Failure of American Democracy (see: Fox)

I'm working on my first major history paper of the quarter right now. It sucks. And it's due tomorrow.

Things I'm Going to do Once this Paper is Done

1). Paint my nails

2). Run around without pants

3). Catch up on my 30948 pages of reading I'm supposed to be doing.

4). All of my other work

5). Watch Lost

6). Not watch American Idol

Things I'm Actually Going to do Once this Paper is Done

1). Paint my nails

2). Watch Lost

3). Not watch American Idol

I seriously hate American Idol. It's not really a reality tv hate-related thing. I don't really mind reality tv (I really like The Amazing Race). American Idol bothers me for two reasons:

1). It is glorified karaoke.

2). It is proof as to why proper democracy fails.

Regarding my first point, I would contest that there are really not very many incredibly talented people on American Idol. Talented, sure, I guess. But there are so many people who can sing! It's not a ridiculous talent to have. So they find some people who are pretty good at singing. I would go out on a limb to say that most of the winners have been pretty mediocre. There is a soft spot in my heart for Kelly Clarkson ("My Life Would Suck Without You" will always be one of my jams) and Jennifer Hudson (who did not win, but is from Chicago, and actually pretty fucking talented). But otherwise, meh. Seriously. Who was that Taylor guy who won with the grey hair? Where the fuck is he now? I wanna know.

The second point is my actual point. Democracy sucks. I mean, I'm by no means a Communist or a Socialist or a Fascist or anything nuts. I approve of America running on a democracy, but there are some checks and balances to our democracies. No one in government "votes for the worst" unless we're talking about Rod Blagojovich. But everyone loves the "vote for the worst" concept in American Idol (see: Sanjaya and everyone else). America supposedly picks someone they find to be talented and that person gets a record deal. It is a giant popularity contest, as I guess politics are in a way as well, but on a similar note, it encourages musicians to not work as hard because maybe they can just "catch a break." The musicians I respect in the music industry (which is few) generally made it on their own terms. Lady Gaga, as ridiculous as she is, is self-made.

I guess I am so bitter because someone from my hometown is currently competing on my show. I do not feel obligated to watch because of this, nor do I feel obligated to like him. He got kicked out of my high school, and now my high school is treating him like one of our most precious alumni. That's stupid. STOP SUCKING UP, MY HIGH SCHOOL. It wouldn't be new for us. But, it's just like, stop fucking inviting me to Facebook groups to get together with all my friends and vote for him. I just do not give a fuck. I also maintain that given the direction he was going in prior to American Idol, he probably would have "made it" to some degree anyway.

So, does this make me an apathetic non-voter, the kind that our country (and my mom) hates? Maybe. This is probably how that happens in democracy. There are voters who go, "wow our government is pretty fucked up and I don't even care anymore. I'm not voting."

Anyway, all government/reality tv shit aside, I need to finish this paper so I can paint my nails a vibrant shade of pink tomorrow and feel as obnoxious as I want. Which I will.