An iconic moment in cinema history is the instant when George Taylor (Charlton Heston) realizes the world on which primates are the superior beings is actually future Earth.  A novel idea based on a 1963 story with the same title Planet of the Apes by French writer Pierre Boulle.  However the concept of an alternative universe was introduced three years earlier in the guise of Bizarro World which first appeared in the April 1960 issue of Action Comics (#263).  This strange cube-shaped planet is ruled by the following code.

Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness! Is big crime to make anything perfect on Bizarro World!

The concept regained notoriety in 1996 as the central theme of the 137th episode of Seinfeld when Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has to chose between her current partners in nothingness and new friends who physically resemble Jerry, George and Kramer, but whose personalities are the exact opposite.  They are respectful, generous and discuss important issues, not “Do you think it’s effeminate for a man to put clothes in a gentle cycle? (Seinfeld episode #47 “The Outing”)”

While both iterations present the flipside of the environment in which the title characters exist, there is a major distinction.  In the DC Comics version, Earth strives for goodness and Bizarro World for evil.  On Seinfeld, Elaine applies the term to a better version of the community of which she has been a part since meeting Jerry and hanging with his cadre of eccentrics.

Americans have always believed in the Superman version of Bizarro World.  We were the good guys,  You know, truth, justice and yada, yada.  This morning, I am not so sure.  Consider the following.

In 21st century America, the United States spent $718 billion on defense in FY2020, equaling the total expenditure by the next seven nations.  In Bizarro World 2020, you never see a bumper stick which reads, “It’ll be a great day when the schools have all the money they need and the Pentagon has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.”

In 21st century America, a black man is murdered by law enforcement officials for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill while Wall Street bankers peddle billions of dollars in counterfeit securities and are bailed out (pun intended) with taxpayer dollars.  (I thought reparations were meant for the victims of injustice, not the perpetrators.)  In Bizarro World 2020, George Floyd is fined if proven guilty and occupants of the C-suites at Wall Street firms declare bankruptcy before heading to jail.

In 21st century America, the occupant of the White House thinks the answer to anger and frustration over the lingering stain of racism is white dominance, vicious dogs and photo ops.  In Bizarro World 2020, a gangsta rapper named Killer Mike implores the aggrieved to work within the system.  “It is time to beat up prosecutors you don’t like at the voting booth.”

In 21st century America, that same chief executive stands in front of a church with a Bible he has never opened as a symbol of America.  In Bizarro World 2020, protesters stand in front of the Supreme Court with a copy of the Constitution.

It does not take long to realize 21st century America is closer to the dystopian vision of Bizarro World created by the writers, illustrators and publishers of DC Comics in 1960.  Instead of superheros, the planet is governed by greedy, heartless adversaries more akin to Lex Luther who will do anything to gain and hold on to power.  However, for every wannabe George Constanza whose only goal is to be “master of his domain,” there are more Kevins, Genes and Feldmans.  Maybe it’s time we recruit our national leadership from that demographic, those who occupy Bizarro World 2020.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP