“Here it is forbidden to talk about politics.”

Signs similar to this one are being put up all over Caracas, Venezuela, to discourage the discussion of politics in public places, shops, restaurants, etc. because, as the owner of a business put it, “This endless political debate was spoiling the atmosphere of my cafCB).”

Public debate surrounding politics has become so intense in Venezuela that people engaged in fistfights in public places, causing damages to shops and eateries. Television programs are interrupted for updates from President Hugo Chavez, who regularly refers to his political opponents as “oligarchs” and “fascists,” while they, many of whom control the country’s media outlets, characterize him as a “communist” and a “dictator”.

Now, admittedly, Venezuela has seen an even rockier reign of political rule with their current president than we have with ours. After all, President Bush hasn’t had to face a failed coup attempt and a two month general strike called by his opposition.

Americans take a different approach to politics. There are no headlines that scream “Citizens clash over politics,” or “Political discussion ends in brawl.”

But is this lack of fisticuffs simply demonstrating that Americans are more restrained in their political talk, or that there’s simply less talk?

Let me give two examples. I suggested for the last edition of the Clarion’s “Voices” question “What did you like about the State of the Union Address?” All three of the published answers to the question were negative. All students said that they found Bush’s speech lacked certain issues they felt needed to be addressed.

Similarly, the night of the address, one of my meetings was deliberately ended early so that we would have time to return to our respective homes in order to catch all of it.

I am heartened by the responses we received to the question. At the same time, they demonstrate something that was also highlighted on TV after the speech. A media correspondent was at the University of Toledo asking a panel of people what they thought of the president’s speech. Several mentioned that he hadn’t adequately addressed what really concerned them, namely the economy, employment, healthcare and so forth.

This, I think, is an example of political disconnect in our country — not that the people are not politically aware or conscious, but that those in power are not listening to what voters need most. Some say that accounts for Howard Dean’s popularity — he’s run his campaign by deliberately listening to and soliciting his supporters’ feedback.

But not everyone can be Howard Dean, or run a campaign like his. And I am certainly not advocating that people come to blows over their political convictions, although even our elected officials in Washington have done that at least once in the last four years.

But overall Dean is proving to be the minority when it comes to really listening to what citizens in this country want and care about.

The president’s lack of substantive coverage of the economy, health care and education in his speech demonstrates that he is not addressing all of the electorate’s fears.

Nor do I want to blame this disconnect and lack of dialogue on (dare I say the “a” word?) apathy, on the part of the voters, because in the big scheme of things that’s not true. Organizations like MoveOn.org have proven that already.

The truth is there is no “one” reason for the political disconnect seen in America today, no one thing or person to “take the blame.” However some of us may want to it to be that simple. And there is no one solution, certainly not an easy one.

But coming full circle, I still find parallels between Venezuela and the United States. Under the subheading “Dirty business” is the line “This frowning on political talk is an indication of the way that politics has invaded nearly every aspect of peoples’ lives.”

While my TV show may not get interrupted by a news broadcast from President Bush, I am long past the point of being sick when I log onto the Internet and learn of the latest developments in Iraq, the latest attacks on the environment, women’s rights, the latest security procedure or large corporation with a reconstruction contact while funding for Medicare, Social Security and education get cut yet again.

I’m sick of hating my president and what his administration is doing to my country and my world.

And I know people in Venezuela feel the same way about their president. One songwriter put it best:

“One song sings about all those guys with a lot of political power who do what they want to do.

“They betray the people who trust them.”