We have lamented in this space the woeful turnout that now afflicts the political process. The numbers of people who opt-out of voting continuous to grow; in last month's primary election, fewer than 3 in 10 eligible voters actually voted.

This disaffection by voters is partially rooted in the media portrayal of politicians as scoundrels, which has led an entire generation to avoid the process. Negative TV commercials now flood the airwaves, and it seems that most political ads, designed by the politicians themselves, are enough to turn people away.

Consider those vitriolic ads for New Hampshire politicians now on Boston television. The attack ads are everywhere: Republican party-sponsored ads against Democrats, Democratic party-sponsored ads against Republicans. All negative. All attack. All guaranteed to make voters understand that no one deserves to hold office.

It's too bad the Granite State doesn't have its own full complement of network affiliates to target just New Hampshire viewers. Instead, both parties spend huge amounts to fill our airwaves with the negative ads, and it's enough to make even the most altruistic voter tune out. Just who are these people- names like Shaheen and Bradley and Sununu- and why are they spending so much money on Massachusetts TV stations?

Former Senator Bill Bradley lamented that campaigns have become a process of collecting huge sums of political contributions and turning it over to broadcasters, in the form of paid advertising. The political season generates huge revenues to broadcast stations.

Broadcasters ignore the fact that the airwaves are owned by the public, and the TV stations simply own the right to make use of them. The broadcasters and the politicians themselves conspire to control the messages that are sent to voters.

Senator John McCain attempted to fix the problem with his landmark election reform bill last spring, but the broadcast industry lobbied to prevent any changes to their profiteering.

The electoral process has become increasingly distorted, and TV broadcasters- and the politicians who craft the negative ads- must share much of the blame.

-Ed Forry