"All this makes sense only as fantasy politics. Proposals aren't necessarily intended to be adopted. They're selected to win applause and please voters -- just as quarterbacks, in fantasy football, are selected for their accuracy. In November, one candidate will win this game. But the country as a whole may lose."

Yes. Of course it's fantasy politics. It's simply the usual marketing we see of everything in a commercially dominated marketing-based society. It's all fantasy. People are sold cars and deoderants on the basis of fantasy too.

If any politician attempts to campaign on the basis of real policies, real substance, and on the basis of serious comment...he can't get elected. He will be dismissed as "boring" by the pundits and the majority of the public. Whoever runs for office is thus trapped, in effect, and must engage in fantasy politics that wins appause, sounds good, and pleases the voters (and the media).

It's entertainment. It's fantasy. It's mass marketing of superficial impressions. One must simply hope that someone fairly reasonable and responsible gets elected in spite of all that.