Election Day is always something to be celebrated, if only for the fact that it is a privilege that many nations around the world still do not have the opportunity in which to participate. Candidates make their arguments and, on Election Day, the people decide. And when the candidates don’t live up to the hype, they are often unceremoniously voted out the next go ‘round. That’s how the system works.
Sometimes (too often?), when the respective parties present an underwhelming field of candidates, the populace will take to employing the write-in vote in an effort to either promote a little-known horse in the race, or, in a disgruntled frame of mind, to suggest a candidate who clearly isn’t qualified for the position but whose “stardom” or the sheer of absurdity of their being mentioned sends the message that the politicians just aren’t living up to their end of the deal. It is a form of protest by way of wishful thinking and/or sarcasm.
Over the years, we have seen the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Walter Cronkite, and even Carrot Top adorn such write-in nominee lists for many levels of public office. I don’t know if there are any statistics somewhere tabulating historic tallies of write-in votes, but I would wager – and it would be interesting to find out if it’s true – that over the last 100 years, no one has garnered more of these random write-in votes than Mickey Mouse.
Now, a vote for Mickey Mouse, or any other potentially disingenuous write-in nominee, would seem to denigrate the very freedom that is inherent in the right-to-vote. Many fought and died so that our voice could be heard. What does it say about how we honor our forefathers and fallen brethren when we choose to use the process of elections to push forth clearly unworthy candidates the likes of Zippy the Pinhead or Jimmy Buffet’s parrot? Although some would argue that such write-ins are just as worthy as some of the rabble that comes out of the woodwork each year, offering themselves up as the solution.
Right now, there are so many problems, both large and small, in this country that need fixing; too many to mention here. The system, by all accounts, seems to be broken. Simply voting in new leadership isn’t enough if the old ways and methods continue to rule the day. We need a new way of thinking.
Stay with me here.
L and I recently visited Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was an eye-opening trip. So help me, from the minute we got off the plane, the vacation ran as smoothly as could be expected (except for the freak storm that dumped 7 inches of rain on the area that weekend). Disney “crew members” are there every step of the way to guide you on your vacation. I’m not talking mere tour guides here. These are people with valuable information that can help you find your bus, your hotel, the proper route somewhere, whatever. And if, by chance, you find yourself in a spot where there doesn't seem to be a handy crew member around, there are signs pointing you in the right direction.
Glory be, people from New Jersey must faint when they go down there and not just from the heat. Highway signs are clearly marked and directional signs are posted well in advance of turns and exits so you don’t live in fear of a dreaded abrupt merge. Parking lot layouts actually make sense and have a natural flow to them that allows an ease of entrance and exit. Buses and trams run on time and fulfill their required destinations quickly. And even the long lines move with speed, with multiple crew members taking point and ushering the crowds mostly without incident. Expect that to happen in the Target shopping center during the holiday shopping season? Forget it! They need to invent the Fast Pass for so many of day-to-day life's inconveniences.
And here’s the real kicker – people are friendly. As it was our anniversary, and we had pins on stating so, every crew member that we came across wished us a sincere happy anniversary. Is this what being friendly to others is really like? It was such a pleasure, except for the stranger in the crystal shop who tried to fist-bump me because it was his anniversary as well.
There is a scary efficiency to Disney that is highly noticeable while you're there. Why can’t the rest of the world work like this? Wait a minute. Now there’s an idea. If we need new ways of thinking because so many things about this world are clearly broken, perhaps the Disney “imagineers” could dream up some solutions. On an average day at Disney World, they have to accommodate approximately 50,000 guests! They can’t afford to leave anything to chance. Every nuance and subtlety of your trip is well thought-out and delivered upon. That’s the kind of results we need in government!
Okay, reality check! I know being in Disney is like being in some warped vision of reality. The Happiest Place in the World!?! Ha! First of all, you’re on vacation. So you’ve left all your worries and headaches at home, putting you in a much better mood to start no matter where you are. You’re having fun. So being there is an altered state of existence that is bound to skew your view of life, if only momentarily. Surely, any desire by Disney to make you happy is tied to them making money, so it benefits them to make sure you want to return (though our economy could surely use a boost from this kind of mentality). And let’s be real, these crew members don’t really like you. They are instructed to be friendly. They go to school for it, in fact. Some would say they're brainwashed. Perhaps that “It’s a Small World” song really does have a subliminal message encouraging workers and guests to drink the Kool-aid (in the souvenir Dumbo cup, of course) and join the cult. Nah!
The Disney Institute is the leadership arm of the Disney brand, a mammoth organization designed to pass on to the business world all that Disney has learned over the past 80 years of operating its various businesses, studios, and parks. Time-honored ideas such as leadership excellence, people management, quality service, loyalty, creativity and innovation, excellence, and solutions. Boy, those are all aspects that seem to be in short supply these days.
Maybe we should consider sending our government and business leaders to Disney to see how efficient things can be. How, with a little planning, things can run smoothly. How creative approaches can solve problems when you’re striving to just make people happy. Yeah, that’s just silly, huh? I have a better idea.
Mickey Mouse for President!
