So far as I can see, the real issue in politics this year is not the presidential election. The election will, of course, get most of the media coverage since most mainstream reporters and commentators are the tame little pets of the 1% who rule us.
Those tame little reporters and commentators will try to create as much excitement around the election as they possibly can. But I think people nowadays are becoming increasingly aware that national elections in America are for the most part charades to decide which candidate of the 1% gets elected. If you are not a candidate of the 1%, you have very little chance of election.
Both Mitt Romney and Barrack Obama are candidates of the 1%. There may be a few real differences between them, but, in general, both are owned by the same people.
So, the real issue in politics this year is not the presidential elections. Nor most any elections. The real issues, so far as I can see, are being raised by the Occupy Movement. Only the Occupy Movement is serious about addressing the problems facing this country.
It will be interesting to see if the Occupy Movement survives the winter to rebound in the Spring. The issues that fuel the Movement are not going away -- so I think there's a good chance the Movement will still be around in a few months.
But what do you think? Is the election the most important think happening in politics this year? Why or why not?
Absolutely, Occupy should they (we) keep going, can shake things up more than anyone, even they, realize. Interesting question - you should have seen Dan Rather on CNN. I might do a post on what he said, he was dead on. The candidates in debates are answering the question they wish was asked, not the one actually asked. It's like watching a tv spot for each one of them. Meantime the moderators, as Rather points out, don't have the courage to ask a follow up question.
ReplyDeleteAlso being ignored are 2 scary things: Obama is completely ignoring environmental issues. Also, Mitt Romney. I lived here when he was governor. He did a terrible job running Massachusetts. The economy went south, he was obviously just there for himself. Now we have "universal" health care where many residents still don't have health insurance, yet they are punished if they don't buy it. What a mess!
I don't know about the year, but the election certainly is the most important think happening in politics here in New Hampshire this week! Help! Rick Santorum is even visiting the American Legion down the street this very afternoon. And me blogging nude... *draws curtains so as not to offend conservative sensibilities*
ReplyDeleteI suspect that this election may be VERY important, but only for the next election.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days, the Reps are bound to wake up to the fact that their "values" issues do not reflect U.S. values as they are today, and that the trend is only continuing against them.
After the absolute circus they have put on for this election in just trying to choose the lesser of many evils, they may actually get their act together for 2016.
Or not. ;-)
@ Amelie: I'd love to read your post on Dan Rather. Most of today's "journalists" do not deserve the name. They are little more than fawning lap dogs and stenographers of the people in power. Thank goodness for Dan Rather, Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman, and a few others!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Romney did such a poor job running Massachusetts. That's important to know. Thanks!
@ Garnet: They can take away my rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but they'll never take away my right to blog nude, by jeebers!
ReplyDelete@ The Wise Fool: I recently read somewhere that the elites of the Republican Party are now having second thoughts about having trained their electorate to bite at social conservative issues. Apparently, they are almost as scared of Santorum as we are. I don't know whether that's true, though.
ReplyDeleteWell, as you know from reading my blog, I feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest difference, it seems to me, between Romney and Obama is that Obama still talks like a liberal, even though we can count on him to give too much ground to the Republicans. Now either he is a very bad negotiator or he is, as you suggest, for the 1%.
I think you are right. And I've taken a lot of heat from my liberal friends for taking that position.
Frankly, Doug, I don't understand how any Liberal can fail to be disappointed in Obama. I may yet vote for him (for instance: If it's a close race between him and a Santorum like candidate), but if I do vote for him, it will be while holding my nose. The man is not in practice a Liberal. He is in practice a moderate conservative on most issues, and even a radical conservative on some issues. At least, that's how I see it.
ReplyDeleteI think this election is important enough that I will be working (volunteering) for the Democrats.
ReplyDeleteI can't risk (read: afford) any of the GOP candidates being elected.
In a one party system, voting is useless. OWS on the other hand is critical.
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