Originally published November 1st, 2008.
The United States likes to portray itself as the bastion of freedom and champion of democracy, but if this were really true then there would be at least 6 or 8 different parties to choose from at election time, and given that it is now a country of over 300 million people a choice of at least 10 different parties would be more appropriate, but instead there are just two. Why is this? The reason comes down to the "concentration of power" issue that we addressed in an earlier article with respect to corporate American and the systematic disenfranchisement of its population. The reality is that the two remaining political parties, the Democratic and Republican parties are in fact one, and the only reason that the ultimate step is never taken and the parties merged is that with one party to vote for and an election being completely superfluous, even Joe Sixpack would realize that he is living in a dictatership. So the 2 remaining parties continue to dumbbell around each other for ever, maintaining the thinnest facade of democracy, and controlling the country for their elitist masters via their duopoly of power.
The plutocratic elites who control the United States and both the Democratic and Republican parties also have complete control over the media, whose job it is to maintain the illusion of democracy, especially during the farcical circus of the election campaign. They do this by playing up contrived and trivial differences between the parties and by playing up personalities who the voting public can identify with, a recent example of this crude but effective approach being the Alaskan Hockey mom Sarah Palin suddenly being thrust forward into the limelight, and intended to provide a counterpoint to the sagging old man who would be President, John McCain. At a time of life when he should be content to sit in a rocking chair on his front porch, and dead head the roses and perhaps give occasional advice to troubled young people, McCain intends to try to run a country of 300 million people. He looks like one long haul flight would finish him off. Although Obama would seem to be the better choice for President, on account of his youthful energy, generally positive dynamic attitude and eloquent use of English, the sad fact is that he is in the pockets of his plutocratic masters just as McCain is and must end up doing their bidding - if he wasn't his funding would have dried up and he would have been run into a ditch long ago. So with both parties and both candidates completely compromised and representing the same vested interests, it is clear that voting will accomplish absolutely nothing and change nothing - it is a complete and utter waste of time. The entire election campaign is a charade whose real purpose is to maintain the elites' stranglehold on power, whilst at the same time maintaining the illusion that the US is a free and fair society, but otherwise it is a total waste of time and energy.
It is always good to end an essentially gloomy article on a positive note. Whoever wins the election and becomes the next President has got to be an improvement on the crass and imbecilic George W Bush, who only got the job through extreme corruption and graft. If nothing else, election day does provide a chance to socialize and may even present the opportunity for single readers to find a partner. The following chat up lines are tentatively suggested...
Male voter in line to female voter: "You do realize this is a complete waste of time don't you? - we won't change anything..."
Female voter: "Well, yes, but what the heck..."
Male voter: "Might I suggest that we go back to my place and try something a lot more meaningful"...
Feedback would be welcome from readers who try this chat up line whilst at the polling station, even - and especially - if you end up getting kicked shins and/or a black eye. As long-time readers know I am always ready to adjust my thinking...
