Once upon a time, here in the land of the politically un-ignorant American (quite obviously long
ago), the television portion of the media understood it's role in our lives to be that of an
unbiased, yet diligently concerned bearer of truth.  We were brought local, national, and even
some decent international news in the familiar tone of our preferred reporters and newscasters,
often authoritative yet softly comforting like that of a caring father or trusted teacher.  An
impressively underappreciated range of influence silently drawing people of all ages, ethnicities,
levels of education, sexual orientations, religions and all other conceivable socially distinctive
groups together to focus on their perfect smile each and every broadcast.  The standard bearers of
televised journalism would know no bounds in bringing us truth and offering us the tools we needed
for justice to the full extent of their ability.  Then somewhere along the way, Americans own need
for sensationalism, the inherent power of money interests, and the unwavering pull of drama
achieved through foregoing political debate in favor of what can only be described as pubescent
argumentation took over and made it, well, yucky.

I believe that very moment in which this unfortunate path was started upon was the infamously
slow-speed chase of that white Ford Bronco.  One moment we're minding our own business, seeking
quality news the few times of day it's available...then poof, news is on every hour of every day,
sensationalism is embraced, truth is secondary to drama, Greta Van Susterin is allowed to be seen
in public, and the sanctity of the media is irrevocably, heinously violated.  Naturally as this
has progressed people have been drawn into their own self-flagellating battles to seek whatever
small piece of this perceived excitement possible.  From outlandish talk shows focused on
humiliation, to social experiments disguised as reality television, we've been so willingly fed
the means to find such ridiculous forms of short-lived notoriety that we take solace in the
comfort of them as acievements.

There comes a point where someone must answer the call of fate and draw the attention of the
people to the core of the problem, exposing them to the true nature of it's purpose.  To awaken
them from the ignorance induced stupor and sheperd them through the valley of darkness as a true
leader, protecting them from even their own weakness of mind.  That time is here and yet we wait.
We sit idly, some of us hoping for change, some of us mercifully unaware of the reality around us,
others still denying the infinite importance of this time in history being ours to navigate, a
fatally simplistic effort to hold on to the blessing that ignorance can be.

When we get to the point in time where Al Gore can convince so many that the natural cycles of the
earth are caused by its inhabitants, and when a man can win the nobel prize mostly on oratory
skill, we need to correct course post haste.  It's letting it go much too far when the people we
elect to carry out our will are too wrapped up in campaigning full-time to actually govern and
legislate.  It's beyond reason that our chosen leaders are able only to point out the faults of
colleagues instead of offer alternate ways to fix the problems they're busy blaming on anyone with
a different party affiliation.  It has gotten to the point where American politics is no longer
about the discussion or debate, it is about the disagreement and the differences.

Clearly, now, it is time for us as a body of people to defend the sanctity of what could once be
called the Representative Democratic Government of the American People.  It is time to make it
clear to those benefitting from our current collective idiocy that we deserve and demand more.  It
is time for them to hear that We deserve appropriate effective representation, and we demand the
inherent servitude from them that true American democracy was meant to have from its elected
citizens.  Step up or step aside, move away from that which you have taken greedily, give back
what is ours and what by your own selfishness you have wordlessly declared yourself incapable of
due to moral incompetency.