Tis the Season to Scratch the Political Sore
This week my friend called to remind me that our local Congressperson is not seeking re-election, and this might be the year for a more traditional (and coordinated) Throop run for Congress. He wants to do a video tour of the 24th District, which is enormous (several thousand square miles) to get a jump start on what I know would be a wonderful failure of a campaign.
I have run for Congress before, in 2018 and 2020. I also ran for State Senate in 2020, and came very close to getting 300 votes as a write-in candidate. In order to keep sane through the process, I promised myself to keep it simple and full of art and playfulness.
I was a horrible candidate—a bottom of the barrel politician. I crafted a website, blogged, posted paintings specific to the run, made some video, and got very active on social media. I even had an exhibition about “running for Congress”. However, I just couldn’t fake the enormous shouldered responsibility of caring for 700,000 stranger-neighbors of our Congressional district (350,000 in the State Senatorial one).
Of course I realize that nobody has shoulders that wide. This is why I believe that so often we get legislators who are the worst people for the job. Anyone who has ever cared efficiently for a child or domesticated house pet would laugh a hearty fat laugh when told she could spread that care out among half a million people.
I must say it was fun. I was able to express myself in new ways. Lots of art and writing came out of the process. But although I made it mine, and the process was rewarding, I would never to do it again—not without a sociopath pill to get me through each day believing I can actually take adequate care of many thousands of people.
So that’s a big “No” to the video tour dear friend. I won’t need you as campaign manager this year or ever again. Stop by for a drink and some political talk, and we’ll both notice early on in the conversation how managing the health of society is an impossible job expectation for any decent person.
Here is a sampling of produce from three failed campaigns.
I had an exhibition of paintings explaining my platform and positions:
Please head over to my soon-to-be-downgraded website for a political painting exhibition. You’ll get the gist of how it feels to be an impotent citizen in a fixed political world.
This is my first promotional video, made with aforementioned friend on a drive back to New York after a brief holiday in Florida:
Here is me all alone on a miserable day promoting “The Campaign of Solitude”:
During COVID before immunizations, I’d address the constituency from my backyard:
Finally, I got on the TV news, but never again. Clown-anarchist is banned forever!
I’ll end with two private joys. Henry Miller, who remained a happy rock in a dumbed-down political world, and a song from last Friday night with Rose and one of the Amateurs. Thank you for the visit. Stop by next week when I outline my plan to become free, content and alive.
Thank you!
💚🥰