We live in the age of "tl;dr," where it has apparently become profound to say one lacks the thought and concentration required to understand a statement. In the old days we called people like that idiots and told them to shut up while the adults were talking. Anyone who cannot explain their tax or strategic policy in under thirty seconds is disqualified from implementing one, which ought to be a very chilling realization.

Ghav is right that politics is the domain of the soundbite, but the coverage is less cause than symptom. Nuanced positions have long been a recipe for disaster, despite the deeply and inherently nuanced nature of complex controversial policy decisions. Simple low consequence decisions require no federal policy, but the more an issue demands a federal role the more it demands careful consideration of that roles size and method. The public, however, wants quick easy fixes readily understood, even though career politicians exist soley to competently address issues for which the average person lacks the necessary experience. We would not want our mechanic or doctor to speak and think in soundbites, but demand it of our politicians. The media supplies that demand because that is their job, but did not create it.

It is just like the biennial mud wresting in politics: People complain they are sick of smears and say they refuse to vote for anyone employing the tactic, but, whatever voters SAY, politicians sling mud in ever greater quantities BECAUSE IT WORKS. When the latter ceases to be true, so will the former--and not a moment sooner. That goes for the media in general.

To be sure, the current dynamic exacerbates the problem, but that is ultimately no more than new forms of media falling prey to the same audience demands that comprised and compromised the old ones. The rise of the "blogosphere," cable "news" and even talk radio (which has been around long enough to almost be venerable now) has provided echo chamber residents a home more spacious and comfortable than ever: They can submerge themselves around the clock in reflections of their own views, secure from any unwelcome intrusions by reality. That worsens the situation but, once again, blaming the media for indulging our vices is ignoring the real problem; remove our current enablers and another will simply take its place: We demand no less. Ultimately, we receive banality from our politicians and media because that is what we tell them, with our votes, viewing and money, we want. Consequently, until we demand MORE, we will not get it.

TL;DR version: Until you are literate, please do not vote.