Evidence suggests that Hollywood is nothing less than a world class cesspool. But swimming around in the muck you occasionally spot some splendid work — films of substance that leave a lasting mark. However squalid and seamy Hollywood is, no one can deny that moviedom is a penetrating historical repository, giving you an explicit view of our society’s changing mores from generation to generation. If you care to pay attention, you will discover mutations in language, culture, value systems — and of course, technology. You will notice that bad is good, that good is square and that morality is relative. You will learn that homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, drugs, violence and sleeping around are the new normals. That Christianity is absurd superstition. And that Christians are extremists. Hollywood has learned, like Waste Management, Inc., that recycling rubbish is crackerjack business. Then, unpredictably, you stumble onto a golden nugget amid the scraps, scrapings and sweepings of Tinseltown. In a display of uncommon — or unconscious — ingenuity and intuition, writers Warren Skaaren and Sam Hamm and director Tim Burton, unwittingly created in 1989 a perfect metaphor for the state of America, circa 2008-2014. The movie is Batman. The scene is downtown Gotham City. Throngs of people jam streets and sidewalks, anticipating a festive parade organized by none other than The Joker himself who has promised to give away money out of the goodness of his heart. Sure enough, he and his henchmen fill the air with greenbacks and, gullible to the core, the frenetic crowd erupts in a frenzy of delight. “That’s right, folks. Who can you trust?  Me, I’m here handing out real money. And where is Batman?” By now you know the money’s as fake as The Joker himself who has lied and mugged his way to power. Hollywood has given you scores of similar arch villains — frauds, con men, charlatans, serial killers, Ponzi cheats, gold diggers, chiselers, swindlers — who all share essential traits: the ability to deceive, seduce and manipulate; the ability to lie on an epic scale; the ability to flash a beguiling, disarming smile. The phonies are everywhere, from dictators to gigolos. That’s not at all surprising. What staggers you is how real life can mimic the most outrageous flick showbiz ever invented. You’re not shocked by the outrageous baseness of the scam artist, but by the half-witted gullibility of the victim, the sucker who can’t spot the obvious clues of a pretender. More astonishing is witnessing this ignorance on a massive scale when a politician with all the classic traits of duplicity can still brainwash millions. Welcome to America, proving that 21st century humans have a seemingly infinite capacity for incapacity, as did their ancestors down through the ages who worshiped impostors by the dozens. Hollywood tells the story again and again. Only the hero knows the bad guy is a fake and eventually comes to the rescue. But the people remain oblivious. They always do — until the end. Unfortunately for America, the last time you looked, you saw no sign of the Bat Signal.

This is the season of Giving. You may have noticed that your selective generosity doesn’t travel all that far, considering the enormity of Need. You may also have noticed that, as the global standard of living accelerates — as technology enriches life — Need seems to accelerate even faster. Apparently, then, you can argue that human progress actually multiplies Need rather than shrinking it. Failing a reasonable explanation of this phenomenon, you theorize there must exist a Natural Law of the Universe that has yet to be discovered — something similar to Newton’s third law of motion: “In a system where no external forces are present, every action force is always opposed by an equal and opposite reaction force.” Thus, behaving as a wannabe Nobel scientist, you might postulate — in human society, every action taken that eradicates Need is always opposed by an equal or greater reaction that creates Need. Your evidence for this theorem doesn’t live in some think-tank database. No, it visits you every day, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service and Time Warner digital phone. At last count, you processed 3806 pieces of mail and 2912 calls in 2013. These contacts had one thing in common — an urgent plea for money to help eradicate some affliction or support some worthy goal. Of the 1.5 million U. S. non-profits, you figure a couple of hundred thousand know your name, address and phone number. You’re not insensitive to the Need. Disease never goes away. Especially cancer. All kinds of cancer. Especially childhood cancer. So you must choose among the 8000+ cancer non-profits. And while you’re at it, you certainly can’t ignore diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MD, MS or autism. Anymore than you can ignore world hunger, domestic hunger, homeless people, homeless animals, military veterans, The Church, the art councils, United Way, Salvation Army, Red Cross, school bands, PTA, PBS or Special Olympics. But, as needy as charitable missions may be, none are more demanding, more relentless, zealous, intense and preoccupied than political affiliations, coalitions, federations, alliances, syndicates and miscellaneous rat packs. In a previous life, you occasionally heard from a local Congressman, Senator or Mayor. Now, G.W. Bush and Laura send you autographed photos in hopes of your healthy donation to the presidential library. Congressmen from states you’ve never visited send passionate four-page letters predicting the end of the world if they don’t win a seat on the Beltway. Thirty different “watchdog” factions promise to save the Constitution and the Nation, but they must have your most generous contribution — NOW — to do so.  And the GOP, led by Speaker of the House Boehner himself, are in the printing business, mailing you meticulous, individually coded surveys. Apparently, your opinion is so valuable, Mr. Boehner, et.al., saw fit last year to send you a dozen such documents at great expense, urging you to submit your views — along with a benevolent contribution, of course. Evidently, the Need in Washington never wavers, but grows exponentially. Evidently, upholding the Constitution, so help me God, and carrying out the duties of office and representing the people, are impossible feats without the continuous flow of voter money. Invariably, you must conclude that your money must help elect the right person who, once in power, will invariably send you a survey begging for more money. A cynic might call this pattern A Cycle of Need. After a thorough examination of your resources, considering the preponderance of Need, you can effectively follow Christ’s teaching and liquidate everything. Your most careful calculation suggests that your assets can help eradicate Need somewhere for 0.04 seconds. Now —  left penniless, homeless and destitute — all is not lost. You won’t receive another 12-page survey. And Need just added another grateful recipient.

Socialism courted America seriously for at least a quarter of a century, making friends, talking junk and sleeping around. But when Chief Justice Roberts ruled Obamacare constitutional, Socialism moved in — lock, stock and barrel. Get used to it. The train has left the station. Americans who believe we can send Socialism packing by electing a GOP Senate are genuinely delusional. Capitalism — the economic system that built the grandest nation in the history of civilization — has been jilted, cast aside by a spoiled, spineless and shallow people. However, while Socialism goes about dismantling the wheels of free enterprise and defiling the altar of individual liberty, pure Capitalism still thrives in one sector of American life. You find it laughable. One arena of American life idolizes Capitalism, rejects discrimination and bigotry and unites a nation — providing a pristine model — a blueprint — for the rest of a free society. This section of American life is a glittering affirmation of Capitalism, so recently belittled by the Pope himself. (So much for Popes and the tens of millions of subjects who actually believe in his inherited divinity). By now you have a clue. The World of Sport worships success achieved under the rules of engagement. All sport has strict rules. All sport has law enforcement. Capitalism — not the meddling arm of government — tore down the wall of discrimination. The World of Sport worships the best athletes, the best coaches and the best administrators. You will never see Affirmative Action demand that white athletes comprise half the rosters of the Boston Celtics or the Crimson Tide or the local high school. You will not see equal pay for equal work. You will not see a redistribution of income. What you will see is a system based solely on merit. You will see athletes and coaches fired. You will see athletes change jobs. You will see union/owner negotiations, strikes and shutdowns. Meanwhile, Socialist demagogues like your President and his minions encourage you to despise the excessive salaries of corporate executives; yet you don’t make a peep if Payton Manning or Tiger Woods makes gazillions. Capitalism honors preparation, worth, performance, fealty, ethics, duty and accomplishment — in any walk of life. Capitalism doesn’t play favorites. If the basic tenets of Capitalism were applied to the Federal Government, The President would be the first to bite the dust, followed by a host of other leeches and entire Federal departments. Ironically, under Capitalism, the American people have always adopted the highest standards — in choosing which athletes should play the game, which coaches should be fired for failure, which restaurants to frequent, which plumbers to hire, which building contractors to trust, which products to buy. Their devotion to high standards created the likes of an Angie’s List. Yet these very same Americans —  who demand credentials from a car mechanic — twice elected a murky person of no credentials, no proven ability and no accomplishment to the most powerful political office on earth. Don’t be fooled. What is left of Capitalism in America is window dressing. Yes, you can work at a job of your choosing, drive a car and own property. But Socialism lives in your back bedroom and will never leave. Because, you see, it controls your most fundamental right as a free human being — to choose or not choose your own healthcare. Consummatum est.