It is by now a commonplace to note that the world as presented to us by various media is not the world of flesh, blood, earth, fire, water and air. Media reality is altered, making the use of the term “media parallax” fitting as it comes from the Greek parallaxis, meaning “alteration.”

The parallax effect can be used to get a more accurate picture of reality. Look at an object with one eye closed. Then look again with the other eye closed. Neither mono-view gives an accurate representation. Humans have two eyes and use parallax for greater depth perception and a more accurate view of the world.

As far as American political and economic life goes, this is the Era of Elmer Fudd. It’s a time when Elmer defeats the irreverent, freedom-loving Bugs Bunny, when the idiot Wile E. Coyote catches up to all those American roadrunners, from Johnny Appleseed to John Muir to Jack Kerouac and the eponymous Roadrunner himself.