Exactly this. 👇
Require @philtinline.bsky.social to adjudicate, but I swear voting since the 90s (& especially in 55/50 referendums) is more about the dopamine hit of seeing someone garlanded on a TV talent show than assessing who will deliver economically over 5 years. #IBlameSimonCowell
Require @philtinline.bsky.social to adjudicate, but I swear voting since the 90s (& especially in 55/50 referendums) is more about the dopamine hit of seeing someone garlanded on a TV talent show than assessing who will deliver economically over 5 years. #IBlameSimonCowell
yes this is incredibly interesting. this feeling we have now that no government is *stable*, that we're always just waiting for 'who's going to be voted off next?'
I find it quite persuasive that we have taken habits of 'voting' from reality TV and are applying them back to democracy.
I find it quite persuasive that we have taken habits of 'voting' from reality TV and are applying them back to democracy.
Yes - I also think there's a reality TV 'vote them off the show' vibe. What's depressing is that this feels like just another cyclical 'bread and circuses' thing where the only way we rediscover civic engagement as a virtue is after a massive war or civilisational collapse.
February 11, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Exactly this. 👇
Require @philtinline.bsky.social to adjudicate, but I swear voting since the 90s (& especially in 55/50 referendums) is more about the dopamine hit of seeing someone garlanded on a TV talent show than assessing who will deliver economically over 5 years. #IBlameSimonCowell
Require @philtinline.bsky.social to adjudicate, but I swear voting since the 90s (& especially in 55/50 referendums) is more about the dopamine hit of seeing someone garlanded on a TV talent show than assessing who will deliver economically over 5 years. #IBlameSimonCowell