He could have been a half-way decent human being—

without the excess money, alcohol, sex addiction, partying,

gambling disguised as business deals.

 

We could have done better without judges on the take,

payoffs, greedy, crooked politicians brokering power

by encouraging misogyny, racism, bigotry, blaming,

divisiveness.

 

What is it in our culture, religions, philosophies

that make these marketing ploys so enticing?

These sound bites that encourage victim-hood,

that enable this believe-what-I-say-not-what-I-do

mentality?

 

We still believe logic, reason, engagement, compromise

will soften what our leaders have become.

We ignore the hard truth that we voted

for the very ones who demonstrate

nihilistic, narcissistic, naked contempt . . . .

 

He could have done better without his excessive need for

supplicating, boot-licking, brown-nosing, groveling

lackeys.

 

We could have been less complicit in joining ranks

with these shammers, power brokers, people

who glitter with no substance,

greedy voices who control us by encouraging

self-righteous, judgmental, self-serving fear.

 

We could have done better had we paid attention,

had we refused to accept bullying rhetoric,

erratic behavior, overtures to our basest natures.

 

We could have done better if we had not

bought into take-no-prisoners,

Sherman-March-to-the-sea

impossible solutions.

 

© 2017   T J Barnum

First published in “Better Than Starbucks.”