Years ago there came a TV commercial on NY City television. It showed a guy tumbling out of bed. The scene was grey. The commercial was in black and white. The guy yawned and stretched and scratched and staggered over to a window. He flung it open and stuck his head out.

“Tomorrow morning,” a warm voice intoned. “Rise from your bed. Go to your bedroom window. Throw it open. Take a deep breath of the morning air. It will make you sick.”

This was an ad from an outfit that wanted to clean up New York City’s air.

If you gave me the job of creating an ad for cleaning up our politics it would look a lot like that.

A big poll told us last week that two-thirds of registered voters do not believe Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton are honest or trustworthy. In other words, open a window onto our political scene and take a deep breath.

Need I remind you these two lead the parties? How exciting! Don’t you envy the teacher who holds mock elections? To encourage kids to take pride in our elections?

“Miss Johnson, why should we vote for somebody we think is dishonest?”

Well, Melanie, it is the American way.

“You mean like Al Capone and Bugsy Malone? And Boss Tweed?”

Yes, Melanie. You could put it that way.