The Pit of Despair

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
I have despair.

I have despair because now, in my middle age, after spending half a lifetime trying to be a conscientious, informed citizen and voter, I finally realize that it just doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter who you vote for. Whoever wins will sell out your interests, and the interests of the entire nation, for their own political gain. It doesn't matter what direction the American public wants for our nation - the politicians will suit themselves, to the detriment of all but those who grease their palms and maintain their power.

Need proof? How about the fact that the vast majority of Americans - including Republicans - think that raising taxes on those families that earn more than $250K a year is a good idea. And yet, those who supposedly represent our interests aren't making that happen, and in fact, are fighting the idea tooth and nail. The Red Herring for this position is that taxing the rich will damage the economy (yeah, right), but I think we all know the real reason is because politicians don't want to gore their own oxes. There aren't many middle-class families that can afford to influence pedal in the Halls of Congress - so they're disregarded.

Need more proof? How about the continuance of subsidies for fossil fuel energy sources? I mean, seriously - who thinks that Exxon Mobil needs subsidies in order to survive? Their first quarter profits enjoyed a 69% increase over the same time last year. But they need the government to give them a helping hand? A helping hand that exceeds the help given to green fuel sources? Bitch, please. But I think we all know that the government's coffers aren't going to close to the energy business in my lifetime. To do so would make enemies of organizations who have tens of millions of dollars available for their lobbying efforts, and their PAC's and their direct donations. Can't upset that boat, nosirree. 

The expiry of the Bush tax cuts for the rich, the poo-flinging circus of the debt ceiling "negotiations," the refusal of our regulatory commissions to rein in derivative trading and other financial shenanigans that result in the rich getting richer at taxpayer expense, the bending over of consumers to predatory lenders, the list goes on and on and on. All of these events are indicative of the malaise that permeates our political process. We, the people, just don't matter in this utterly corrupt process, and we're fooling ourselves if we think we do.

I don't know if this disregard has always been the case in American politics, or if this is something that has crept in in the last 100 years. In either case, I think it's disgusting, and I despair for our nation, and for the subversion of our Constitution in the service of the rich and powerful. E Pluribus Unum. Yeah, right.

9 comments:

Steve Buchheit said...

It's been there for a while. It's just exacerbated by the need to fund raise continually.

But I have a solution. Get into politics, Janiece. You've got the brain, you've got the drive... and most importantly, you have a genuine drive to help and understand people.

Of course this is easy for my say as I wind down my own commitment this year and will add a new category to my use of the phrase, "I've already done my bit for King and Country. It's you're turn."

If that fails. I suggest we break the party. You're local rep isn't in your party so you don't go to their townhalls? BS. Go anyway. Especially because they aren't in your party. Let them know what you think. Let them know you expect them to represent you as well. Argue effectively for your position. Make them defend their position and go beyond the talking points.

David said...

First of all, "what Steve said."

Second, it does matter. The fact that the country is currently held hostage by borderline-treasonous ideological zealots is not the norm, and for much of the country's history political leaders understood that destroying the nation to make a political point was sub-optimal at best. And we'll get back there, by and by, though how much damage we'll have to clean up in the interim is an open (and disturbing) question.

There have always been injustices, but there have always been people willing to fight them. If you think the prostitution of politics to the wealthy is bad now, try looking at 1885, at the height of the Gilded Age. And then the Populists happened. And then the Progressives happened. And slowly things changed for the better. There was a lot of damage to clean up, but much of it GOT cleaned up, even if the original movers and shakers didn't see it.

It matters.

It doesn't always seem that way from ground level. We have forgotten that politics is a generational, not election-cycle, process. But it does matter.

mom in northern said...

I'm sorry Poo'd...it does matter.
I have concluded that the primary job of any politician is to get reelected…nothing more, nothing less. We need a law. You only have 3 months to campaign period! We live in an age of instant communication. They days of the pony express are over. There should also be some sort of term limits and spending ceilings. That would be a start…Tightening voter requirements would be good too…as you note the list is endless.

Anne C. said...

I think of politics in two ways:
One, it's a self-sustaining industry. That's why the two major parties have that "if you're not with us, you're against us" policy, because it adds steam to the fundraising mill. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it distracts from the utter lack of progress that they make on a yearly basis.

That being said, it does matter, because:
Two, the political system is a slow moving system. Like evolution, you can't expect change overnight (no matter what the charismatic politicos says). It takes incremental choices every day. If you live and choose "authentically" (in line with your core beliefs) every day, those choices and the choices of those who have the same core beliefs have to add up to something. It's simple physics, like a drop of water adding to another drop of water to make a stream. Yes, someone can subvert the system (like a dam, if my metaphor holds), but only for so long until change happens.

Ultimately, our choices (free will, if you're esoterically inclined) are all the tools we have. That includes the choice to be active or to be passive.

Anne C. said...

grr... didn't reread before posting:

"give them the benefit of the doubt and say *it's a side effect that* it distracts..."

vince said...

As others have said, it does matter.

As David pointed out, and if you study history (as I have) you'll see that the rich and powerful minority in this world again and again have run things to favor themselves and not the majority. 'Tis the nature of those who have power and money (I'm speaking generally, of course.)

But fighting against them matters for three reasons:

It matters because sometimes the good guys win. But only if the good guys fight back.

It matters because others matter, others like your family, your friends, and good people in general.

It matters because you have to look in the mirror every morning.

Hang in there, fight in the ways you have available to you, and give the bloody bastards the finger every single day. The latter won't help, but it will make you feel better.

Janiece said...

You're all correct, of course. Except for Steve - I'll be getting into politics right around the time monkeys fly out of my ass.

I can't really see myself giving up, no matter how corrupt and self-serving our "public servants" become. Sometimes, though, I just have a bit of despair - before I get back up and punch someone in the throat.

Juan Federico said...

I could cook you something to make the monnkey thing happen if you like. :)

Steve Buchheit said...

I chip in for Juan's cooking. :)

And I agree with Mom, but with an extension. Limit campaigning AND fundraising to 3 months before an election. (it would have to be more complicated than that, but it's the general idea).