A vindication of the system

Recently the journalist/author Russ Baker was on the Tim Dillon is Going to Hell for a fun and insightful discussion.  The conversation focused on things that influence our government “behind the scenes”, so to speak.  Russ broke down historical information to the hosts, Tim and Matt, some information that has been known and some that has come to light recently.  One particular intelligence agency looms particularly large and the dad of the President during 9/11 was the head of it for a year (trying to be oblique).

Russ provided fodder for my perhaps Snarxist sensibilities – information that is not widely known or particularly cared about, but that is important.  Others pigeonhole me into being ironic because of what is permissible to talk about.  And this election cycle what can and cannot be discussed is revealing.  And goddam frustrating.

In the TDGH interview Tim asked if he gets annoyed when people get really worked up about what is presented in the dominant narrative: like the above-board discussion of the merits and demerits of the two (only two!) candidates.  Russ:

“This is a continuation of the distraction of the public from what actually matters and from what actually affects them.  They don’t really understand the extent to which this is some sort of entertainment, a spectacle, bread and circuses.  Yes these things matter in certain ways on certain levels but the fact of the matter is it doesn’t matter if it’s Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump: they would never be allowed to deviate substantively from the course of American policy over the biggest issues affecting the wealthiest people.  You’re talking about resource extraction, you’re talking about the constant use of the military to control much of the world, you’re talking about the dominance of the financial sector – these things are inviolable.  Where they differ is at least in the way they talk about hot button issues that get people riled up.  But there are even limits to what they can do in those areas.  Yes it’s important but should it suck all the air out of the room and make us so exhausted that come November we stop paying attention right when the real work begins?  No.”

Look, I’ve covered the idea of voting before.  And I agree that at the local level issues are clearer and change may be easier to institute.  The national elections are something else – a mass ritual, really.  The presidential election is a sanctioned event that allows each and every one to have their say – at least have their say about what is printed in mainstream newspapers.  Now is the time to express your feelings as long as it falls within the narrow purview permitted by the media and permitted by the intellect of your fellow fuckwit citizens.

What?  You think you’re better than voting?  How else are you going to express yourself?  This is it.  You get this one chance so you better fucking get involved.  How – well creepy is the word that first comes to mind – how creepy that Chris Wallace implored the TV/Web audience to vote.  I’m sorry but it came off as cajoling, manipulative:

Now the decision is up to you. While millions have already voted, election day, November 8, is just 20 days away. One thing everyone here can agree on is we hope you will go vote. It is one of the honors and obligations of living in this great country. Thank you and good night. 

By voting you say you approve of the system even if your morals have been fit into the Procrustean bed of “the lesser of two evils.”  I’ll just continue to shake my head and wonder why the world I live in is so different than the world that it is embodied by the debates and politics and people’s attitudes to this bizarre (but not if you understand it goddamit!) system/pageantry of politics.  To let Tim Dillon conclude (min 35): “By the way all you people that are going to be dancing and celebrating a Hillary Clinton victory: you are celebrating a vindication of the system, that’s it.”