The National Charade
Looks like the next successful Presidential candidate will need to spend $150 million to get there.
Where does this money come from? Wealthy business leaders, mostly. Folks that make their money in commodities, capital, development and various other extractive industries. Hollywood folks too, although their money pales in comparison to some the Wall Street power brokers. It’s accomplished via a variety of methods, including those fancy, black tie, $2500 per seat affairs held in 8000 square foot homes.
Most of the folks serving the food make up to 500% less than the people they’re serving. Ain’t capitalism grand!
So, when the winner gets into office, guess what happens next? The winner doesn’t bite the hand that feeds it. The winner returns the favor and enacts policies that favor the power brokers.
Every once in a while, the guvment throws the general public a bone, but when it comes to the big issues, expansion of capital, elimination of governments unfriendly to U.S. business interests, etc., the selected officials do what they’re told and protect business. Even if it means killing thousands of people, destroying habitat and doing gawd knows what else.
That’s how it works, folks.
Don’t be fooled by by the Obama effect. It would be grand if a fresh face with truly progressive ideas made it. Well, it’s not going to happen, because the system itself is set up to minimize, marginalize or even eliminate ideas that threaten the status quo. Unless you’re trusted to carry out the national agenda, you stand no chance.
And there’s the Hillary machine. Status quo Democratic politics at its best, which is designed to make concerned people feel like there will be a change when in fact no changes are planned. Just look at what she says during her speeches. Support her and get what you deserve.
Since there’s no help for the nitwits in the national asylum, what can we do?
While a lot of folks are busying themselves with the national masturbation, others carry on with the really important work. Building community, preserving habitat, planning gardens, lubricating their bike chains, painting, writing, creating music, teaching and permanently disabling their televisions with scatterguns.
Turn your back on the national charade and focus on things you can change. Focus on building self-reliant communities that are organized around the principles of mutual aid, democracy and sustainability. Eschew the concepts of centralized government and uncontrolled growth and recognize them for what they really are: a cancer upon the land.
“The health of the land is the health of the people.” Terry Tempest Williams
Hey Burnsie,
I stumbled on to your site a month or so back and appreciate the point of view. I share your admiration for Abbey and Snyder but have not read any Jeffers (yet anyway).
As for the national charade, I like your assessment and think it similar to that of Voltaire at the end of Candide: Work the garden. There is much for us to learn and in about our communities (though I do work with the Greens on their local and national campaigns – I think its consistent). Anyway, thanks for talking about things that need to be talked about and taken to the mainstream.
Bondi
Thanks for stopping by, Bondi. My apologies for taking so long to post your comment. I hadn’t checked the comment que for a couple of days….
Take care,
Thanks for stopping by again. I don’t know about you but I often wonder if blogging does anything besides inflating egos and giving a voice to issues many looking at already agree with. I figure if anything it’s a nice online community of like minded “friends.” Power of the masses I suppose. Anywho, I see “Hayduke” has a biking blog now. Nice to see. More people should ride. Good for you and good for the air. I’m out, it’s getting late and with the forecasted 81 degree high tomorrow I plan to get out early and enjoy it. – Sean