There are people who are declaring, our super heroic super power is our vote; who are insisting, a forced binary choice is unequivocally fair and democratic; who are absolutely certain, they are great and they are the future.
Power
Funny thing - Power - It doesn't work the way people who crave it - Say.
But you already knew that. Like:
the delusional say power can be - 'taken' - or - 'claimed'.
I
Can you imagine, if our super real super power was - to vote? I mean. that? a saving-the-world super-power? oh please. Because
when was the last time voting saved
us?
Yeah. That time was never. Because voting isn't about saving anybody. Much less - us - or - the world. Not when cravers of power
are the ones campaigning with
self-superior conviction.
to possess it.
*
Can you imagine, if forced binary choices were - solely by definition - fair and democratic? I mean. If what's 'fair' and 'democratic' is nothing to do with being so and everything to do with saying so - so what - ? Because
when was the last time a forced binary choice
felt like an authentic expression of your voice? a legitimate representation of your will?
such that you agreed to what was said. such that you consented to what was done.
in your name.
Because 'your choice' - says it all -
and knows so, after all. for
you are 'known'.
neither as a faceless member of a soulless monolith. nor as nothing more than
your 'one vote'. for no less than somebody not you.
no?
*
Hah.
Can you imagine?
II
Funny thing - Power - The way it works is - The people who believe it should be - theirs -
'take' yours - performatively. Like:
the delusional believe power should be - 'taken' - and - 'claimed'.
*
Of course, you know better than to - trust - an act. Because
when was the last time - a song and dance -
was the bona fide - truth?
Yeah. That time was never. Because
only a fool sees a skulker 'being the future'. and hears a slinker 'being great'. and thinks -
my goodness! there is no classier act! no finer true color! than
asshole.
Epilogue or III
There's a muscular rejection of the truth -
that's as endemic as a fool a minute.
*
Take the curious case of - 'progressive populism' and 'illiberal populism'. That is to say - 'positions taken' and 'platforms claimed' -
endorsed and advanced - by narrow interests and party machines.
not to solve real problems. or improve real lives. but -
to win - elections.
It's easy to 'promise' the veritable kitchen sink - When the resources
(i) to ensure - 'promises' - never bear fruit
(ii) through a multitude of avenues, including (iii) strategic political 'giving' that (iv) incentivizes 'preferred candidacies' (v) defined by acquiescence to narrow interests and party machines (vi) that skulk and slink in back rooms and dark corners;
(vii) and vigorous objection and refusal to (viii) materially realize any - 'promise' - (ix) sanctimoniously defended by mercenary attorneys tasked with impeding the fruition of (x) any nut or bolt of progressive populism or illiberal populism, (xi) because 'the legal option' is never not accessible to the resourceful; (xii) and so on and so forth ad infinitum;
(xiii) are at the ready - and at your beck and call - to serve neither the will of soulless monoliths nor 'the people' - but indulge overrated masters.
Because
when was the last time
narrow interests and party machines didn't give a damn - for power
over people?
My goodness!
I can't recall.
M
*
Author's Note
'Campaigns' that lean into cruelty and advocate brutality, masquerading as 'political revolutions', are not heroic or honorable or patriotic or pious. Full stop.
M
Imagine a world where voters had the power to choose who their candidates were, drive them to focus on bringing about real change and improvements, and were able to hold them accountable for not fulfilling what they promised they would. Imagination is great isn’t it, it’s fantastic to wish that this was how our democracy ran. Now get off your ass and make it happen with your vote… Stop voting for the zero or the one, vote for people who will make this world a better place.
ReplyDeleteEuropeans long ago figured out to vote for the one that makes the least promises as they are the one most likely to do the most (or will disappoint you less)..
ReplyDeleteHow the rich and pretty continue to satisfy my eyes and tastes but break my heart...
DeleteI have always found it funny that machines of politics expect people to vote for them because they are famous, a mark in history, wealthy, powerful, or just look the part. When the voters don’t want to vote for them, the machine wonders why and doubles and then triples down. Here’s a novel fact for you machinists – if you care more about the rich, famous, and powerful and lie to everyone else, you really cannot and should not expect voters to vote for you to just satisfy your selfish desire to get or be something that you don’t deserve or should not be. There are still those out there worth voting for and I will gladly cast that vote for them. For the rest of you - !@#$ off
ReplyDeleteSadly, nowadays there’s much more honesty in a snake pit of cobras – I’d rather take my chance there then vote for another one of the machines.
ReplyDeleteI have always found it funny that machines of politics expect people to vote for them because they are famous, a mark in history, wealthy, powerful, or just look the part. When the voters don’t want to vote for them, the machine wonders why and doubles and then triples down. Here’s a novel fact for you machinists – if you care more about the rich, famous, and powerful and lie to everyone else, you really cannot and should not expect voters to vote for you to just satisfy your selfish desire to get or be something that you don’t deserve or should not be. There are still those out there worth voting for and I will gladly cast that vote for them. For the rest of you - !@#$ off.
ReplyDeleteYou almost made... it my geriatric... friend.
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