Burning Giraffe over at National Polemic recently manufactured a brilliant analogy regarding our political process.  In his article, he refers to Americans as “the only people in the world who treat their political system as if it were a sports league or a reality tv program.  They take a minimal interest in how government works, but they root passionately for their team.”

While I clearly perceive the prominent political ignorance so popular with today’s partisans, never before have I considered it in those terms.  Sports fans are very nearly what we have.  However, even the average Yankees fan knows the rules of the game - the average voter does not.

Imagine a man watching a football game.  He stares, completely unaware of the rules of the game, but wholly desiring victory for his team.  His gaze is fixed intently on the field.  Suddenly, the players come alive with movement.  Opposing players collide with each other.  Others run down field.  An object is thrown in to the air - and caught.  Someone in a striped shirt makes an arcane gesture.  The man looks to the score board - 6 points for the opposing team.  He shrieks in anger, unable to grasp why the points were awarded to the other team.  Obviously the opposing team cheated, but how?

This seems to be a fairly accurate portrayal of the current state of things.  The solution to all this?  Stop spectating, learn the rules, and get in the game!