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It would seem that Hillary Clinton is going to run for president in 2016. Pretty much a given really. Having her run will lock up the soccer mom vote for the most part and if she can lay it on thick like Bill, most of the Latino, Black and other non whites as well.
With a large part of the white males going for the republican. Most likely Jeb Bush. Politics as usual in the USA. And the vast majority of the populace will go along for the ride. Grover Norquist is saying that TP2.0 will be better than the previous version. Sounding like an IBM software add.
It all sounds so much like some first year comp sci program written in LISP to calculate N Factorial recursively. Just shuffle the card deck and re-submit the program if it doesn’t work the first time.
So why do we – or rather the public – put up with this ? Even after all that has been going on for the last 30 years or so. The criminality on Wall Street, in Congress. The imperialistic foreign policy and continuous military actions that get us even deeper in dept and accomplish nothing.
For one thing, the economy and the government is working just good enough for enough people to keep them from wanting to make any major change. This is not pre-revolutionary France or Russia where only a very small percentage of people – generally in the big cities – were doing well or at least managing some how. Where the vast majority were starving and still working in horrendous conditions, if they could work at all. Where most of what they did get was taxed or appropriated by those at the top.
Nor is this some Nazi occupied country where there was a common enemy and common goal that bound the majority together. Where even if the people were not actively involved with the resistance, were supportive of it and would turn their backs and not see or report anything the resistance did. Quite often helping in small ways as well.
Nor is it this country during the depression of the 1930s where the official unemployment was 25% of the populace. But that did not include all those who lost everything in the dust bowl as well. People who were driven off their farms and land with the same vigor and those who were driven from unions and strikes.
None of those conditions exist here at this time.
I would say that there is maybe around 20% who would really want to see any major change in the government or economic system. And of that 20% only about 1% who would support any direct action to do so. And even those 20% cannot agree on what needs to be done first. Jobs ? Global warming ? Economic and social equality ? Take one from from column A and one from column B.
The rest are still OK as long as they can still have roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, something to watch on their idiot boxes and get good and drunk at some bar. Distracted by some trivial item (religious, moral, financial, or entertainment related) or the next gadget from Apple or Microsoft.
Even Greece and Spain – who are an order of magnitude worse off than we are – are not to the point of replacing their PTB with some coup or another.
As anyone who has been in AA or any other 12 step program can tell you, human beings are very reluctant to make any kind of change in their lives even when their lives are pure torture. Even when they have lost everything. They will put an unbelievable amount of effort into forcing a bad, unworkable situation to work some way or another or quite literally die trying.. They will deny and blame others for their misfortune and the failure of their situation.
The right wing will continually wine and throw a temper tantrum like some spoiled brat. Maybe even be diagnosed with some psychiatric disorder.
The pseudo-left will feign support for any progressive agenda that does not interfere with the status quo. Their SUV, McMansion or defense related carrier.
Change will come only when the majority of people are willing to own and accept that the system has failed and the continued support will get them nowhere. This will only happen when they themselves are starving and those at the top tell them TFB while their enforcers are clubbing them to death.
19 Comments
You make some really good points. Recommended.
I thought I was gloomy! You make me look like a starry-eyed optimist. Have Finns always done that to the Norse, lol? Thanks for that. And the link to that psychiatrist’s editorial is positively terrifying. Oh Brave New World, with such drugs in it!
And my coworkers wonder why I have such little trust in the medical profession anymore, a profession that is turning into just another delivery system for Big Pharma’s products.
I agree with your points about the right and the pseudo-left, and a Clinton v Bush 2016 scenario is quite likely, though a bit too soon to call right now.
I will say, again, that I think change will still come in my lifetime, probably in the next decade. I mean the 2020′s. This system we’re in can’t last because it just doesn’t work. All it needs is something to push it over the edge. That something can be almost anything, financial collapse, natural disasters, a war gone wrong, I don’t know.
But every year it hangs on to life, the more minor the triggering event can be.
Thanks for the heads up on the abuse of ‘psychology’ and DSM 5 labels to pathologize just about every aspect of everyday life!! Drumming up more business, I guess.
As a member of the dissenting class, I view my role as ‘salt’, lasting until I am diluted and neutralized by unemployment, loss of savings, isolation, and loss of comrades.
Carry on, dear cmaukonen!
You can look at this another way. There are plenty of statistics saying that a large proportion, even a majority of the US population are just one or two paychecks short of financial implosion. This is very probably true, since American society is set up to encourage toxic levels of over-consumption. You probably have to categorize a good proportion of those people as ones who could turn in a heartbeat, if things get the tiny increment worse it requires for them to go under.
Many, many people feel the general malaise. Unfortunately, particularly in a country like the USA where Disneyesque fantasy is the root of daily existence now, they have no idea why, and their only reaction is to lash out in expressions of inchoate rage, like the many confused “Tea Party” supporters who were so lost they didn’t realise that they were actually just the deeply unpleasant, racist, ultra-bigoted wing of the Republican Party and could never have supported a good half of what the Tea Party was originally supposed to be about.
In essence, you are a nation of very frightened bullies, turning on whatever person weaker than yourselves is available, to let out your frustration, which is made all the worse by the fact you cannot comprehend it at all.
I think what I’m saying may suggest the situation is far worse than your analysis, but you could argue it suggests it’s maybe not quite as bad.
“In essence, you are a nation of very frightened bullies, turning on whatever person weaker than yourselves is available, to let out your frustration, which is made all the worse by the fact you cannot comprehend it at all.”
“You” are a nation, not “we.” Are you in America, or somewhere else? Your profile does not say. I ask because perspective is important to understanding.
Anyway, we are not all bullies. In fact, we’re not even mostly bullies. Bullies are always in the minority. Disneyesque fantasy? Well, I admit that many Americans are in a nice comfortable bubble or rut or whatever, and, like Cmaukonen said, reluctant to try to really change anything because change can always result in a future worse than the present.
You are absolutely right about most Americans living one or two paychecks away from destitution and financial ruin. I’m one of them and have been my entire adult life. Most of us have been taught little history and even less economics. This was deliberate, IMO, for ignorant people are easier to control.
I don’t know if “malaise” is the right word. It probably was when Jimmy Carter said it, but now I think “unease” and “uncertainty” and “worried” are more accurate. There is anger building out here in the real world. It’s not focused yet, but there’s a growing awareness that the financial sector is somehow to blame.
When this blows, and it will, things could change real quick. Most modern revolutions are over with in a matter of months as far as the ancien regime is concerned.
On second thought, cmaukonen, I think the bulk of the society around me is coping through the kinds of relationships which flourished after the Russian economic collapse in the 1990s. Thriving actually. Getting stuff done. Adopting a libertarian creed, but acting in social concert with others to get needs met. Things have to get much worse for people to demand serious reforms, IMHO. ( I see quite a bit of two prices cronyism: socially friendly low prices for their buddies and stiffing anyone with a salary job.)
Should be careful how I phrase that, shouldn’t I? The reaction of many people is that of frightened bullies lashing out at the first weaker person in reach, was rather more what I meant to say.
I’m genuinely sorry about your situation, but my experience from when I did live in the US was that this was anything but uncommon.
As I say, I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news in terms of people becoming ready for real change. The political landscape is so complicated and unreadable in the US, that it is hard to know.
To all who have commented so far, thanks. The question I am trying to point out is. “How can people here…even after all that has happened and is currently going on…still support this corrupt capitalistic system that is damaging livers and the planet. Still support our corrupt political system that enables and supports it.”
The same way a late stage alcoholic can keep going to the same bar instead of getting some help. Even after they lose their job, family and even their health from their disease.
I accept the analogy of the late stage alcoholic, except for locating the nexus of responsibility for all problems within the alcoholic. That engages the part of the brain which would be better served by expressing the anger toward the external source of the difficulties.
In this culture, dissent is often purposively equated with disobedience and personal failing, or having a bad character/personality. So to try to utilize the late-stage alcoholic and their capacity for denial, is probably to redirect the anger for what has happen onto the victims!
The denial aspect works on a descriptive level as people appear to put up with a tremendous amount of abuse. Yet, look what happens to us when we protest.
But ‘denial’ puts the blame onto the victims again. So I don’t approve of the image of the late stage alcoholic, even though I accept that you are using it descriptively and effectively.
Thanks for the clarification. Don’t take offense, but I really don’t want your pity. It’s not your fault, and I know just where to place the blame–on capitalism itself. I do what I must do, and try to make a positive difference where I can.
I, like Mr Spock, have faith that the universe will unfold in the manner in which it was intended and try to follow the Way of the Laughing Buddha in order to stay sane when circumstances prevent me from following the Way of the Warrior, which comes more naturally to my genetic code.
So, I live in northeast Ohio and that, as well as the other places I have lived and visited, colors my perspective. I would like to understand yours a little more. Where do you live?
To Barbarian: I hope you are right. But I can see those who live in the exo-burbs – like Pepper Pike and Moreland Hills or the upper crust of any area and even Geauga County – supporting whatever really repressive regime promises a return to “The Good Life™”.
To kbki202: I like the term Bullies here. When you look at how this country began and what lead up to our kicking the British out, it was instigated by a bunch of spoiled rich kids. The conditions in Europe at the same time for most folks there were truly horrid as compared to here where life was pretty good, all things considered.
This country began with snot nosed rich kids who were discontented. I believe Thomas Paine said as much.
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Ah but the analogy goes that in both cases those involved have to option of doing something about their plight. The simply find that doing nothing about it is the easier way.
Maybe even a case of “Better the evil you know….”
hopefully ,i will have the where with all to escape GM-ridden USA to a Greener,cleaner,Utopia
Thomas Paine did indeed say as much. Can’t find the quote, though. As far as the people in the exurbs you mention, that’s where you find your latte’ liberals living side by side with fanatical Republicans. Many can no longer support their lavish(to me) lifestyles, and will indeed support anyone who promises them exurban paradise.
They’ve got problems, though, even if they won’t admit it. A lot of their kids are smoking heroin because their parents succeeded in getting law enforcement to crack down on the marijuana distributors(source: Geauga County Sheriff’s office). Here in the inner ring suburbs and Cleveland itself, the kids still smoke pot and the cops don’t much care. They have bigger fish to fry you see.
Historically what has triggered major change in a society is the sudden frustration of rising expectations. The current mood of cynicism and pessimism is not conducive to activism in gaining social change.
Historically it’s has been people flippen starving.
Starving people don’t have the energy to persist to the point of change occurring. People who have been relative well fed up and have expected to be secure but foresee or experience a dramatic change of circumstance do.
And even then it takes years and sometimes decades for the change to be realized.
The french revolution was triggered by a food crisis. The Russian revolution was initially triggered by a food crisis.
The so called Arab Spring was triggered by high food crisis.
I see a pattern here.
Food crises are sudden diminishment of food security, not starvation. Exactly my point. Expectations of continuing food security were interrupted dramatically by economic events.
But behind each of them was an underlying developing dissatisfaction and infrastructure of social change.