assertion that keeps him from being able to stand up as leader. While he is truly aware of the beast, his ideas are too far fetched and winds up in a similar outlandishness as Piggy.
(Yeah I'd rather write an essay on LOTF than Shakespeare)
This post was edited on: 2009-10-28 at 05:31 PM by: MelissaL
In reply to Melissa's post:
I disagree with your comment about Ralph being able to relate to Piggy and Jack. Ralph picks fights with Piggy all the time, for no reason other than the fact that he's bespectacled and fat. As if the other boys didn't isolate him enough, Ralph, the supposed "chief" should be trying to include everyone, like a responsible leader, and take the good ideas that are laid down in front of his nose. (however it could be argued here that Ralph is only a kid, but didn't his CIVILIZED mother teach he to be CIVIL and nice to people? Or is it just the effect of the island, making everyone 'savage', and therefore making him really mean and savage too?) Ralph also doesn't relate to Jack much, I haven't read the whole book, but by chapter four they'd already argued about building a shelter and focusing on being rescued vs hunting. Also, he can't relate to Jack with Jack gone completely bananas over hunting pigs and war paint and whatnot. Ralph would rather get rescued while Jack would rather play Tarzan.
I can't believe I just posted after Melissa. I'm either really stupid or it's past my bedtime. Maybe both. Don't put me in a straightjacket, please.
(I agree. LOTF looks much more appealing than Shakespeare. Or the intermittent windshield wiper.)
In response to above post:
I disagree with your supporting evidence of disagreement. Ralph, in comparison to the others, is one of the few who actually acknowledges Piggy, hence Piggy's attachment to Ralph. Piggy often uses Ralph's status to back up his own arguments, unable to assert them himself, by using such phrases as "isn't that right, Ralph?" or, "Ralph said so". Even in the earlier chapters, Ralph shows some awareness and empathy for Piggy, such as when he contemplates how he should apologise for making fun of his name. Further on, this connection is obvious, however it is evident that Ralph's relationship with Jack is tied to his relationship with Piggy; as one increases, the other decreases in many ways.
Recall back to when Jack and Ralph first meet. They both initially hold this subtle mutual respect for each other, as Ralph recognizes Jack's need for control through granting him command of the choir. The two explore the island together with Simon (note that Piggy's relationship has soured as a result of exclusion) and this journey is remembered as a significant and good time. When first building the fire upon the mountain, the two assume an equal position as overseeing/lighting it. When the signal fire is let out, Jack and Ralph fought (note that at this point Piggy is somewhat relieved at this fact, taking Ralph's side). However, it is mentioned somewhere that Ralph and Jack were brought back together by the positive atmosphere of the pool area.
Throughout the text, Ralph faces a number of situations where he finds himself as more like Piggy when he distances himself from Jack, and vice versa. Ralph's character tends to sit on a fluctuating point of civilization vs. savagery, moving the entirety of the book with it. With Jack and Piggy at seemingly opposite ends of this scale, Ralph identifies with both of these characters.
THE END
In response to Melissa's post:
I knew posting after Melissa was a bad idea.
Also, I deem this argument unfair because I haven't read the whole book and a Post-It on my forehead from that game earlier this year says english isn't my thing.
and Melissa is some kind of child prodigy.
P.S. It's not fair that you wrote "THE END" at the end of your post, assuming it was the end of the argument, which it obviously was, and the end of me. WHICH WASN'T NICE. So tomorrow, YOU owe ME an orange. : )
This post was edited on: 2009-10-28 at 10:23 PM by: KarolinaK
Samuel Pop
Oct 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM