- "Society does not consist of individuals but expresses
the sum of interrelations, the relations within which these individuals
stand." Karl Marx never imagined the atomization and anomie of the
21st century West. November 2, 2010 Americans will once more ratify the
status quo of the Two-Party system and it's small ideas. Partly, Joe,
I'm sure it is due to laziness and partly ignorance of alternatives. What
is that you say my friend? That there is also the possibility of indifference.
The House wins each time, so why care? Ah Joe, I am not that cynical.
Are you?
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- Joe, there are non-mainstream political alternatives,
but they are not spun by mainstream media as viable-and why are Tea Parties
viable one might ask? They are viable in theory due to voter rage and
disgust with politics as usual. And it helps to get large sums of money
from Republican cadre. Their viability therefore rests on seeming novelty-the
Silent American standing up and shouting back to Washington elites. Joe
the same elites this outraged faction are concerned about finance and advise
them demonstrates how harmonious their "new" ideas are with those
of big business.
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- American's are notoriously schizophrenic-they detest
big government but delight in military adventures. The theorizing, the
invisible logic, is that tax money spent on and for human needs must be
cut to fund more military spending that keeps America safe and strong.
The great abstraction of America is you and me Joe. I am working 20 hours
a week after January when the old job closed down shop. Joe, I'm behind
on my rent, unable to find full time work, despite college education and
great resume, but no one is hiring a 53 year old generalist. No jobs, Joe,
except for killers and if I don't work and I don't live to kill somebody
who cries for me in Congress? Not one tear for me.
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- Joe, you must know that the Iraq and Afghanistan spending
allocated by Congress is $1.09 trillion, with $749.9 to Iraq and $337.8
to Afghanistan. These wars are chosen conflicts, not necessary ones, unless
by necessary we mean for further strengthening the forces behind the continuous
coup that is our government since the September 11 auto-golpe. The numbers
include both military and non-military spending such as reconstruction.
Spending includes only incremental costs, those additional funds that are
expended due to the war. For example, soldiers' regular pay is not included
but combat pay is included. Potential future costs, such as future medical
care for soldiers and veterans wounded in the war, are not included. These
numbers do not account for the wars being deficit-financed or that taxpayers
will need to make additional interest payments on the national debt due
to these deficits. Next comes the clarion call "please cut my Social
Security and bomb Iran." Here the invisible logic is we can bring
Jesus back to make everyone happy. Now, while you are busy bombing and
strafing Mr. Government, will you hurry up and sell off public property
at below cost so private interests can make some money? And here Joe,
the invisible logic goes-so my kid will have a sub-minimum wage job! No
Casey Jones is stopping this all American express locomotive-it will take
a train wreck. We hate taxes, and government, foreigners, lawyers and
the politicians we elect, We will buy wars and celebrate the magnates of
big businesses that need war. We will use public money to subsidize corporate
need. This is the logic since World War II and if we add the Tea-Party
patriots, all 3 mainstream factions agree on the basic tax and spend principle
that made this country the wasteland it is today.
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- Joe I don't know about your state, in California there
is a clear alternative running for the Barbara Boxer's Senate seat- Duane
Roberts for U.S. Senate: "I call for ending all U.S. military and
economic aid to Israel because I believe it to be morally wrong for taxpayers
to continue financing this nation's acts of state-sponsored terrorism against
the Palestinian people. The $3 billion we give to this country each year
would be better spent dealing with serious problems we face here at home,
such as growing unemployment."
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- Joe this is a clear statement. No mudslinging. It is
obviously not a statement that the media wants you to hear. Think as you
peruse the voter pamphlet and recognize that your participation in the
game ensures it's very legitimacy and it success at swindling you daily.
Do not doubt there exists a passionate minority who care very much that
you do not care very much. They will do all that they can to simply ensure
this continues. One big tent for all mainstream parties. Candidates spend
as much money as possible to win. When you vote, treat it as a game of
strategy, like a trivia quiz on TV where you knew the answers the contestant
did not. Continuing with TV for a moment, Slavoj Zizek observes that
"One should bear in mind the basic rule of Stalinist hermeneutics:
since the official media do not openly report trouble, the most reliable
way to detect it is to look out for compensatory excesses in state propaganda:
the more 'harmony' is celebrated, the more chaos and antagonism there is
in reality." Two mainstream factions hold America in their hands and
argue over how much pressure is sufficient to choke the nation to death.
I am not asking you to even exercise civic courage, just common sense.
Common sense informs you that the present system can be broken if sufficient
numbers of voters refuse to comply with the fraud. Outcomes from this
breaking with tradition are difficult to see; it would be a seachange on
the order of a revolution. The rules of vote fraud seem to indicate that
if enough individuals care, the predetermined outcome is undone. The only
question remaining is are you interested in true change, or is slipping
into darkness all you ask as you nod off with the needle in your arm and
the TV in your soul?
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- You can contact Publius at cstegiel@gmail.com
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