How many people here in America really- and I mean really- care about all the issues that they claim to care about? Politics is generally a package deal. You pretty much are in for a dollar even if you only put up a dime.
Outside of newsvangelists like Glenn Beck and really hardcore internet trolls, do you know of any truly average American who cares about abortion, gay marriage and deregulation?
Unless you are in the business of selling this crap like Beck or Limbaugh and a cabal of others, why would you care about the myriad interests that- lets face it- really come down to more dollars for them and corporate America?
Ninety per cent of Americans are in favor of stronger background checks for guns but, that doesn't mean shit to legislators who work for the NRA lobbyists and want to keep their lucrative House and Senate jobs as long as possible. It's no danger to the 2A to strengthen background checks but, the NRA and gun manufacturers don't want anything that might restrict their trade. That's what it is all about but, they won't argue it that way. They don't want it known that they want criminals armed too because armed criminals are good for their sales to fearful citizens. Take guns out of the hands of criminals, you're left with the rather limited hunting market.
Gay Marriage? How many people really care if Frank and Barney marry? Even people who are religious that you may know, really don't care. I mean really care. I don't think too many politicians really care either. It's funny to hear thrice married Newt Gingrich talk about it endangering the institution of marriage though. And Lindsay Graham might really just have commitment issues rather than religious objections to gay marriage. Except for things like insurance companies not wanting to pay out survivors benefits, who really cares? It might be just about money but I tend to see it as political smoke and mirrors. Get people thinking about gay marriage instead of what is happening to food and water supplies. Funny thing, people love the movies and TV and Doogie Howser, who grew up to play Barney Stinson on that How I met Your Mother show is gay as all get out, married to a man and a father. People like that show and love him enough that he hosted the latest awards show. How did that happen in an America that is Christian and against gay marriage? You'd think he'd have been stoned to death by now.
Who on your block (that doesn't work for Monsanto or Exxon) really wants less regulation? Who really buys into regulation ruining the business of America? Does regulation thwart business? You're goddamned right it does! Left to their own devices, these people will wink at safety in the face of the deaths of their employees. Someone making them literally pay, makes them pay for safety in the workplace. Otherwise, get out there on that steel, ya fuckin' pussy or go home!
That's the way it was in 1913. Did you know that also in 1913, farmers owned 100% of their corn? Now Monsanto owns worse than 90% of *our* corn. Well, to be fair, they are the ones who put all the effort into chemicals to genetically modify corn and other crops and, of course, chemicals to kill pests and yada yada- that cost money. I don't know if anybody asked them to do this. Wait- maybe BIG PHARMA did? They can never have enough cancer to treat. There's big money in cancer. Curing it would kill the profits and many jobs. But, you can't exactly lay it out to Americans like that. Instead, you talk about how- without regulation- everything will be cheaper... Right. Same with the Keystone Pipeline. It's Canadian tar sands oil that will travel through America (hopefully without spilling...) before it becomes gasoline in Houston to go into Chinese automobiles. But, don't say that. Say, DRILL, BABY, DRILL!! Come on now- who wants to charge LESS for their product?
Nobody! But, who wants to pay less to produce their products? Everybody! Payroll cuts into profits. Duh. Prior to The Civil War, the largest concentration of wealth in this country was in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Not New York which, then as now was huge. Do labor costs get any lower than slavery? After the initial buying of a person, you pretty much just have to feed them after that. And breeding them means less future initial cash outlay. And if you do need to pay for skilled labor, having a large labor force working for free sets the wage really, really low.
Well, we can't talk people into becoming slaves for the good of the country...but, we can talk them into accepting less and and expecting less, in pay, because- LOOK OVER THERE!!! Gay people planning weddings! With natural, organic food! Everyone arriving by bicycles! And NO GUNS ALLOWED!
You know, if we get rid of this president and his BIG GOVERNMENT ways, we'd all be free.
Well, to hear the newsvangelists tell it, that is. How can anyone fall for ALL that shit? A little at a time. ..
2 comments:
What comes to mind after reading this is Frank Schaeffer's excellent book 'Crazy For God'. He was part of the movement on the Right to co-opt Evangelical Christians and at the time it was all about abortion. I think that's when politicians realized how easily manipulated that segment of the population is, and from that point forward they've dragged out the pre-programmed hot button issues every election cycle.
The only Christians I know who are against gay marriage are far right Republicans. Big surprise. That FEAR and God combination really does it for that bunch.
They have amped that up lately. It is amazing how the same issues keep popping up every two years. People might get suspicious if folks are still arguing about gay marriage in 100 years.
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