Showing posts with label carnival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carnival. Show all posts

Monday, July 25, 2022

Politics at the Carnival

A political scientist once recommended the book, Constructing the Political Spectacle, by Murray Edelman (1988). It seems to be a book that constantly applies. 




Oh, the problems
over there in that city
where buildings sag
and people collide,
stuporous from toil
and streaming their lives. 

Here at the carnival,
all lights and salt and sugar,
our leaders and those who
would replace them
have slathered on
the clown makeup.

They ride the wheels
and loops above. They
shout, "We'll save the city!"
We don't believe them
but we cheer.

hans ostrom 2022

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Ambitionator









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The Ambitionator


Climb into the Ambitionator. Hear it
power up. Strap yourself in. Adjust
the goggles. On the screen, see your
dreams come true. Feel the force
of being in charge. Hear the acclaim.

Oops, time to power down. No,
I'm afraid it's just a ride. Yes,
you have to get out. No, you're
not anyone special. That's why
the ride feels so good. Yes,
you'd have to get in line again,
buy a ticket. If I were you, I'd
find a cafe, sit down, and be
obscure and you. The Ambitionator

is just a ride, my friend. You're
nobody in a carnival. I'm nobody
who works in one. This, my friend,
is the strangest ride of all, our lives.
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Copyright 2009 Hans Ostrom