Summer Theater

I'm referring, of course, to the current state of the United State's political process. As an American it's tough to admit that is my circus and those are my monkeys.

The show's much better than the early billing would have us believe. It was supposed to a Bush/Clinton sequel. Right now all the buzz on the Republican side is The Donald Show. Playing to sell out crowds on the Democratic side is The Bernie Show.

The critics (main stream media) acknowledges these candidates but are very quick to say their efforts are doomed . . . any minute now. . . Yep, this is the end. . . nope, the end is right around the corner . . . Love them or hate them, they aren't following the MSM script.

The show is captivating, especially from the front row seats here in first primary state New Hampshire. However, there's a horrible feeling in my gut and a cold shiver down my spine. Maybe this is really theater after all.

Jimmy Carter claims this no longer a functional democracy. He should know. Maybe he's at a point in his long life where he just doesn't care anymore and is not afraid of speaking the truth. I remember way back in 1976 when Jimmy was running for president. I was a high school senior and a newly registered voter. This Jimmy Carter guy came to speak in our school gym.

That's when I first got my exposure to image over substance. 1976 was the US Bicentennial year. Our school gym had a huge US flag on the back wall. Mr. Carter stood at a podium with that enormous flag in the background. That's the image that got on the news that night, Jimmy and the flag. What didn't make the news was how he fumbled around unable to properly answer questions from high school students. The press could have destroyed him then, but instead they pushed an image.

Do you ever get the feeling that it doesn't really matter who gets elected? That it really is all a show? I hope that's not the case, but it's getting harder to keep believing. So many promises, so little real change.

-Sixbears