American Idyll

The United States is staggeringly, ineffably huge. From geography to ideology to finance to architecture, there is only so much commonality of experience to be found. The states assert their limited sovereignty, the regional industries delineate their fiefdoms, churches, news organs, and even restaurant chains stake out their territories in the minds and municipalities of their adherents. The city mouse and the country mouse are only vaguely aware of how the other half lives.

So if one were to aspire to lead this country, to be the central, chief executive, how would one craft a message that would cut across these divisions, that would ignite the fire of support in enough people to elevate one to the top job? Because this is America, not Great Britain, there is no division between the avatar and the manager of this country. Taking the reins of power means accepting all the trappings of national cultural identity.

There is one school that takes after the Oracle at Delphi, striving mightily to keep the message vague enough that people can hear only what they want to hear. This is the path of darkness. With candidates campaigning from afar, through television and cattle-calls, carefully scripted to avoid the collective embarrassment of the entire field of contenders, there is a serious danger that the Bromide Candidate can seize the mantle of cultural identity without ever demonstrating the skills necessary for government. The catastrophe that results from this quirk of the American electoral process is evident.

So keep your eyes open, countrymen, and keep your minds sharp. If the words of a politician pass through you like a phantom, leaving no discernible trace, take that as evidence of the substance of said candidate's character. Stay vigilant against those who describe that quality as "electability," for they seek to deceive you. This is one nation, indivisible, but like the A-Team, it is our differences that make us strong. If someone comes to you claiming to bring vague, unifying ideas, cast him aside. If someone comes to you with strong ideas, the kind of vigorous thought that challenges and threatens, engage him directly and plumb the depth of his intellect, because this nation was not raised on the bending and scraping of pandering sycophants, but on the clash and conflict of new and dangerous hallucinations.