Time to Reset the DUMBCON for the Election

Long-time readers of this blog will recall that I established the National Stupidity Condition, or DUMBCON, in July of 2009 as a way of expressing the prevailing level of American stupidity. The original DUMBCON structure was modeled on the military's "Defense Condition" ("DEFCON") system, with five levels ranging from DUMBCON 5 ("Ordinary Stupidity") to DUMBCON 1 ("More Stupid Than You Can Imagine"). I set the original level at DUMBCON 1, skipping over all the lesser levels:

In the 15 years (!) since I established the DUMBCON system, I've changed it numerous times to account for the degree of stupidity. At its highest (in January of 2021), the system had a staggering ten levels, with the highest being DUMBCON Minus 4 ("Time to Volunteer for That One-Way Mars Mission") ...

I've adjusted it several times since then, and the current version (#8) has six levels:

We have been at DUMBCON Zero since January 3rd of this year.

But ...

Given that this is an election year, and that the level of stupidity generated by a single Der Furor-fired MAGA rally - much less the collective lunacy of the GOP and the social and religious right - is almost beyond imagining, I've decided that it's time to adjust the scale once again and reset the DUMBCON to a higher level. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, we are implementing Version 9 of the DUMBCON structure - 

and resetting the level from DUMBCON Zero to

DUMBCON Minus 1.

I will revisit the level after election day and decide whether additional changes are necessary.

Have a good day, and be sure you have a plan to vote if you haven't already. Move everything out from under your bed to make sure there's room to hide.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo