The Council of Calamity: A Very Petty Coup

A satire by Rebecca Witherspoon

Welcome to Wholesomeville, population 1,204—where potlucks are sacred, front porches come with rocking chairs, and everyone still waves when they pass you on the road. It’s a peaceful place, known for good manners, better casseroles, and the unstoppable leadership of one Betty Goodheart.

But peace, it seems, is a fragile thing when faced with the sheer force of delusional ambition. Enter: The Council of Calamity.

Cast of Characters

Mayor Betty Goodheart

Beloved by all. Re-elected three times by cinnamon roll-scented landslides. Runs on common sense, kindness, and a firm belief in indoor plumbing for all. Keeps town morale high and gossip low.

The Council of Calamity

A trio of narcissistic, power-hungry misfits who believe they were born to rule Wholesomeville with passive-aggressive dominance and poorly designed flyers.

  • Trent “The Visionary” Vandersnide – A failed tech bro who once tried to replace the town library with a crypto-coffee bar called “BiblioChain.”
  • Tammi-Lyn Vexley – A self-proclaimed life coach who yells affirmations at strangers and insists she’s descended from nobility. Frequently refers to herself as “The Real Mayor.”
  • Chad “No Feelings” Finster – A former HOA president ousted after attempting to install a moat. Speaks only in smirks and vaguely threatening compliments.

The Plot Unfolds

Every Tuesday at 2:47 PM, the Council meets in the back booth of Melba’s Diner, armed with color-coded notebooks and essential oil diffusers to “cleanse the energy.” Their mission? Overthrow Mayor Betty and take control of Wholesomeville.

Their methods are…questionable at best:

  • The Whisper Campaign: Rumors spread that Betty once used margarine instead of butter in the Bake-Off. (Scandalous! Untrue.)
  • Newsletter Nonsense: They hijack the community newsletter to insert anonymous letters signed “Concerned Citizen” claiming Betty is “too calm to be trusted.”
  • The Protest: Chad organizes a demonstration with signs like “Down With Decency!” and “Too Nice Is Not Leadership.” Earl, a curious bystander, joins only for the free donuts.

The Downfall

Their schemes begin to unravel faster than a crocheted potholder in a tumble dryer:

  • Chad’s Pancake Day TED Talk: Attempting to “out-charisma” Betty, Chad gives a TED Talk on “Dominance Flipping” while holding a syrup bottle. The mic cuts out. Kids start throwing syrup packets. A dog steals his notes.
  • Tammi-Lyn vs. The Weather: She accuses Betty of controlling the weather to frizz her hair. Earl, the 92-year-old town meteorologist (and human barometer), politely disagrees while adjusting his knee brace.
  • Trent’s Deepfake Disaster: Trent tries to make a video of Betty yelling at a puppy. He accidentally overlays a corgi face on hers. The internet loves it. For the wrong reasons.

The Grand Finale

At long last, the Council of Calamity attempts a dramatic takeover at Town Hall. They arrive in matching velvet capes, ready to seize control.

But it’s Bingo Night.

They are met with polite but firm booing from an army of determined grandmothers clutching daubers and card stacks. Someone throws a Werther’s Original. Chad flinches.

Mayor Betty, ever the picture of grace, awards them each a certificate for “Most Theatrical Misuse of Democracy.” Then, with her trademark calm, she reminds everyone to recycle and not to forget about the pie raffle.

Epilogue

Trent lands a job at a startup that sells AI-generated apology notes. Tammi-Lyn moves on to opening a yoga-pilates hybrid class for cats. Chad relocates to the next town over, where he’s been spotted wearing an eye patch and calling himself “Captain HOA.”

Meanwhile, Betty returns to her duties: fixing potholes, promoting bake sales, and keeping the peace with a smile.

As she serves pie to the laughing crowd outside town hall, she offers one final thought:

“Wholesomeville isn’t perfect, but we’ve got good hearts, strong coffee, and the occasional failed coup. That’s democracy with a smile.”

Long live the queen of kindness. And long live Wholesomeville—where decency isn’t a weakness. It’s the law.

#SmallTownDrama #SatireComedy #PoliticalSatire #CoupFail #FunnyPolitics #HumorInPolitics #FakeCoup #CommunityLaughs #FunnyBlogPost #HilariousLeaders #SatiricalWriting #PettyPolitics

Disclaimer:

This AI generated blog post is a work of satire and humor. The characters and scenarios presented in this piece are fictional and exaggerated for comedic effect. The intent is to entertain, not to harm or insult anyone. Any views expressed are intended as lighthearted commentary on the sometimes absurd nature of small-town politics and the personalities that can emerge in such environments. Please enjoy with a sense of humor, and remember: this is all in good fun!

Published by GlobetrotterGranny

I am a wife, mom, and grandma, an outspoken Village Board Trustee where I live, the owner and operator of Globetrotter Granny travel agency, and a photographer, graphic designer and videographer, and in my “spare” time I’m also a full-time legal assistant at a large law firm in downtown Madison, WI. I am passionate about helping people realize their dreams and potential, and learning how to experience the world their way, what ever that looks like to them. I am on an ever-continuing journey of self discovery. If you like the content in this blog, please don't forget to subscribe at the bottom of the page.

2 thoughts on “The Council of Calamity: A Very Petty Coup

  1. That’s an interesting AI generated satire post.

    I did a ChatGPT AI experiment a while back and wrote about it in my essay titled “My ChatGPT Experiment” which coincidently I was updating with some new test this morning, then I read your post. Great minds…

    I actually go to ChatGPT once in a while and check it for political bias. I’ve noticed in general that you can get ChatGPT to show a political bias if the tone of your question implies a political bias.

    Make sure you read the very last comment I posted a few minutes ago.

    Like

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