Leland R. Beaumont is an independent wisdom researcher who is seeking real good. He is currently developing the Applied Wisdom curriculum on Wikiversity.
In the realm of politics, the rivalry between our two dominant political parties often resembles the spectacle and drama of a WrestleMania event. Like professional wrestlers vying for championship glory, these parties engage in heated verbal sparring and theatrical maneuvers while indulging passionate fanbases. However, as captivating as the political spectacle may be, it is essential to recognize that the current state of our political system is far from ideal. The intense competition and focus on winning elections have resulted in a polarized and dysfunctional political landscape that often fails to address the real issues faced by the nation.
One of the key parallels between WrestleMania and politics lies in the lack of genuine competition. The traditional two-party system has created a duopoly, where the focus is on maintaining power rather than delivering meaningful solutions to the people. This lack of competition stifles innovation and accountability, leaving voters with limited choices and entrenched party ideologies.
Furthermore, the quest for victory in politics often overshadows the pursuit of problem-solving. Political parties become more interested in defeating their opponents than collaborating on effective policies. As a result, we witness extreme stances, negative campaigning, and a growing sense of division among the electorate.
However, there is hope for reforming the politics industry and steering it toward a more constructive and accountable system. The book, The Politics Industry by Katherine M. Gehl and Michael E. Porter, presents transformative solutions that aim to address the core issues plaguing our political landscape.
The first proposal is to introduce open primaries, allowing all voters, regardless of party affiliation, to participate in candidate selection. This change would increase competition and force candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters, making them more responsive to the public’s needs and concerns.
Ranked-choice voting is another reform suggested in the book. By allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, this system reduces the spoiler effect and creates space for third-party candidates to compete more effectively. As a result, the political landscape becomes more diverse and representative of the people’s varied interests.
Addressing the problem of gerrymandering, the book recommends implementing independent
redistricting commissions. These commissions would draw electoral district boundaries impartially, eliminating the manipulation of district lines to favor one party over another. This measure would foster a fairer and more competitive electoral process.
Non-partisan leadership is a crucial aspect of the proposed solutions. By encouraging the appointment of non-partisan leaders and legislative committees, the focus shifts from ideological battles to evidence-based policy solutions. Such an approach ensures that decisions are made in the best interest of the people rather than party-driven interests.
Lastly, the book emphasizes the importance of adopting a customer-centric approach to politics. By viewing citizens as customers, politicians can concentrate on addressing the needs and concerns of the public. Building trust and delivering tangible results become the primary objectives, fostering a more constructive and accountable political landscape.
In conclusion, the similarities between our two political parties and WrestleMania highlight the dramatic and the theatrical nature of contemporary politics. However, this captivating spectacle should not distract us from the urgent need for reform. Our current political system is polarized and dysfunctional, with a focus on winning at all costs, rather than solving the real issues faced by the nation.
The solutions proposed in The Politics Industry offer a transformative path forward. By introducing open primaries, ranked-choice voting, and independent redistricting commissions, we can foster a more competitive and representative political landscape. Non-partisan leadership and a customer-centric approach will ensure that politicians prioritize the needs of the people over party interests.
Ultimately, by embracing these reforms, we can break free from the WrestleMania-like spectacle and move toward a more constructive and accountable politics industry—one that prioritizes the well-being of the nation and its citizens above all else. Only through such meaningful reform can we revitalize democracy and ensure a brighter future for our society.
ChatGPT contributed substantially to writing this essay.
U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on August 14, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump is traveling to Long Island to tour law enforcement facilities in Nassau County and rally support for local Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections
Travel Far Enough, You Meet Yourself
Is it possible that our President has simply not traveled enough?
Born and raised in Queens and attending Fordham University in the Bronx, Donald Trump has no record of traveling outside New York until he was over 20, when he transferred to a college in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania. Were his formative years amiss, then, in his learning about other places and other people?
Is his view akin to the famous New Yorker cover by Saul Steinberg, an illustration of the United States with New York City as the epicenter of the country and the Hudson River the border of the known world? We can now at least add Washington, D.C., and Mar-a-Lago to the map of “the realm.”
Our President has now traveled some, but what we recommend is another kind of travel. Not a state-sponsored trip or a venture to scout locations for future Trump Towers. This would be a genuine travel experience, enriching and eye-opening, showcasing other cultures and ways of living.
It will extend far beyond viewing military parades, hobnobbing with such “understanding” world leaders as Kim Jong Un, or taking tea with the King.
WHERE, then, should the President go? As Elon Musk’s Starship spacecraft is not yet ready to take passengers to Mars, perhaps he could explore our own vast country?
Maybe he could travel to “flyover country,” the farming states, where his ying-yanging tariffs and trade restrictions have played havoc with rural economies. Or possibly to California, number one in homeless U. S. citizens, and while there, regale homeless veterans (approximately 32,500 nationwide) with tales of his brave exploits invading and bombing foreign countries.
Or he might tour the Great Lakes, and rename the other four?
WHEN should he go? This will be tough, as he is very busy building his ballroom and renaming bodies of water.
How about a trip in early November, around the midterm elections? Despite the long-discredited accusation of widespread voter fraud, it would be reassuring to know he might be so caught up divvying out ladles of soup in a soup kitchen somewhere that he wouldn’t remember to deploy the military for “election security.”
HOW will he travel? He should definitely not take his Qatari-donated, newly renovated 747, especially after last time, when he had to be smuggled off clandestinely in a catering truck. It’s unlikely any traveling companions, like the Secretary of State or of the Treasury, are going to fall for the ruse a second time. Besides, we may need those people. No more decoys!
Perhaps the President could fly commercially, although this likely would expose him to undue suffering. Without gold bathroom fixtures and maple wood floors, the trip will be no “Luxury Experience.” If only he still had his “Trump Shuttle,” bought with a massive loan he later defaulted on, saying then, “I’m smart. I got out at a good time.”
Considering the potential pitfalls, maybe it’s best the President travel incognito, disguised perhaps as an elderly woman wearing a lot of bronzer.
Wherever, whenever, however: our President needs a vacation.
Moreover, we need a vacation from him.
If the President refuses our travel suggestions, here’s another idea:
Let’s get him a pet! He has never owned a pet. As we know with our children, pets teach essential life lessons: compassion and empathy; they instill a sense of responsibility. There is a well-established connection between those who can care for a pet and those who can care for people.
So, which pet should we choose? A puppy? A kitten? A boa constrictor?
Imagine, the President may even decide he likes having a pet. After all, what is more obedient than a well-trained dog, besides possibly the Cabinet? And what is more docile than a sweet kitten, other than plausibly the Supreme Court?
The President may even become more mellow with a pet afoot and less likely to slap tariffs on our allies, or attempt to annex our neighbors, or bully our Congress. (Realizing, of course, a bully requires active participation from the bullied to maintain his status.)
Maybe we should do both: get the President a pet and devise a travel plan for him. (Do you think we could possibly convince him to leave his phone at home?)
Let’s go for it! After all:
Travel far enough, you meet yourself. (David Mitchell)
And for our President, that would likely be the most profound discovery of all.
Amy Lockard is an Iowa resident who regularly contributes to regional newspapers and periodicals. She is working on the second of a four-book fictional series based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice."