Should we be surprised when significant numbers of our fellow citizens support Donald Trump’s campaign when we have been fed a diet of horse feathers?

The ancient Jews understood that naming the life force animating the universe would circumscribe the incomprehensible. Objectifying this spirit with a pronounceable name would be presumptuous! Unwilling to leave well enough alone the Jews invented dietary laws and theories that divided them from each other and from humanity. This suggests that men will better understand God by science than by listening to clergyman; nevertheless, we allow our religious to pose as moral authorities! Horse feathers!

While treaties must be ratified by Congress they are negotiated by agents appointed by the executive branch: the secretaries of commerce, state and war. Treaties last as long as they are convenient. When the people who enforce our treaties commit war crimes we try to exonerate ourselves by electing politicians who assert our innocence! We must admit and atone for our guilt or admit that our democracy is horse feathers.

Our business community generates myths to perpetuate their control: trickle-down economics, invisible hands, etc. They try to convince us that the larger GDP indicates societal well-being, that accelerating the rate at which the world’s resources are converted to landfill is good! Businesses spend more money spreading horse feathers than we spend on public education.

The cumulative effect of being smothered in horse feathers is that voters look for a rescuer to dissolve the gridlock. Lacking qualifications, Donald Trump offers himself as our indispensable savior. Prejudging public opinion he pontificates that the only plausible explanation for his defeat would be a rigged election! Is this inciting to riot? Could he summon enough assault rifle-toting NRA “brown shirts” to correct this mistake? In 1933, Hitler’s dismissal of representative government was called a putsch.

Will voters jump from the Donald’s fire into Hillary’s frying pan?

John E. Gibson

Owatonna