The President

The President

The president wants to put on a TV show about deporting criminals. He rounds up a bunch of guys capable of acting the part of deportable criminals. He has them filmed and broadcasts the footage. It makes for great TV. There would be a problem if he insisted on due process for this procedure, because that takes time and isn’t very theatrical. So, he ignores that normal precaution and just marches them onto a waiting plane. Nor is he much worried that some of the actors are not actually criminals, so long as they look the part. This is reality TV after all, not a boring documentary. The president has produced, directed, and starred in a piece of theater, the purpose of which is to showcase his presidential powers (he isn’t overly concerned with the law and justice). He used to be in a show called The Apprentice; now he is in an even bigger show called The President. He creates episodes for TV and he needs new material on a weekly basis. He used to say “You’re fired!” in a masterful voice; now he says “You’re deported!” in an equally commanding voice. The viewers love it and that’s what counts. He also includes footage of people being actually fired from their jobs—thousands at a time. It’s very dramatic, compulsive viewing—nothing dull or insipid. He gets high ratings, big audiences. There’s never been anything like it.