At some point in life, I decided that I liked talking about politics, American history, and economics. Now, looking back, I really wish that I hadn’t taken such an interest. I’ve written before that it almost seems like people follow politics like they follow their favorite football teams. The main difference being that there’s only one rival…the other party. In a world of so many ideas, right and wrong, left and right, just and unjust, and poor and impoverished two sides just doesn’t cover the entire spectrum of human existence. Being right isn’t always a good thing. Justice isn’t always fair for everyone. And there are people surviving in states much worse than desolate. But we live in our own little bubble…behind slogans, ad campaigns, blurbs, captions, and one-liners.
My faith in my country waivers every time I read…everything from Facebook to news outlets. And it used to just be directed towards the massive amounts of completely ignorant followers that believed every Bible waving conservative and flannel wearing liberal. But now even the intelligent among both parties have joined the fight(s). While it’s not a wasted cause, and I certainly applaud people who learn about groups and decide to join them based on what they stand for, my overall feeling is that some of these people have way too much free time. They don’t know what they’re fighting for all together. They just know they’re fighting against something…or someone.
I don’t know if I should call them cause-heads or sheep or something else, but they tend to pick up on every kind of political rally or statement. And this comes from both sides. Conservative republicans and right wingers jumped on the tea party bandwagon like it would increase their stock dividends and make abortions illegal within 5 years. Likewise, democrats and left wingers have jumped on the Occupy bandwagon like it would legalize pot and pay off all of their student loans. In all seriousness, they’re essentially both screaming about the same thing…money.
We want.
That is the grand story. We can’t on one had berate the corporations that provide the products we crave in the same breaths that we scream for both cheaper products and more jobs from them. In the same way, we can’t complain about the amount of taxes we pay, and then also argue for our government to do more with less. But that’s the kind of attitude a lot of Americans have. I’m not sure if it’s the majority or not, but it’s definitely a large percentage. A percentage that’s right up there with the amount of Americans that are blithely unaware.
On the other side of the coin are those that are increasingly interested in how the global economy works and shapes how corporations do business. They see the global landscape and of businesses taking advantage of a wide open labor market. They see and understand how businesses manipulate the tax-code loopholes for corporate personhood. They see corporations increasing their hold on politicians through lobbyists and backdoor deals. And in spite of their love for the system and it’s beauty, in theory, they are as pissed off, if not more so, than those that claim to be the 99.
Honestly it gives me a headache sometimes. Everyone sees the problem(s). Everyone, for the most part, is on the same page, making the same arguments against the powers that be. But it’s hard to change a world with reform and revision. And realistically, who is going to start a second revolution in the US when the controlling powers are corporations, businesses, and the government providing any all materials necessary for revolution? Food for thought.
To be continued…
