Most weeks, I scroll through so many different feeds looking for that one thing that jumps out at me, screaming to be discussed and analyzed.
In many cases, it’s politics on a state and federal level, and this time, it’s connected to that, but in a more ridiculous way.
Ridiculous should be expected, since this is an election season, and all manner of weirdness will be brought to light to ensure free and fair elections for the proper candidate, because nothing says I can fix a country’s problems by claiming the other candidate is a blithering, nonsensical idiot.
For instance, President Donald Trump has proclaimed that the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are noshing on Fido and Fluffy. There’s been chorus after chorus from every talking head about just how silly that sounds.
Conservative media outlets are having a hay-day (misspelling intentional) over the very bizarre accent shifts Vice President Kamala Harris uses in her campaign speeches, most notably in the South.
Both Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes are getting heat from both the public and each other (probably) over their positions on their respective favorite candidates.
It’s all just smoke and mirrors, though, because this version of bread and circuses is designed to deflect attention from the fact that the country is in pretty dire straits, and neither candidate will be able to right the ship of state. Trump wants to cut government and regulations but will have to fight the extremely overprotective and entrenched bureaucracy, as well as the legislative branch of government; Harris just wants to make much more government, as well as much more — very much more — debt by giving away more money and other things to non-citizens while mugging the actual citizens of the country. Especially the rich, but that always goes without saying.
It’s increasing hard to find information that’s worthwhile out there; the internet is the worst, being a miasma of half-truths, talking points and conspiracy theories, and the national media outlets have become less about reporting news and more about reading press releases that fit their narrative (after that, they interview each other and supposed experts and feel they’ve saved the nation from certain disaster).
This pattern has been dialed up to 11 because of the election, because we want to keep Trump out because he’s the devil or something and keep Harris out because she’s dumber that a box of hammer handles or something.
As bad as that all is, there is information out there that can help you find your answers, because regardless of the kabuki theater of painful insights, you should be well-informed before voting. The ballot box is the only real way we have to affect change, and it’s up to us to keep our government from sinking even further than it has.
Remember, early voting starts in a month — Oct. 21 — and hyperbole notwithstanding, it’s an important one.
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
