The citizens of the United States aged 18 and above have the task of determining a president on a quadrennial basis. Forty-two percent of those eligible chose not to participate earlier this month.
What would this country be like if the Turkey Committee were so lax in its duties? We don't have the luxury of making our decision once every four years but are required to do so every Thanksgiving morning, year after year after year.
The gentleman recently elected as president of the United States (POTUS) spent much of last weekend complaining that his vice president was addressed with a message of hope from the stage, after attending the Broadway hit "Hamilton."
You can be confident the Chairman of the International Turkey Committee (COITC) will never waste his energy on such an issue — one reason being that his vice chairman would not have the time for the frivolity of attending a play.
This isn't some fly-by-night task for the committee. We go through small-group caucuses, preliminary votes and eventually choose from a ballot of candidates endorsed by varied factions.
We consider the endorsed candidates to be guests, because the Turkey of the Year process is not about shaming. The Chairman and his committee are here to provide future generations a historical perspective on a year that was, and to inspire our honorees to do better in their futures.
The committee uses a wraparound calendar, like the PGA Tour these days, so as the roll is called for this Thanksgiving feast, remember: While you're shopping early on Black Friday morning, the Turkey Committee will have started the process for electing next year's Turkey.
For now, we take our break for the 2016 Turkey Banquet, and proudly unveil the guest list. Gobble, gobble.
