We’re all wrapped up in sensationalism, and I’m not sure I’ll even vote in the next election.
Sorry for the big word, “sensationalism.” I know most of the facebook audience respects twitters, tweets, and emotionally charged stuff more than a cogent argument, but here I am, giving it a try once again. And yes, I know most American citzens are generally impatient with cogent arguments, and I know someone is going to find a phrase of mine to attack and provide her or him an excuse to dismiss everything I’m writing, but there are moments when it just gushes out of me like pus from an overgrown, long ignored cyst. So watch out. I’m going to give this bugger a really hard squeeze:
I am not a fan of our current president or any of our recent past presidents, for that matter. Some have done and are doing damage and/or good for democracy. Some have done and are doing damage and/or good for our economy. All of them have shopped around for a "base" population in this country, and paramount in their priorities has been a preoccupation with remaining in power and doing so by maintaining the selfish interests of their constituents, not the good of the country as a whole.
I am not a fan of our current representatives or senators. All of the above can be said of them as well. When staying in power is all about sucking votes from the general population by pandering to their desires and attacking the personal flaws of other candidates instead of discussing the issues, you've got a recipe for keeping things as they are: Keeping wages as low as possible in order to maintain profit margins and stock prices; keeping the working class largely working poor and desperate enough to hang on to low wage jobs and labor long hours for a second class existence; keeping the parties angry at each other so that they can't get together to take the next steps forward.
The political parties are endeavoring to destroy democracy, or at the very least, transmogrify it into a populace that avoids thinking too hard and by default, approves of the status quo.
Our ruling class is too rich. They've got vast hordes of cash. They see the country as a place for them, naturally. They see their piles of money as affirmation of their power. They fail to see how their greed saps the life out of others – all others, everywhere, in this country and outside of it. While scapegoating and spreading all sorts of hatred, they fail to remember that the overwhelming majority of their ancestors came here as immigrants. When they think of the economy, they think primarily of maintaining their own bank accounts and tax shelters. When they think of the next election, they think of finding dirt on their opponents. They all talk of “fighting” for their ways.
We don’t get together anymore to talk about it and listen to one another. Instead, we load our guns with the worst, most destructive sensationalism we can find at the moment and take a shot at someone. Then we move on. We run away without pausing two seconds for a response. We’re snipers, hiding in the trees, shooting at one another and running away from anyone else’s point of view.
Perfect way of keeping a conflict alive and healthy, and preventing solutions that question the rich people who like things just the way they are.
