A certain imminent fear grips me with the realization that McCain might be the next president of the U.S. If this tragedy becomes a reality, then a second fear arises – namely, that if McCain dies in office then we will have a soccer mom for president. Critics on both sides of the political spectrum have agreed on one thing, that the McCain/Palin team has indeed set a new (poor) standard for campaign honesty. While I thought McCain was bad enough, his new acrimonious Alaskan advocate, Palin, has not ceased to amaze me with her ability to spread more lies in such a short period of time.
The only thing that has not surprised me with this election campaign is the unceasing support of fundamentalist evangelical Christians for the GOP and for the McCain/Palin team. Of course, for the conservative “Christian” south and mid-west, there are no disagreements with such a candidacy, which somehow justifies joining so-called Christian morals with war, unchecked capitalism, and relentless oil-drilling. But, remarkably, so many people that I know from Seattle, which is known for being an educated, progressively liberal city, are so quick to hop in the soccer-mom van with Palin, her knocked-up daughter, and her drug-loving son.
It seems that it doesn’t even matter how inconsistent these politicians are, or how dishonest their campaigns are, or how obvious it is that they are simply using “Christian morality” as a platform for gaining political power. Of course, as soon as they are elected they will (as Bush did) toss aside this dishonest allegiance and proceed to blow people up to the delight of the small oligarchy that really runs our world. But don’t worry! If you simply love their morality rhetoric, wait until re-election year comes!
It is also sad that these poor naive folks who vote for people like McCain actually think that the U.S. is a good country that wants to “help out” in the world around it. And when I mention “U.S. imperialism” they look at me with the expression of “I have no idea what you are talking about” and then give me a lot of crap about how abortion is wrong (although they haven’t even thought about how to enforce such a law) and how gays are evil (really?) and how Iraq and Iran are terrorist threats (perhaps, but they learned it from bigger terrorist states like the U.S.), and, in the end, fail to offer any substantial reasons for their political alignment.
What should I do? Well… how about Venezuela? Great weather and, wait, an actual democratic electoral system! It is so bizarre that impoverished developing-world states can achieve true democracy while big wealthy developed states like the U.S. can barely even offer a two-party system. And what happens when Venezuela and Bolivia kick out their U.S. ambassadors because of ties to an assassination coup against Chavez? The U.S. hides the truth and condemns these countries’ actions, when they should be supporting their attempt to establish a true democracy.
So unless Obama wins… one can either hop in the soccer-mom van, or get on a plane to the nearest democractic country.
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Any good grad programs in Venezuela? That’s what I want to know.
Let me just start with a disclaimer: What follows is a direct response to your blog, not to the way you’ve been treating me.
What’s that word you like to use so much? Oh that’s right – “Interesting!” Now it’s my turn to use it, interesting view, Craig, although it by no means comes as a surprise.
Where are you getting your information? It seems to be mostly your opinion based on what you’ve heard and maybe read from the liberal media. Where’s your support? And furthermore, your generalizations don’t have a lot of weight. Where are the specifics?
I’m sorry you’re living in fear, although I can’t figure out why. You have the freedom to write this blog and publicly share your thoughts about this upcoming election without the threat of someone hunting you down and killing you. Maybe you should move to Kenya or North Korea so you can experience real fear and trepidation. Better yet, I like your proposal of Venezuela!
You, like most liberals bring up the idea that McCain might die while in office. Yes, this is a possibility, but we could say the same about Obama or any candidate for that matter. Who’s to say Obama won’t get assassinated should he become President? Actually, according to actuarial tables, the odds of McCain living four more years are quite high. For a man, that’s above the expected lifetime at the present, who has also survived intense torture and skin cancer, his odds of living another four years are even better than most 72 year olds. Based on calculations, McCain has a nine in ten chance of living another four years. Therefore, I would consider your fear of him dying in office irrelevant.
Now onto Palin. I’m not sure if you’ve heard but, she was the GOVERNOR of Alaska. (Just to let you know, Alaska is the largest state territorially, not to mention the richest state resource wise.) As governor, Palin has commanded the National Guard, made wise decisions, has much experience on energy, has an 80% approval rating, and has created a surplus for Alaska during her time of service. And just for the record, she is a “hockey” mom.
And I really got a chuckle reading about Palin’s “knocked up daughter” and “drug-loving son.” Even the media hasn’t discovered this dirt yet; which son are you talking about? And are you sure you’re not thinking of our cocaine loving Obama? But if you really support Obama maybe you should follow his advice: “Let’s leave the Palin children out of this campaign and focus on the issues at hand.”
By the way, if you don’t like it here, if you don’t like being an American, and if you don’t like what America stands for, then move! No one is forcing you to stay here!
Lastly, you know how I believe in the power of words and declarations. Your title is prophetic!
Get your airline tickets now!
I’m sorry that your life is so difficult.
I can understand that it would be easy for you to blame those in power, or those running for power. That is how our government is set up…if you complain enough, hopefully, someday, someone with power will hear your complaints and do something about it.
The majority vote puts “qualified” people into power. That being said, these “qualified” individuals are people. Imperfect people. People who believe they can make a difference in the world. They tell us a little about what they truly believe and they also tell us what we want to hear. That’s the nature of the game. If it wasn’t, why do both Republicans and Democrats have advisors? Each party aims their speeches and advertisements towards certain voters so that they can win. Does this mean that McCain and Palin strech the truth and highlight certain moral issues to earn more votes? Yes. Does the Obama campaign do the exact same thing? Yes. So, before you declare Obama as the greatest thing since sliced bread, think about how he won you over. He told you what you wanted to hear. He might not have actually spoke the exact words to you, but, his party did. And, you know what? The Republicans did the same thing to me. They told me what I wanted to hear…some of it is grounded in truth. Some of it isn’t. Deal with it.
Like a business, both parties are out to make a profit. Both parties think they have the right answer to the problems that face our nation and our world. Does either party really know how to “fix” this world? No. We aren’t supposed to know how to fix it. If we could fix it, there wouldn’t be pain or suffering in the world. But, there is pain and sin in the world so that we turn to someone other than ourselves to get us through the muck.
This is where I play the God card.
I’m tired of people from both parties telling everyone that they have all the answers that will make our lives so much better. Does that mean we shouldn’t try? No. We should do our best to help those in need and protect innocent life. People are going to vote for or against someone in this election, and what gives you the right to judge them? What gives me the right?
It’s a shared idea that people aren’t perfect. And logically, this government, as it was constructed by imperfect beings, cannot itself be perfect.
What does this mean for you and me?
It means that somewhere along the line, we are going to get hurt, snubbed, or ignored. It means that part of living in this world is figuring out how to deal with not getting our way.
It means that we are going to vote for or against someone based on our beliefs. How dow we get to know the people running for office? We were told it. Whether it was in an interview with a candidate, or the candidates wife said it, or childhood friend….were told something that resonates with us as good or bad…for or against a candidate. How do we know if it’s true? We have to take someone’s word for it.
That involves trust.
You have the choice to believe whatever you want. Sure, I’m going to vote for McCain, but that’s because I trust Obama. I trust that Obama would legalize abortion and gay marriage. And, since I don’t agree with Obama on either issue, he doesn’t have my vote.
I’m confused about your comment about how to enforce a law that says abortion is illegal. It’s just like every other law…like murder. Murder is illegal. Does it still happen? Yes. If you get convicted of murder, do you get in trouble? Yes. Do some people commit murder and get away with it? Yes.
If something is wrong and some people are going to find a way to do it and even get away with it, does that mean it should be made legal?
I’m sure you’re going to go through and find faults with all of my points and arguements, but that’s because your reaction to my opinion is your way of justifying your opinions to yourself. It helps you sleep at night. Don’t get me wrong, I like sleep too. That’s why I responded. It helps me justify to myself why I believe the things I believe.
Send me a postcard from Venezuela…
Meghan… no good grad programs that I know of, but a great revolution… check out handsoffvenezuela.org
Amy…. thanks for the comment. You fail to reply to the main part of my blog and instead you have focused on the superfluous marginalia that I chose for fun because it’s my blog, I’m not a journalist. Oh, and my sources: lemonde.fr, bbc.co.uk, nytimes.com, moveon.org, and of course, Noam Chomsky (he is probably the biggest living intellectual and cited almost as often as the Bible, or Shakespeare). I suggest that you (and “Your Friend” read him, or at least type his name into YouTube). Also, read the final comment at the bottom of this. Oh, and thanks for the hockey-mom clarification.
Your Friend… hi, thanks for your comment. You, like Amy, also fail to really penetrate the heart of my critique. Perhaps I am just not a lucid writer. If you really think that abortion and gay marriage are the only reasons to elect someone then that’s your opinion. We’re killing and oppressing millions internationally, but you are worried about gay marriage. Furthermore, please read my previous blog post. In it you will realize that I am infatuated with Obama at all. The abortion and murder thing is not that simple. If abortion is made completely illegal it will become like the drug trade… massive and uncontrollable. Hundreds of people will get medical training to become illegal doctors, and 16-year-old girls will not only have to cope with their decision, but also with criminal charges (thus isolating them from the world).
To All: Thanks for the comments. For the latter two commentators, know that we are never going to see things the same way because I am a Marxist and you are happy Christians who probably still think that the U.S. is for the most part a nice country that does good things and North Korea, Iraq, and Iran are bad countries that do bad things… what you believe is called “propaganda.” I’m assuming (and I could be wrong) that neither of you have a college degree.
Actually, I have a college degree. I assume you have one too, which, you think, entitles you to think you know so much more than everyone else.
You like to make simple issues complicated, don’t you? Again, if something’s wrong, but people are going to do it anyway, why does that justify making it legal? Making abortion legal is the easy way out of a difficult, sticky situation. And, I’m not “worried” about gay marriage. You brought it up, so I shared my opinion.
Actually, I don’t think that the US is a “nice” country…actually, I see us as a very selfish country. When I say that, I mean the people in it…not just the government. Yes our government isn’t perfect, but then again, it’s not going to be….ever. I think it’s immature to believe otherwise. Oh, and I think North Korea, Iraq, and Iran are misunderstood, not bad.
Also, I don’t think I failed to penetrate the heart of your critique. You spoke of dishonesty and inconsistency of the GOP, which I spoke to. (I suggest reading the first few paragraphs of my first comment again)
I think it’s funny that you call my beliefs “propaganda.” So, your beliefs are purely orignal? You read them out of a book, or maybe a teacher influenced you. How is that not “propaganda?” It’s a two-way street.
Hi Curry, at least I think this is Curry Beebur, but I could be wrong.
First, I have to say something about the whole degree thing because I always get this. The reason why I asked (and do ask) the question is not because I think my interlocutor is stupid, but rather, I worry that they do not think critically, which is something that a liberal arts education nurtures. Second, that, in having a degree one usually goes through enough literature, history, and philosophy classes that one understands a bit more about how politics work. And lastly, just because I have a degree does not make me smarter, but perhaps more qualified for certain things, Like a doctor being more qualified for surgery than me. With a philosophy degree I tend to think that I have a bit of an advantage when it comes to critical and deconstructive thinking.
Second, thanks for the clarification. You got closer to my critique with your last comment, but, actually my point is essentially that capitalism cannot sustain democracy, it naturally works to put power into the hands of a rich few, and these rich few have lobbyist that support the GOP, and a right-wing government does whatever it can to make those rich few richer, which means controlling middle-east oil (building a pipeline through Afghanistan), controlling Venezuela (more oil) and the rest of the world … that is what my blog post was about.
Propaganda is a lot different than difference of view or opinion. Propaganda is closer to “The Matrix,” since you like movies; it equals “ideology.” Americans are told that the countries in the Middle-East (except for Israel because they do everything we tell them to do even though they are terrorists too) and any other country that doesn’t play our game. “Terror” is an easy way to control people and to label these regimes “Terrorist regimes” allows the U.S. to do whatever it wants (war), but why is the case that when we attack them it’s WAR, but when they attack us it’s TERRORISM?… that my friend… is how ideology works. How I differ is that, as a Marxist, I am attempting to critique ALL ideologies… I am never removed from criticism myself, but I am, perhaps, outside the Matrix. Am I implying that you are in the Matrix? I hope not, but how much attention to you pay to history my friend? What do you know about U.S. action in the Philippines, Panama, South America, Greece, Vietnam, and now in the Middle-East? The U.S. is only looking out for it’s own interests, so we must vote against politicians that will support those interests, and that is why Obama is superior to McCain… he has NO connections to them.
We agree to disagree, my confrere! I’ll keep working on my degree so I’m qualified to reply to your blogs!
Craig, the one thing that suprises me, is that you, a confessing Marxist, would want to live in a country possessing an “actual democratic electoral system”. I’m shocked that the U. S.’s current trends with our rigged voting machines; our failing ecomony, desemated by serfs of the welfare system(propoganda I know), and high ranking, thieving, officials and stock brokers; and our government controlling even now our finances with the recent sell out of AIG; that this, our country, which is so vastly and uncannily comparable to Communist Russia, does not appeal to your Marxist/Socialist mindset!
Hopefully you did not take the above paragraph seriously, as it was a joke. One thing that I am actually missing out on is, that it was reiterated in the above comments that your life is difficult. Have these words been put into your mouth, or have you expressed such other than the obvious pessimistically sarcastic nature of your blog. If your life is terrible, I’m just wondering what is making it such, and how can we make it easier without you leaving for Venezuela? And if a 5 pound bag of green tea might make a spot of difference? What’s your schedule like? I’m very free (comparatively) on Thursdays and Tuesdays if you want to get together and talk and what not.
Now, I was going to counter a bunch of arguments made above, and was noting how you held Marxist ideals. But then I realized, are you a Christian at all? You didn’t clarify this (of what I read above) and I assume not as Marxism is completely and utterly incompatible with Marxism. These two beliefs are the foundations of every other belief of a person, so I can’t address to many of your views.
However, I can agree with the contradictory belief of Marxism of a democratic voting system. That doesn’t even make sense. Also, are you for abortion or not? If you are against it that’s not really Marxist either.
Lastly, your comment on how illegalizing abortion will create a “black market” of abortion. So because something will create a criminal market of it we should keep it legal??? That isn’t even logical. We still have “hitmen”, but we illegalize murder? OF COURSE! It doesn’t take a college degree to understand that.
So now that I have upset the entire conservative world… I will attempt to say a few words of resolution.
First, no, my life is not terrible. I am simply ashamed of my countries lack of critical rigor and understanding of the global view of the U.S. (it’s not good).
Second, I doubt that many here have even read Marx, or Lenin, or Stalin, or Mao, or Che, or Adorno, Horkheimer, Jameson, Eagleton, Althusser, Barthes, Lacan, or Zizek…? I doubt that many here read the New Left Review or understand what “Dialectical Materialism” or “surplus enjoyment” is….? Perhaps Brian might know a bit so I will have to talk to him, but if you don’t, then please educate yourself about these things before asking questions about my Marxism. By the way, I am a Marxist (not a Fascist or a Totalitarian, who both are the true enemies of democracy and voting).
Third, am I a Christian? That is too difficult of a question for me to answer right now.
Fourth, I really don’t have much of a position on abortion. I don’t believe in a soul, and I think it is belief in a soul that causes so much controversy over this issue in the Christian world. I object to abortion as a form of birth control, I think that is simply poor judgment making, but that is the only position that I hold.
Fifth, abortion and the “black market.” Actually my argument is quite logical. All I am saying is that by voting against abortion one will bring about a worse state of affairs than before. The murder example does not work because we have made murder illegal so that the state has the right to remove the criminal from the public space. Now with girls who have abortions, they are not threats to the public space, so we do not necessarily have to create an absolute law in order to deal with the situation. One of the best ways to deal with these situations is talking with the girls (before or after they have an abortion). Making abortion a crime further marginalizes these girls and makes dialogue impossible. Films like Knocked Up probably have had a better effect on the issue than any law. Education is the way, not jail time. And this raises the deeper issue that I have with the religious right… I think that they are voting against abortion simply because they feel like they are doing their duty. And when the law is passed, they will sleep better at night, regardless of whether or not the law is actually DOING anything. It is a matter of conscience, not of altruism.
Stated commentor asks fellow commentors to differentiate between being “for abortion” and “for choice.” Very, very few people are “for abortion.” Many, many [educated- yep, I said something inflammatory yet true] people are for a pregnant person’s right to choose between abortion and pregnancy. Blanket statements and misnomers only serve to confuse an otherwise rational conversation and make it into an emotive issue. Like talking about “unborn babies” when what we’re addressing is the medical state of pregnancy and the potential harm- physical and/or psychological- said pregnancy could do to a woman carrying it to term.
Love,
Craig’s Liberal Gal Pal, Who Has Never Had an Abortion and Has CHOSEN Not to Have One