American Idol exacerbates social dilemma

America was already celebrity-obsessed before American Idol came along and shifted the hysteria into hyper-drive. And as if that wasn't enough enticement for people's hopes and aspirations to be famous, even for a limited time, television networks leaped into the lazy and shallow, high profit business of reality shows for people who seek fame for anything.

Reality shows such as Survivor and Big Brother are not about real life because they are all staged freak shows depicting people at their worst, plotting and scheming to overcome their competitors. Shows about the highly dysfunctional Osborne and Gotti families, and the late Anna Nicole Smith are simply carnival side shows. And shows like Dancing with the Stars are redundant because the people dancing with the stars are professional dancers. What's the point, other than stars making fools of themselves, propped up by real dancers?

American Idol is more than that. It's a serious concern for the social stability of thousands of hopeful young people who compete for fame and certain failure. Only the top ten have any chance at careers in the entertainment business. And it's a waste of time for millions more who simply wish they were there.

On the surface, America has become a tasteless, superficial society of bad music, bad clothes, bad hair, bad art, social aggression and extremes. Deep down, we are better than that...