After spending years in the trenches of local and state politics, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre. My name is Dale Gibler, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how politics has shifted from a civic duty to a stage show. I've sat in meetings that impacted thousands of lives and yet, what grabbed the headlines was which politician had the catchiest slogan or flashiest social media post. We are no longer evaluating leaders by their decisions or integrity, but by their brand appeal. That should alarm all of us.
It doesn’t matter if you're on the left, the right, or somewhere in between this cult of personality is infecting every corner of our political culture. Politicians are being treated like rock stars, and voters have become their fan clubs. They’re cheered at rallies like concert headliners. They sell merch. They go viral. And perhaps most dangerously, they’re rarely held accountable, because fans don’t question their idols.
This isn’t about being anti-politician. It’s about remembering that these people work for us, not the other way around. As someone who's worked alongside elected officials and seen what happens behind the curtain, I can tell you, governing isn't glamorous. It's slow, messy, and often thankless. But it’s also where real change happens. And when we forget that, democracy suffers.
Let’s dive into how we got here, why it’s dangerous, and how we can restore some sanity to our political culture—no matter your party affiliation.
