General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMitt Romney is not running for president. He is running for another office entirely.
I just figured this out. The reason he's going to be toast is that he is not actually campaigning to become president of the United States. He says that, sure. But in his mind and heart, the job he's really angling for is not POTUS, but Mayor of Stratos.
All right, so, in the late season 3 Star Trek episode "The Cloud-Minders" (I speak of the original series with Kirk and Spock, and not any of the franchise's many later additions), Kirk and Spock find themselves coping with a civil war on the planet Ardana. Ardana has split into two completely separate societies: the "troglytes," who live on the planet surface and under it while they work in the mines and till the soil, and the inhabitants of the cloud city, Stratos, which hovers far above the surface, and where everything is beautiful and pleasant and awesome. Spock points out in a voiceover that separating "those who shoulder the burden" and "those who enjoy the rewards" so completely is not something a "wise leadership" would allow. Nevertheless, it's what has happened in America in 2012, where at last report economic self-segregation is on the rise, which reflects the massive and widening gap between rich and poor.
There are some leaders who would look at that gap and say, this is a problem and we need to close it. There are some leaders who would say that it's a problem that the poor--or even, increasingly, the non-filthy-rich--are doomed to struggle forever in the lower depths while the rich enjoy the fruits of everyone else's labor. Back when Star Trek was made, there were some leaders even talking about how poverty was a problem that should actually be addressed, instead of just wondering how to get elected without the support of the struggling-American part of the population. Course nobody talks about eradicating, or even significantly reducing, poverty now. Because once you start suggesting that people are in fact entitled to food just because they're frickin' human, this apparently makes you a complaining victim who will never take responsibility for your life.
But never fear, citizens of Stratos. Mitt Romney will not be one of those leaders! His motto will always be Stratos for the Stratans. So I have an idea about hwo Mitt could reboot his campaign, and because I believe in the redistribution of wealth I'm going to offer it to his advisors for free. I think Mitt should campaign on the promise that once elected he will erect cloud cities which will float far above the surface and the 47% who will never vote for him. That way, the galloping increases in greenhouse emissions that will result from his adminsitration's deregulation of industry will only create more real estate for the deserving rich. Those living on the surface will continue to toil, of course; and they will eventually die with the planet, but not until long after Mitt's two terms are over.
Say goodbye to Mitt Romney, failed presidential candidate. And say hello to Mitt Romney, Cloud Minder. Has a much nicer ring to it, and I think everyone will recognize that this version is more authentic. I can see the "Get Off of My Cloud" bumperstickers rolling off the presses already.
The Plaid Adder
unblock
(51,974 posts)either way, an excellent and fitting reference.
Plaid Adder
(5,518 posts)Just finished, alas.
The Plaid Adder
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)Well written, PA.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)K&R
I'm really glad that for whatever reason, you're out and among us again.
Retrograde
(10,073 posts)He certainly doesn't seem to be running in the same reality I live in.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)applies to mittster the dipster who belongs in a dumpster. eating out of it that is
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)....when they got away from it they were fine.
FOX "News" and Right Wing hate radio is our "gas".
M_M
(163 posts)When I saw the headline, I figured the office would be Netanyahu's Viceroy.
freedom fighter jh
(1,782 posts)Cuz he lives in the clouds.
surrealAmerican
(11,340 posts)k & r
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)BumRushDaShow
(127,314 posts)after the "Stop it. This is hard." meltdown.