If we can't find them there, we'll find them in politics. Or haven't you noticed? Each major party relies on this basic human need as it paints the other side in broad, monstrously evil strokes. And a segment of the population carries that to a new level. The president isn't just following a political philosophy with which you happen to disagree, he is secretly trying to destroy the nation, enter a secret alliance with Mexico and Canada or pave the way for a socialist revolution.

The former president, of course, drummed up false pretenses to launch a war, just to help his oil buddies. He was going to invade Iran, too, if I recall the conspiracy line. Something must have distracted him.

Of course, a lot of people can't easily travel to Washington and go into the offices of power. That makes it easy to believe folks are mixing cauldrons of evil potions back there, or cutting deals with aliens.

It also makes it easy to ignore the things happening closest to home, in your local governments — which are run by more genial people who actually live near you. The Salt Lake County Council recently voted to raise property taxes to balance the budget. Not a soul showed up to comment.

Maybe too many people had their binoculars trained on Washington.

Bigfoot isn't even close to being dead.

Jay Evensen is editor of the Deseret News editorial page. E-mail: even@desnews.com. Visit his blog at www.deseretnews.com/blogs.