Halloween and democracy
What the pre-election holiday says about our political culture
Forget election day, said Matthew Taylor in The Baltimore Sun. Halloween is “one of our nation’s most visible displays of democracy in action.” Some see in Oct. 31 only “rampant consumerism” and “trivialized evil,” but on what other night can everybody be who they want to be, equal, the only barrier to success a costume? And houses have to compete for the votes of trick-or-treaters—the biggest drawers get “bragging rights,” the losers “minor vandalism.”
There are important differences, too, said Elisabeth Eaves in Forbes online. Halloween “celebrates the noble truth in artifice, but election day makes it all tawdry again.” Celebrating artifice is “soul-baring” and bracingly honest on Oct. 31. In contrast, politicians usually deploy the “lowest form of artifice”: fakery “in the pursuit of power.”
Then why do we want to dress up like them? said Sarah Hepola in Salon. I mean, “Sarah Effing Palin”!? Seriously, “I haven’t known this many friends who wanted to dress as the same person since ‘Star Wars’ came out.” Be creative—and tasteful. No blackface. Forget “John McCain chained to a bed.” And leave Sarah Palin to Tina Fey.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Pros and cons of universal health care
Pros and Cons A medical system that serves everyone comes with its own costs, and they're not only financial
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 24, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - war on the big screen, politicians on the stock market, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Andrew Fahie: the ex-BVI premier, cocaine-filled boats and drug trafficking plot
Under the radar Fahie's defense attorney claimed the British overseas territory leader was 'acting like the fictitious CIA agent Jason Bourne'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published