politics

The democratic political process is, in its marrow, insincere. The aims, ambitions, motives, achievements, successes and failures of politicians are a twisted and irregular matrix of smallminded, egocentric and sometimes overtly evil preoccupations wrapped in a fragile shell of glitz, optimism, charity and fellowship. Atilla wearing St. Francis' cowl. We, and our media filters, view events like the current campaign with detached openmindedness and grade them like a contest or performance. We see the practiced frozen smiles of the gymnast and judge how well they "connected to the audience". We watch the paired skaters and comment how they are interpreting the music despite our knowing they would skate exactly the same without the music and the music was no factor in the performance at all. And so every four years we watch these performances and hear these sentiments with suspended judgement, openheartedly--or, perhaps, hopefully--giving these incompetent and predatory creatures a second chance.
The Clinton drama gives some spice to this year's masque. Hilary brings adult conflict to the fore. With little experience, with the ironic dependence upon her husband for her independent stature and with notable political failures she has, by force of will and personality, become a national figure and built a base of fierce support. She energized her campaign and prepared to step foreward to her position as next in line only to have her trailbreaking make way for a candidate from a more disenfranchised group than she. And last night she had to applaud his success. No one can say where she is in this play, second or fourth act, but she is no minor character and she is brave.
Unfortunately she and the rest of them--regardless of their compelling complexities-- are minor leaguers. Our nation and the world face serious problems that will require solutions that will be judged on results, not posturing. The fact that any of these ciphers want to appear responsible for our future proves they do not understand our problems well enough to be given the task.