When the truth hurts. . .

Dear Kristine,
I'd like to think that I am a balanced, healthy thinker.
I majored in philosophy and world religions in college, and learned how to respect the other side of the argument - even though I vehemently disagreed.
Politically, I am liberal to the core. And while I don't hate conservatism necessarily, I have developed some disgust toward Republicans now a days.
My depression started when I check the New York Times Best Seller list on December 1st.
Sarah Palin's book is #1.
Glenn Beck's book is #4
Mike Huckabee is #5
So I wonder, who is buying these?
The books I intend to give as Christmas gifts are not doing well at all. Ted Kennedy's (RIP) book is #11, and David Plouffe's (President Obama's campaign manager) is 16.
Can you help me understand this?
Call me -
Confused

I feel your pain.
I cannot, however, explain the causes of it, nor can I wish or write them away.
If we look back throughout history, we find that the masses were (and still are) appeased by the simple things; straight-forward, no-nonsense, easy answers to complex and intricate problems.
When Hitler was on the rise, Mein Kampf was on every shelf. When Lindberg spoke in favor of isolationism prior to World War II, he was hailed a prophet.
If we let our brains and good sense be directed by popular opinion and action, our nation would be a collective of reality-television-watching fools, plugged into I-Pods and abdicating all responsibility. All we would care about is the next celebrity on Dancing with the Stars.
.

I choose to not believe this is so.
You, of course, get to make your own choices, Confused. My hope is that you will be one of the bright, shining stars in the universe - a voice in the cosmos that calls out the big questions that deserve serious investigation.
Keep your mind clear, your heart open - - and the New York Times best sellers won't get you down.
Good luck!!
Kristine