Polotics

I think i am going to get a little political here. Briefly and painlessly i hope. First a bit of a disclaimer, i am not, by nature a "political" person. I have an inordinate amount of faith in the U.S. government system and i believe it is a good way to bring into focus the needs/wants of the people at large. I am not so naive as to believe; however, that the interests of the people truly rule. It is, I've no doubt, the big campaign contributors and supporters (the wealthiest fraction of our nation) who really have a say in the inner workings of congress.

I am neither a conspiracy person nor a face value person, i am neither left nor right. In truth, in most political discussions emotion and self-importance run high and strong and i have an intuitive tendency to automatically take the other side no matter my core beliefs at heart. I do not have the patience or the time to sit and validate other peoples beliefs and views, the very reason i hate talk radio (of any sort) and talking politics with friends.

The political tendencies of my readership is a mystery to me. Frankly i don't particularly care how you vote--democrat, republican, libertarian, independent, or something else entirely--what you believe is your business and I'm not in the market to change your mind. But i am wondering wtf is Sara Palin doing as the voice of the republican party and is she the best they can do? On a personal level i hope so, she is great ammunition for the writers of the radio show "Wait, Wait, Don't tell me" on NPR (Saturday mornings at 10 am pacific time). On a political level it really drives home a lot of things that are wrong with the way the masses approach politics: as it is given to them.

What i mean to say is that the political parties in America, the big two anyways, are over reliant on scare tactics that reinforce a mob mentality when going to the polls. There is no dialogue, not between friends, not between strangers. The way we are fed propaganda and information is done is such away as to make us feel victimised and defensive and suddenly we are wounded with our backs to the wall and we lash out violently at whats around us.

I want to emphasise that we are fed propaganda. Bloated, arrogant, hypocritical narcissists like Rush Limbaugh sit comfortably behind a microphone being handed sacks and sacks of cash and say whatever they feel like, in Rush's case it is usually racist, ignorant, right wing nonsense. (On a very base level i have to admire his ability to do what he does and i applaud him in the same way i applaud Howard Stern, as entertainers and spokespeople who have made it to the top and are not coming down. Yet i despise them with a burning passion as narcissistic, misogynistic, arrogant, racist, self-absorbed--being general here, not specific--vultures preying on the carcass of a collective intelligence that has become incapable of thinking for itself, consequently lost in a state of slow decay.) The problem isn't that talk show hosts and political commentators speak what is on their minds, i would never imply that. The problem is that they do it in such a way as to make the general public believe that what they are saying is policy up for debate. The farcical death panel comment is a prime example. There was never an intention to put the elderly and critical people in front of a panel of doctors to decide the validity of keeping them alive that was a manifestation of Rush Limbaugh, BUT PEOPLE BOUGHT IT!! Even now i can't believe people were suckered like that. I am embarrassed for you.

Here is what I'm trying to say. We need to think for ourselves. There is no room in the political arena to allow ourselves to be controlled by the very, very few voices in positions of influence when, in theory anyways, the power lies with the many, many people. It is good to have many beliefs and positions on many issues and policies. It shows a healthy level of diversity and thought. It is bad to be sucked into the vortex of single issue voting, looking like a draft horse with blinders on going where commanded. Some how we have to shed the defensive political shells built up around us, there is nothing to be afraid of in dialogue and differing opinions and beliefs are not necessarily personal attacks of views to be feared and avoided. They are just different and should be heard. Lets enter into dialogue, lets listen to one another left, right, and center, talk about it and then vote.

Honestly, if we can't do that, talk and dialogue like adults rather than spoiled children, we don't deserve to vote.