The photo that proves America has finally reached peak absurdity

The article from the Independent newspaper, linked to below, encapsulates the current state of US politics.

As it states:

The scene manages to capture the governing philosophy of the age in a single frame: politics as entertainment, age-old traditions as disposable, and democracy as background decor for a larger and gaudier plan. Not pictured is the 250ft-tall ‘Arc de Trump’ that the president is currently trying to get signed off as a massive monument along The Mall. That one will come later.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ufc-claw-white-house-ballroom-trump-b2987428.html

The piece goes on.

Late-stage capitalism” has become a bit of a social media buzzword over the past few years. But there is surely no better term for converting the seat of government into this bizarre self-parody. As the midterms approach, the construction site at one end of the White House and the huge structure at the other speak uncomfortably about the president’s priorities. Then again, he already told us loud and clear that he doesn’t “care about the midterms” just a few days ago — and when someone tells you something, and that someone is the president of the United States, it really should be incumbent upon you to believe it.

Don’t worry, though: democracy is still there, somewhere in the background. You just have to squint past the rubble and the octagon to see it.