PressEthic

The tension surrounding November 7 is palpable these days. Constituents of both persuasions are increasingly polarized as divisive issues allow for little grey area. The stakes are high, the outcomes have been talked to death and both parties are holding their virtual breath to see what shakes out in a mere eight days.

The fervor surrounding all things political has created a situation where few can see outside their line of tunnel vision. And yet the climate of the moment also grants political enthusiasts a unique opportunity to capture the passion of the people and create a politically conscious community, which, let's be honest, is often lacking.

The Washington Post channels this momentum by creating a "Midterm Madness" game, where readers can make their election picks and compete against other enthusiasts for prizes (yes, rules and regulations do apply).

In addition, the Times published an article last week about a "Fantasy Congress" website started by students at Claremont McKenna (www.fantasycongress.us) where participants accumulate points based on the success of "their" legislators at arguing and passing bills in the House.

The apathy of the American public has been lamented for years and yet these two "games" hint at an electorate that is significantly invested in the events on Capitol Hill. Whether or not this interest will last past next Tuesday remains to be seen, but hopefully the media will continue to encourage political awareness and interaction through innovative features such as these.