Each day, I sit down to write about the day's events. Each day, it takes longer and longer to isolate the most appropriate event to write about, because each day there are twice as many legitimate "BREAKING NEWS" items as the day before. Granted, there have been times in the past when News Agencies and Networks have gone seriously out of their way to overstate their own significance.
However, on a day when the Secretary of the Treasury announces that the government will be buying banks, GM enters into merger negotiations with Chrysler, Ford is on the verge of bankruptcy, the stock market concludes its worst week in United States history, John McCain is booed by his own supporters for suggesting that they be civil enough to not publicly threaten the life of Barack Obama, Sarah Palin is found to have abused the power of her Office and violated the State of Alaska Ethics Code...and, oh by the way, Barack Obama has taken a five point lead in the polls IN WEST VIRGINIA...for the fifth day in a row, the news cycle was clearly dominated by Bill Ayers and other charges levied again Barack Obama by McCain, Palin, a new wave of 527 Organizations, all of which News Networks conttinued to loop relentlessly, while simultaneously pretending to be offended.
Kinda explains why we are perhaps a mere ten days away from the start of "The Greatest Depression".
What could possibly possess the "Average American" to be present during some of the more extraordinary events of the last 100 years...and yet care ONLY about Barack OBama's middle name, who he once had coffee with, and whether or not he has truly accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior?
Worse yet...to even ASK this question brands the proponent of the inquiry, "an elitist" who has no connection with small town America.
I admit, I have a few professional degrees hanging on my wall. And, I earned every one of them. Nobody handed me any of my degrees, nor was there any trust fund to pay for them. Being able to hit a curve ball is what got me to college. Going to class even though I didn't have to...got me a degree, with High Honors in only six semesters, and the Distinction of being named as the University's Scholar Athlete, from among more than 2000 male and female Varsity athletes in all athletic programs.
The same determination got me out of law school after only four semesters, and earned a second law degree in a specialty, in two more semesters, while working more than 60 hours in the average week.
And, MOST of this time was spemt...in Kansas.
There are no closer connections to "Small Town America" than sheep boots, cow-tipping, and hanging out on friday nights at the Sonic Drive-In. And, despite the fact that I have dared to pose the question which suggests that the vast majority of potential voters in the upcoming election still have their collective head up perhaps the world's most massive ass...the internet photos of me AT the Sonic, still WEARING the Sheep Boots covered with the evacuate of a gernsy who was the victim of my "Shock & Awe" tactics, make it more than clear that I will never be invited to "Mine Doesn't Stink Either Mixer" at ElitistsRUs.org.
I rant from time to time about people...citizens...voters, who don't care enough to ask questions...or to vote...or to even think. But, I rarely take issue with the networks who force feed the shit to those people, citizens and voters. I have always given them a pass, whether or not consciously having done so...and chalked their role in the dumbing down of America, to the fact that ratings are their only friend.
Sure, news networks can only continue to be news networks, if people watch or listen to them. And, because they have been so successful in convincing the public that ANYTHING OF IMPORTANCE can be crammed into a thirty second sound bite...not only are average Americans so conditioned as to literally RUN from a real news story, but, advertising clients FLOCK to news outlets whose headline taggers spent the first twenty years of their careers at either the New York Post or the Weekly World News.
The antics of John Sidney McCain during this last week have been DESPICABLE, TREASONOUS AND, WERE ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO BARACK OBAMA AS A RESULT...FELONIOUS, AND WARRANTIVE OF THE DEATH PENALTY.
The events unfolding in the financial world, both here and abroad have already changed all of our lives forever, as well as those of each and every generation to follow. And, the man who seeks to become President of the United States has said NOTHING about any of it.
Why?
Because the media, even in an attempt to criticize the former...further glorifies and provides credibility to McCain's scurilous attacks each of the 300 times a day that they run one of the sound bites.
And, because...in the case of the latter, the media so intentionally avoids covering a story which can't be sensationalized in 30 seconds or less, that by the time most Americans realize there is a serious financial issue for them to address...there house, job, car and self-respect exist only in the hook to the next Tim McGraw Platinum Selling Single.
Call me a freakin' elitist...but, it is about fucking time that the "Average American" stopped accepting the news we are offered, and demanded answers ti the questions which MUST be asked. And, if Wolf Blitzer wont ask them...I'll be happy to change my name to "Dickie Doberman" and stand in for the little Chicken Shit, any day of the week.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I got a chicken to pluck, three barns to raise, and a picnic at the Volunteer Fire Department.
Have a great weekend.