I had a lousy night at work and if you watched the debate, you know why. Missed it? Oh boy, do I envy you. Imagine watching a train wreck of public policy, one that’s on par with “Jersey Shore” and “Fear Factor.” Then, realize that the whole circus was broadcast live around the world.
So embarrassing.
In general, the current crop of candidates running for president has no interest in becoming true public servants. They’re not dedicated to improving the economy, safeguarding the citizenry, running a superpower in a responsible manner, saving the planet or raising the level of debate. They’re just trying to score points by pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Unfortunately, such behavior is not new. Twenty years ago, Aaron Sorkin made a similar point in “The American President”:
“We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who’s to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections.”
By the end of my shift, I was utterly disheartened. To decompress, I turned to one of my favorite past-times: baking. After whipping up a batch of oatmeal chip cookies, I brewed some tea and watched a few BuzzFeed videos on YouTube.
The BuzzFeed video team is creative, funny and generally fearless in their work, which makes watching their endeavors even more delightful. If you also viewed the debate last night, and feel as disgusted as I do, here’s a palate cleanser. Enjoy:
