What the DC in Washington stands for

     It took me awhile, including eight years in public office, to figure out what DC means after Washington.
     I know, it's supposed to stand for District of Columbia, but that's yesterday.
     Today, it stands for Distortion Central.
     How we survive with our political system is a puzzle.
     At the federal level, state level and local level, at least among the political set, it's not a lie if it misleads. It is not a lie if it leaves something out, or adds a little extra. Distortion is the new standard for free speech.
     Whatever the opposition says is disregarded as rhetoric. Whatever our partisan hero says is gospel. Who are we to believe?
     One reason you don't know who to believe is because you don't know who's doing the talking. Is it the candidate, or some Wizard of Oz type behind the curtain set up so nicely by the Supreme Court with its ruling that super pac funding is protected speech.
     So, if you have more money than Jack or Jill Public, your voice is louder, more dominant, intrusive, relentless, and unfettered by any regard for fairness, let alone accuracy.
     We elect representatives -- wait: Do we really elect representatives to serve us, or do we merely enable the powers behind the scenes to manipulate the democratic process?
     We allow politicians and the machines who create them in their image to mess with us in ways that we would never put up with when we buy a used car. At least we know who owns the used car lot. We have a better chance at researching the reputation of the sales department.
     The marketing of American political processes is a national disgrace. It happens in Washington, in every state in the Union, and right here at home.
     Those who attempt to be truly transparent become targets. Straight talkers are soon dismantled as arrogant or insensitive. We demand that our candidates pander. And then we insist that they lead us.
     When they lead, we accuse them of losing touch with the people; we remind them that they work for us.
     Populism is the worst way to find excellence. We seek excellent leadership, but we demand that leaders be popular.
     Popularity is useful in marketing music, games, movies and other trivialities. Popular music is fun, entertaining, and has its place. But classical music has survived because it is of high quality, creative, and sustainable over time.
     Today's politicians are judged by the same standard as a country music song.
     Willie Nelson for President, anyone?