Our Op-Ed piece for posible submission to print media...
The Triumph of Spectacle Over Competence
Sustainable democracy becomes at risk.
By Donald James Snodgrass, Captain, USN Ret
As a retired Naval Officer, I spent my career in a world where competence, integrity and clear decision-making were nonnegotiable—the difference between success and failure, life and death. That perspective shapes how I view today’s political environment, and what I see should concern every American. The question of who is qualified to lead has been buried beneath an avalanche of drama. Elections increasingly reward performance over preparedness, a dynamic that threatens our national security.
This didn’t happen overnight. Television first elevated image over substance, but in recent years that imbalance has fully collapsed. Presidential campaigns now resemble reality shows, where the loudest voice or most theatrical moment dominates the conversation. Serious policy debates are eclipsed by viral clips. Trust in the press continues to erode. Voters are left navigating a political environment where even basic facts can feel uncertain.
In this saturated information landscape, spectacle overwhelms competency. Unless we confront that reality, we will continue elevating performers over leaders.
The Breakdown of a Shared Information System
A healthy democracy relies on a press corps able to separate fact from fiction and challenge every candidate with equal rigor. That safeguard has weakened under three accelerating forces.
First, news and opinion have blurred.
Opinion journalism plays an important role, but when straight reporting adopts the tone or assumptions of commentary, the public loses its ability to distinguish what happened from what is being argued. Confusion fills the vacuum.
Second, political language has been weaponized.
The routine dismissal of legitimate reporting as “fake news” has undermined the very idea of shared truth. Americans now must do far more work to validate what they hear or read. AI tools can help, but cannot replace trustworthy institutions.
Third, Artificial Intelligence is fast reshaping the information battlefield.
AI can generate convincing images, voices and political personas indistinguishable from reality. Many voters will encounter content designed not to inform but to manipulate or inflame. Truth is becoming negotiable, and authenticity can be manufactured on demand.
When people can’t rely on what they see or hear, they fall back on perceived likability and the opinions of peers including family, friends, social-media personalities and local influencers. Competence becomes secondary to emotional cues.
We Need Structural Reform, Not Just Better Reporting
Calling on journalists to “do better” is not enough. The information ecosystem itself needs guardrails.
One step is establishing a nonpartisan Public Accountability Board and expanding an existing federal agency o set baseline reporting and transparency standards for federal elections. Americans expect accurate information during national emergencies. We ought to demand the same when selecting a commander-in-chief. This isn’t about limiting speech; it’s about protecting the public from deception.
Another needed step is modernizing the Federal Election Commission. Years of gridlock and limited authority prevent it from effectively policing today’s campaign environment. A strengthened FEC could reduce the influence of dark money, increase transparency and ensure that our elections reward substance rather than spectacle.
Choosing Leaders, Not Entertainers
Most Americans understand the basics of hiring. You pick the person who can do the job, not the one who gives the most animated interview. Electing a president should follow the same principle. Sadly our existing political culture increasingly rewards celebrity over capability. Voters end up paying the price.
If we want to strengthen our democracy, restore institutional trust and protect national security, we must demand a political process that values preparation over performance and leadership competence over theatrics.
The stakes are too high to accept anything less.