A longtime local journalist with 20 years of experience reports that public discourse in Ohio has degraded to unfathomable levels, with the ongoing 2026 campaign cycle confirming this trend beyond previous expectations. The commentator observes a “sickness of heart and mind” among politicians and political operatives, describing it as a horrifying development.
According to the journalist, so-called “news influencers” are festering, poisoning the public sphere with viral rot and contributing to a state of sepsis, hallucinations, and derangement of the senses within the body politic. The commentator also highlights that obscene amounts of money are being injected into elections by a powerful group described as monstrously malfunctioning human egoists.
Ohio families are reportedly bombarded by campaign ads, which the journalist labels as the stupidest and most despicable seen in what are becoming the most expensive elections in American history. This deluge of detritus, characterized as stinking, is said to be vomited forth from the dark and depraved insides of political operatives and the "consultant" class, making it inescapable for Ohioans.
AdImpact projects that approximately three-quarters of a billion dollars will be spent torturing Ohioans with these advertisements this year. The commentator argues that this spending is a shrewd investment for dark money special interests, who, for these "pennies on the dollar," stand to receive hundreds of billions in public goods and resources through mechanisms such as regulatory capture, sweetheart lawmaking, and government contracts.
The public is reportedly very concerned about public corruption, a concern the journalist shares, noting a staggering amount of it throughout their adult life in Ohio. This public corruption, the commentator states, is now being normalized at the national level, accompanied by venomous and adolescent politics.
The journalist expresses bewilderment at the moral and ethical barrenness of the current era of American politics, yet feels a strong understanding of normal Ohioans. These residents are described as horrified and sick of the madness, with no decent, well-balanced person believing things are progressing well, either in political discourse or the broader American and Ohio experience.
It appears glaringly obvious to normal Ohioans, according to the commentator, that the political class has abandoned representing their constituents in favor of serving themselves, their friends, and their preferred private and special interests. Meanwhile, families continue to feel squeezed by rising costs at the grocery store, gas pump, and for essential items like school supplies, toiletries, haircuts, and healthcare.
The journalist suggests that the 50-year relentless upward redistribution of wealth in America is not benefiting Ohio families, who consequently feel ripped off and incredibly frustrated by a system that seems to exploit them at every turn. Frustrated by this "old and so boring" game, the journalist believes the people of Ohio and the country still possess the power to fix it.
The path to improvement, the commentator suggests, involves standing up for ourselves and turning away from screens to engage with each other as human beings. The political provocateurs, operatives, and influencers, the journalist claims, aim to dehumanize people and draw them into a bloodsport that costs human lives and robs individuals of their humanity. They try to convince Americans that fellow citizens are enemies, advocating for paranoia, resentment, and the rejection of others, which the commentator dismisses as nonsense and demagoguery.
The journalist posits that most people simply wish to live their lives decently and be left alone. The solutions, though simple and small, could cascade into something much larger if humanity can regain its grasp in 21st-century America. These solutions include ceasing to provide a market for hate and instead giving attention to each other within homes, neighborhoods, communities, and states. The commentator emphasizes the importance of honesty—with ourselves, each other, and about each other—and demanding honesty from representatives and those who seek public attention. Further, the journalist advocates for demanding a fair system that ensures equal opportunity, recognizing the diversity of human life with decency and grace, and cooperating in good faith to build extraordinary things for present and future generations. The commentator concludes by stating that this collective predicament can be resolved through collective effort.
