I am not the most politically inclined person, however, this political season has me as enthralled as a Shonda Rhimes drama on ABC. To me, it’s like the Titans in the Gladiator Battles in the Coliseum in Ancient Rome. The glossy, gladiator-like candidates enter the Coliseum, donned in their best battle gear, supported by their patrons who wave their flags, wear their t-shirts and sport their bumper stickers on the backs of their chariots. And one by one, each polished contestant picked off by the media lions, the carrions whisking away their mauled cadavers with nary a trace. Emperor Establishment looks on, weary from the lack-luster efforts of so many contestants who under-served his agenda. Some gladiators, his lions ravaged far too swiftly for his taste, earning them none of his respect. No, he preferred those they took apart slowly, carefully, pulling apart each seam, picking each bone with precision. It was those he could laugh at, those he could mock for even attempting to be something the audience at the Coliseum thought it wanted. Emperor Establishment knows what the people want; it’s what he wants and nothing more. It hurts his ears; how loud they scream! How they pound their fists and stomp their feet for the gladiators that he most desperately doesn’t want to see rule the ring. But he keeps them there, though unwillingly, because if he doesn’t the crowd might rise up, they might take a stand and they might make the Coliseum collapse. The rules of the land dictate that they have a voice and a choice and that their word matters. So long as he allows them to think their candidate stands a chance and the odds are fair, the spectators will remain captive to the status quo. Sure, they will grumble among themselves. They will pick sides. They will argue to the point of violence about who they feel the best gladiator is. Some will stoop to shaming others, some will bow to apathy, still others will take advantage of the unrest and confusion and stick their hand out expecting other spectators to fill their palms. But so long as the dissent doesn’t reach Emperor Establishment’s doorstep, the moaning of the masses means nothing. But for some reason, the underdogs, the untrained, unpolished gladiators, the “outsiders” are beating Emperor Establishment’s best fighters. Not all the time, not handily, but they keep taking chunks of the armor of the Emperor’s favorites. But should the media lions fail to successfully poison the opinions of the public, the Emperor still has one last trick up his sleeve, the unbound, super snakes. The snakes that the spectators in a few sections of the Coliseum had the chance to vote for. The Emperor gave them a choice to choose the snakes that would represent them in situations like this. And they chose their favorite snake, allowing it to choose, without their further consent, which fighter the snake would strike down and which the snake would spare for the Emperor’s final Battle Of Champions. But to Emperor Establishment’s shock, even the elected super snakes are not all favoring the Emperor’s choice. And the Establishment’s gladiator’s are being forced to leave the circle. The Emperor no longer can choose a thumbs up or down through an exertion of his authority; the will of the people, according to the rule of the land, will make the final decision. And with that decision, they can crumble the Establishment and rebuild it into the representation they truly desire. This leaves the Emperor, quaking in his sandals made of leather and built in China, because he’s dominated for so long, he never thought his people, those he represents, would use their inalienable rights to invoke true change. Look, I am no fan of any of my choices this upcoming November. In fact, I find them each in their own way. repulsive. I will need to meditate thoroughly on who I will cast a ballot for. But not because I am voting FOR that candidate, but rather against the other. I will not cast a vote for someone because I’ve watched their TV show or stayed in their hotel or gambled in their casino. Nor will I vote for someone because we share genitalia or because she’d be the “first”. I don’t feel that any of these are reasons to vote for anyone ever. But among the quick sand that is the political “gladiator” arena, there are a couple of things this election has shown me that have given me faith in American politics. Anyone can run for President. You don’t have to be a career politician to become your party’s candidate for President. It’s part of the whole American Dream mentality that is sadly leaving the culture of this country. People’s votes do count. Look how far Bernie Sanders has come and how those who are voting for him have impacted Hillary Clinton’s campaign! Look at how Donald Trump’s voters have made him their party’s choice, over and above so many career politicians. Every American’s vote counts, every voice is heard. The campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump prove that. Is it possible for Donald Trump to choose Bernie Sanders as his choice for Vice President? Establishment heads would utterly explode. We would hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth of politicians in Washington from the Atlantic to the Pacific should that happen. Two outsiders, two people who the majority of the country supports and backs, working together for the good of the American people? Taking the great divide between parties and straddling that morass and bringing people together? Would that be the worst thing? To stand united? To work for the same goals? What would happen if we put aside out own personal agendas, our own penchant for getting offended about every little thing and actually worked together for the greater good?
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