American Politicians 2008: What planet are they from?

I've always felt a tad detached from the American political process. I know what I want, and I know what I'm offered, and I've never quite figured out how to make the two meet.

The campaigning for the 2008 presidential elections continues to feel surreal, as usual. Back some 4-odd years ago, all that talk about invading Iraq seemed awfully surreal, quite obviously spun on giant web of lies that surely no one would ever fall for: and so I ignored it -- I'm not political, and why bother with the hulaballoo when it will blow over shortly. Well, it seems like everyone else fell for it, which is quite perplexing to me: why was my perception so distant from that of the masses? Why is my world so surreal?

Well, there is a new political season upon us. Upcoming primaries in Iowa; well, I guess Iowa must be a rural, farming state or something like that, and maybe that is why the Huckabee and freinds are talking to farmers and ranchers about cattle and corn. However, I live in the city. Lets see: 4 out of 5 Americans live in the city. How come the presidential candidates aren't talking to city-folk about city-folk issues?

Let me introduce you to my strange, surreal world. I live in the city, and my mind is warped by city-folk issues. Here are some of the things that I think about. Daily, even. Like, every day. These are all things that I guess are so strange and unreal, that I have not yet heard any presidential candidate express any opinion on:

Anyway, that's the little bizarre alternate reality that I live in. I invite the presidential candidates to come join me.

Linas Vepstas 31 December 2007. Happy New Year!