The Horse Race, The "Process Story" and the "West Wing"

One of the complaints about political news is that more time is spent on what is called the "horse race" than on the substance of the proposals, contents of bills, candidate positons and advantages and disadvantages of same. NPR did an excellent, well balanced, and nuanced piece examining this, the relationship between President Obama and his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, and the relationship between The West Wing and the real life in the White House now.

Media

An important issue is how are people informed. Paul Krugman writes eloquently about horse race reporting. Media spend more time reporting on which policy proposal is up and which policy proposal is down than what is in them.

I believe the problem is partially a symptom that we don't vote on the proposals; thus, we are sheep who just have to know how we are to be done to. If we were to vote, there would be more information on what it was on which we were to vote.

Richard Serling in a comment asked for a solution--what about my proposal