There's a scene in an episode of the drama/comedy, The Bear, in which Sydney, the young sous chef, knocks on the papered over glass door of the restaurant that she and her partner and crew have been remodeling – just a simple makeover, really. She's spent the day bouncing around Chicago, visiting various restaurants, sampling menu items to get ideas for her own menu. She's been eating like a Roman senator at a bacchanal. She's tired and stuffed and then stunned when Carmen, the head chef, opens the door to reveal that the remodel has been turned into a tear it down to the studs, major overhaul.
Carmen talks Sydney down from the ledge, pointing to the reality that the joint is old and there's mold, dry rot, rust, leaks, structural issues, bugs and rodents. There's nothing for it but to accept the reality, swallow hard, roll up sleeves and get to work.
Age, mold, dry rot, rust, leaks, structural issues, bugs and rodents. That could describe the way in which America chooses its president - especially the bugs and rodents part. If there was ever any doubt that the American system is not only decrepit and in need of being torn down to the studs, rebuilt and modernized, this current election cycle is proof positive that the system is antiquated and precariously close to collapse.
From the very start, the founders established a system that was only a façade of democracy. In the decades since, time marched on, and the system was not allowed to keep pace. The introduction of political shenanigans only made things worse. A system that from the beginning was not nurturing of a democracy has become even less democracy friendly. (And to be clear, we are not a democracy. Please see a previous post, The Saving Democracy Myth).
The events of the past week, and in fact, this whole presidential election cycle, have shown just how obsolete, and undemocratic our electoral system is. And just for fun, let's add corrupt to the mix. We're on the cusp of conventions, which have become glorified political infomercials, and just four months from election day and the electorate is faced with the most dreadful of binary choices – ever.
Welcome to the buffet folks. On the table before you we're offering a rotten, old orange carp and an over done chicken that's far beyond its sell-by date.
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