How To Deal With Seriously Unserious People In Power

It used to be that if you wanted a career in politics, you at least had to pretend to know things—how laws work, what governance entails, maybe even a vague understanding of ethics. Not anymore. Today, the loudest voices in government are people who couldn’t pass a basic civics test but can absolutely crush a Twitter beef with Big Bird. These are the Seriously Unserious People (SUPs), the politicians who treat legislation like a TikTok trend and wield outrage like a toddler with a hammer. They aren’t here to solve problems. They are the problem.

So, how do you deal with a political class that is equal parts incompetent and malicious? Welcome to the FAQ.

FAQ: How to Deal with Seriously Unserious People in Power

Q: What is a Seriously Unserious Person (SUP)?

A Seriously Unserious Person (SUP) is someone who holds a position of power yet treats governance like an open mic night for their worst takes. You’ve seen them: grandstanding about gas stoves, declaring war on drag queens, and ranting about deep-state cabals while failing to grasp how a bill becomes a law. They aren’t here to govern. They’re here to perform.

Q: Are SUPs dangerous, or just loud?

Both. Their goal isn’t to lead; it’s to disrupt, distract, and dismantle. They hijack real issues (healthcare, education, civil rights) and replace them with nonsense (M&Ms are too woke now). Meanwhile, actual legislative work grinds to a halt. And when they do manage to pass something, it’s usually bad—like banning books instead of assault rifles.

Q: How do SUPs stay in power if they’re so bad at their jobs?

Great question. Three main reasons:

Gerrymandering & voter suppression – When you control the game, you never have to play fair.
Fear & outrage – They manufacture crises (trans kids, critical race theory, migrants eating pets) to keep their base frothing at the mouth.
Social media clout – They tweet through it. Being “viral” is more important than being competent.

Q: Why do SUPs focus so much on attacking LGBTQ+ people, books, and teachers?

Because it’s easier than solving real problems. They know their policies don’t improve lives, so they create boogeymen. If people are panicked about pronouns or library books, they’re too distracted to notice the Supreme Court rolling back rights or billionaires paying zero taxes.

Q: So, are SUPs just really stupid?

Some are. Some are playing dumb because it’s politically convenient. They’d rather be seen as “regular folks” than elite policymakers, even though many of them went to some of the most prestigious schools in the world, like John Kennedy, who studied at Oxford, or Josh Hawley (Yale). But others are just GED-riffic and clueless. Looking at you, Beetlejuice Boebert.

Q: What’s the best way to deal with SUPs?

Mock them relentlessly. They hate being laughed at more than anything.
Don’t feed the outrage machine. Every time they “own the libs,” it’s for engagement. Don’t fall for it.
Point out the contradictions. Free speech warriors banning books? Small-government fans regulating bathrooms? Make it make sense.
Stay focused on what matters. Their whole strategy is distraction. Keep the focus on real issues (healthcare, rights, democracy).
Vote, organize, and don’t tune out. They want you to get exhausted and disengage. That’s how they win.

Q: How do you know when you’re dealing with a Seriously Unserious Person (SUP)?

When they hear “SUP” and immediately respond, “Not much, dog! Ha, gotcha!”

Q: Are SUPs only found in politics, or does this apply to pastors too?

Oh, it definitely applies to pastors. The Seriously Unserious Pastor (SUP-pastor) is a staple of modern Christianity. These guys aren’t here to teach, uplift, or embody anything remotely Christlike—they’re here to stir outrage, build a brand, and cash in.

They pretend Christianity is under attack while making millions tax-free.
They scream about wokeness but conveniently ignore Jesus’ entire stance on wealth, power, and oppression.
They push political conspiracy theories because nothing rakes in donations like a good ol’ Satanic Panic.
They ban books but have zero problem defending predators within their own circles.
They love private jets but hate public schools.

The SUP-pastor and the SUP-politician are basically running the same scam—selling fear, feeding grievance, and doing absolutely nothing to improve the lives of their followers.

Q: Will this cycle of unseriousness ever end?

Not unless people stop rewarding it. Right now, voters, media, and social platforms all incentivize performative outrage over real leadership. If enough people decide they’d rather be governed by adults than clout-chasing reactionaries, the tides can shift. Until then, we’re stuck watching Ted Cruz tweet through it.

Just Remember

You can’t argue with people who treat reality like a meme. But you can call them out, keep the receipts, and refuse to let their unseriousness become the standard. They may be a joke, but their policies sure as hell aren’t. If government is just reality TV now, we might as well start voting them off the island.