This is a recycle, written in 2008. It seems just as relevant today, so here’s round two. Actually, it is round eight; that’s how many election years have come and gone.
Sign seen in a local business: “What if the hokey pokey really is what it’s all about?”
If you’ve been watching the campaign circus and political debates, you’re probably aware that it’s all smoke and mirrors.
Do kids still do that hokey pokey dance? Whether yes or no, it’s obvious that the generation that did is still polishing their skills at the expense of the taxpayer’s payrolls and patience.
You remember how it went, don’t you? “Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, do the hokey pokey and turn yourself about…”
If that doesn’t describe the posturing of candidates on both sides, I’ll eat my hat. We’re long past the arm and leg sequence, and well into the whole-self, segment. Some are even turning themselves about.
The whole deal has degenerated into a brawl that puts me in mind of old time country dances. There usually came a point, along toward midnight, when a couple of well-oiled locals found a subject on which to disagree. After a round of accusations, name calling, and recruitment of support, the entourage moved out into the street. Those who had come to dance might not have been aware of the side show until someone hollered above the music, “FIGHT!” Whereupon, the band disbanded and everyone except proper ladies, grannies, and kids under school age made a beeline for the exits to watch the fun.
Depending on the amount of Dutch courage consumed by participants and bystanders, how many onlookers jumped into the fray, and whether or not the law got involved, one of two outcomes was certain to occur. Either the combatants wearied and shook hands, re-entering the dance hall to display battle scars, or retired to someone’s vehicle to share medicinal tonic, most likely both, and in that order. Alternately, the feud continued to simmer in the community for weeks, months, or years, with supporters polarized, and ever more petulant.
In either instance, nothing ever got resolved and, for the most part, the general public never got a clear idea of the issue at stake. Some of them did put in an arm, leg, or even their whole selves, with the result being more confusion and mayhem. It was all hokey pokey, and we all knew it.
Does this remind you of anything?