Failing Politics

I am somewhat loathe to admit it but I think I am failing politics, the reason being simply a lack of interest. The current political situation in the United States has now become so completely ludicrous as to no longer be worthy of interest. It’s just the same old stuff over and over, day after day, week after week. Part of the trouble is that Republicans have consistently taken positions that are not only false but basically immoral. They are completely nonsensical, and for reasons not entirely easy to understand no one seems to do anything about it. It is, for example, patently absurd to keep defending millionaires and billionaires from even modest tax increases when the nation is so obviously suffering and desperately needs an increase in revenue. They base their opposition on the grounds that these are “job creators,” a claim that is itself absurd. They also claim taxes are too high when, in fact, they are at historic lows. They say we can’t have tax increases during a recession but have no problems raising taxes on the Middle Class and the working poor. They claim the lack of jobs is President Obama’s fault when in fact they have blocked every attempt he has made to improve the situation. They claim he has not provided leadership, a claim so ridiculous given their refusal at every step to cooperate it is basically laughable.

As far as their list of candidates for the Republican nomination goes, comparing them to clowns is a terrible disservice to that profession. They have had several so-called “debates that are not debates at all and make them without exception look stupid. One doesn’t seem to know the voting age or even the date of the next Presidential election, another doesn’t know China has had a nuclear bomb for forty years or so, still another claims she would not allow an Embassy in Iran when we already lack such an Embassy. With one or two exceptions they all want war with Iran, believe the criminal Israelis deserve all out unquestioned support no matter what war crimes they are committing. Still another thinks our children should be made to clean toilets and mop floors after the unionized janitors are fired, and still another believes we should be teaching Creationism in our schools (he is apparently unaware we are now in the 21st century). Another one has assured us that corporations are persons and seems to be blissfully unaware there are other countries on earth we must deal with, with something less than war. Most of them also seem perfectly willing to have us engaged in permanent wars wherever we choose. I could go on but I can no longer bear to think anymore about it, the collective ignorance of these egomaniacal jerks is absolutely stunning. You might think they were running for President of the eighth grade rather than the United States. Now to add insult to the injuries they have already inflicted on ordinary political discourse their next “debate” is going to be moderated by the one person capable of turning it into nothing but the epitome of cheap entertainment, Donald Trump, the King of Greed. Trump that for idiocy if you can.

On top of everything else the positions they espouse for the most part would have us return to the conditions that existed at the turn of the 20th century, or in at least one case, conditions that existed in the 18th century. They are all basically opposed to “government” and apparently think a form of primitive Social Darwinism would be the best way for us to live, not one for all and all for one, but each only for him or herself and the hell with the rest, “I’ve got mine, you get yours” would seem to be the mantra. They want to do away with virtually everything that serves to make the lives of ordinary citizens more livable: Social Security, unemployment insurance, health care, Planned Parenthood, the EPA, regulations in general, and preach such a thoughtless bunch or utter nonsense as to make you think perhaps they really don’t have any brains at all. They certainly have no understand of appreciation of the basic concept of “governing.” I confess I have now reached the point where I can no longer stand to listen any longer to their mindless prattle that seems to represent the rote memorization of a few simple minded principles, mostly “lower taxes, less government” over and over as if somehow they think that is really a solution to all our problems. It’s disgusting. It has become so bad that I have almost completely stopped watching the news and when a Republican appears I turn it off. I’m sure I won’t but I feel that I should just go into hibernation at least until about a year from now when the worst of it is over. Perhaps a prayer to the Great Mystery for mercy might help, or maybe just for a serious Republican candidate?

You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.

Woodrow Wilson