The late George Carlin once questioned whether the opening to the TV series The Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves was redundant or contradictory.  Each week, the narrator would remind us:

Yes, it’s Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands. And who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way. And now another exciting episode in the adventures of Superman.

Carlin satirically wondered why the phrase “and the American way” was necessary.  He argued there is no need to include it unless the American way is different from truth and justice.  “Wouldn’t it be more correct to say ‘truth, justice or the American way’.”

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s election, the most disappointing aspect for me is not the fact my favored candidate did not win, but the extent to which candidates up and down the ballot, their surrogates and the parties that supported them have become what I would call the “wizards of ORs.” In a previous post, I applauded Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, for pointing out you can be pro-police and empathize with the Black Lives Matter movement.  I would like to believe individuals can be atheists/agnostics AND still support freedom of religion.  Or one can honor the Second Amendment AND still question the wisdom of making semi-automatic weapon systems available to the general public.

Policy discussions in the United States used to be about compromise and accommodation.  Ronald Reagan once said, “If I can’t get 100 percent of what I want, I’ll settle for 80 percent.”  Today, those who don’t get 100 percent, take their ball and go home.  Imagine what sports would be like if owners, coaches and players shared that attitude.  Any time an official’s call went the wrong way, teams would retreat to the locker room.  Game over. And who suffers the most.  Not the owners, coaches and players, as they likely will still get paid regardless (just as public officials do even when they do not do their jobs).  The real victims are the fans who no longer get the value they thought the paid for.

In my opinion, the response to Tuesday’s outcome by many public officials on both sides of the aisle has been disheartening.  Instead of becoming the ‘wizards of ANDs” and providing the leadership needed to re-unite a divided country, they are still hiding behind the curtain, manipulating the smoke and mirrors to demonstrate the false power they wield in lieu of genuine leadership.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP