For those who are tired of the duopoly controlling our nation with ruinous results, the debate this week for the Republican nomination for governor was bizarre but at least a refreshing change from the robotic, pre-written answers given by Republican and Democratic professionals. The Idaho debate organizers allowed two fringe candidates to appear with the Republican and Tea Party candidates: Harley Brown, a biker (in biker regalia) who declared that he is about as politically correct as a “turd in a punch bowl” and Walt Bayes, a guy so anti-government that he says that his wife drove for years without a license after they objected to the concept of an emissions test. Gov. Butch Otter and state Sen. Russ Fulcher were barely noticed in what followed. A clip is posted below.

We have been discussing the widespread unhappiness with the control of our nation and political system by the two parties. It often seems like the two parties are not even trying to respond to the vast majority of Americans who want change. The Democratic insiders have virtually pre-selected Hillary Clinton who remains unpopular with many over her support for the prior wars as well as virtual silence on civil liberties abuses. The alternative thus far is Joe Biden. So much for change. The Republican insiders are pushing Jeb Bush because the last Bush was such a roaring success.

The problem is that, despite the humorous moments in the Idaho debate, there remains no viable third party option. We are left with a biker who said God told him to run for president and an anti-government candidate with an alleged 16 children who promised to stay in power shutting down abortion until he is arrested or thrown out of office. Haley Brown felt compelled to add: “Don’t think I’m crazy, ’cause I’m not.” He complained that as a biker he is about as popular as a “playboy bunny” with police. So they laid it out plainly: “You have your choice, folks: A cowboy, a curmudgeon, a biker, or a normal guy. Take your pick.” Fulcher is apparently the normal guy.

Of course this is not much of a choice but that is the problem. There is never a choice for voters. The two parties continue to pick establishment candidates who will protect the status quo despite the fact that the public is disgusted with both parties. It is like the humorous picture of the line up showing two cops in uniform, a potted plant, a water cooler and the criminal suspect for identification. It is not real hard to tell which is pre-ordained as the correct answer. You can select A cowboy, a curmudgeon, a biker, or a normal guy. That pretty much wraps it up for the state of democracy in America.