Dead Men Tell Too Many Tales: The American Cult of Foundation

            “I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” Thomas Jefferson.  Today, we wear a boy’s coat.  Many of us cling dearly to it, treating it like our only shelter.  However, we have outgrown it.  We must remove our boy’s coat and tailor a new one, better suited for our body politick.

Trumping a Fluke

            The 2016 US Presidential Election season will be forever remembered as the cycle that almost elected eccentric moron Donald Trump.  People will look back and laugh at how absurd that a reality TV star clown was leading in the polls for a major political party, propelling himself forward using lies, ignorance and hate mongering.  Today, however, Mr. Trump’s rise looks almost unstoppable.  He’s kept a lead in the polls, fighting off surges by Carly Fiorina, failed CEO of a nearly failed company, and Ben Carson, the walking oxymoron of idiot brain surgeon.  However, if we examine the current primary in context, Mr. Trump’s lead shows what it truly is, a sad regrettable fluke of a unique primary season.