It’s hard to believe one of our political parties has actually nominated a Presidential candidate who objectifies and denigrates millions of Americans, who lives above the law like a potentate in a banana republic, who clearly has no moral or ethical standards whatsoever except “if it’s good for me it’s good”, who will tell any lie necessary to win, and whose only reason for being a Presidential nominee is the corruption of their own political party. It’s even harder to believe that I just described both of our choices for President in 2016. Yet here we are.
This is such a sorry state of affairs, it’s natural to ask how we got here, and who’s to blame. But maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe we should be asking questions more like these:
Who turned “reality” TV into a runaway hit? Who made “stars” out of people like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton? Who looked the other way when a President turned the Oval Office into a bordello? Who continued to reelect career politicians simply because they promised free stuff? Who rewarded the news media with higher ratings when they replaced journalism with partisan propaganda? Who stood by silently while the nation’s universities banished free speech in favor of brain washing? Who filled the comment sections of websites with vicious attacks on total strangers simply because they disagree?
We did.
We did all of that, and much worse besides. So we’re the ones responsible for choices like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton . They are a perfect reflection of who we have become as a people. And until we begin to live like civilized human beings who value and demand old fashioned things like civility, logic, honor, modesty, integrity, and ethics, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are just what we deserve.
It’s true, Athol. We did this to ourselves. Shame on us.