In Season One of TV’s True Detective, actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson deliver the following exchange:
McConaughey: “In philosophical terms I am what is called a pessimist.”
Harrelson: “Ummm…okay. What does that mean?”
McConaughey: “It means I’m bad at parties.”
I enjoyed McConaughey’s character - because I identified with his self-assessment.
I too am bad at parties. And not just the social kind. The political Parties as well.
I have long been a man without a political Party. Certainly as the Republican and Democrat Parties are constituted nationally. And since DC has spent the last many decades usurping as much state and local power as possible? The down ballot Parties more and more resemble the national ones.
Ironically, McConaughey the Person recently expressed a similar sentiment. In an October 18th Instagram video, McConaughey encouraged people to consider voting outside the Republican-Democrat paradigm:
“They’ve been telling us for years that an independent vote is a wasted vote. Well, a great question for our times is: ‘How’s that un-wasted vote been working out for you?’”
That is an excellent question. To which the answer is, of course, “Horrendously.”
I liked McConaughey’s video even before Hillary Clinton called it “really unfortunate.”
McConaughey’s video sentiment is a surface analysis of the problem. A celebrity who delved deeply into it for years was the late, great comedian George Carlin. Here he is back in, I believe, 2008:
“The owners of this country….The real owners. The big wealthy business interests that control things and make all the important decisions. Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. You have no choice. You have owners.”
I agree with McConaughey’s sentiment. I agree with Carlin’s analysis.
Political observer Chris Hedges interestingly describes the Democrat Party as the corporatist party - and the Republican Party as the oligarch party.
Since Bill Clinton successfully courted and flipped Big Business - Big Business has almost always aligned with Democrats. Donald Trump only very recently began courting the oligarchs. He has landed many more than most thought possible - and many more are still choosing sides.
Democrats want corporatism: The harmonic convergence of government and corporate power. Unlimited cronyism for corporations. So long as the Democrats and their governments are always involved - and get a taste. Democrats and Big Business want the stability and crony-power big government provides.
Democrats deliver laws like Obamacare and Dodd-Frank. Which they allowed the corporations in Big Insurance and the Big Banks (respectively) to write. So as to tailor government to their wishes and whims.
Crony, corporatist Obamacare is why health insurance premiums have risen 5%-10% per year - every year - since the law passed. It is why there are more employees in the US insurance industry than there are US doctors and nurses. It is how an insurance company like United Health Care can be worth $359 billion - while leading the industry in claim denials. About all of which their government cronies continue to do nothing.
Crony, corporatist Dodd-Frank is why thousands of small banks have died. And why it is nearly impossible to open a new bank. Because that’s what the Big Banks want. They consumed the small bank carcasses - and their marketshares. And Heaven forefend any new competitors might arise. All delivered by design - by corporatist Democrats.
Republicans want to give the appearance of delivering less government. What they actually want is their government giving oligarchs whatever they want. Which is almost always more government for you and me - and less government for the oligarchs.
Oligarchs get exemptions from any and all laws they find annoying. Tax laws, zoning laws, building laws, environmental laws,.… Et cetera. As the oligarchs work their way to what they ultimately want: An end to democracy - and global rule by a technocratic elite. In other words - by them.
Which means they will eventually rid themselves of their Republican stooges. Just as they are rushing to rid themselves of the rest of us humans. Via Artificial Intelligence (AI) - and any other way of which they can think. Billionaire bunkers, anyone?
Which brings us to today. Election Day. And we are yet again offered a choice between the Democrat slaves to corporations - and the Republican slaves to oligarchs.
And while I do feel some solidarity with McConaughey, Carlin, Hedges and the other Outsiders out there? I still have yet to hear anyone articulate what I want.
Which is: Less consolidated power. In government - AND in business.
I would like governments small enough so as to not be worth it for businesses or oligarchs to bribe them - let alone partner with them.
I would like a smaller government that is less a business crony - and more a business antagonist.
In the sense that I would like equal protection before the law between the businesses, the oligarchs - and you and me. As but one example: The same tax rate - no matter how you earn your money. Work income, capital gains, carried interest,…however you get money? It is all taxed at the same rate.
I would also like equal enforcement of the law. No exemptions or alterations for anyone - anywhere. As but one example: No multi-decade tax and law exemptions for data centers. Or sports stadiums. Or whatever.
I would like the antitrust and other laws put in place to protect us from consolidation of business power - to again be enforced. If we need more laws to see to that protection? I am all for it.
But then there’s this election. And the last one. And the one before that. And…. And NONE of them are about any of the very sane and sensible things about which I’d like them to be.
Instead? It’s all one, long reality TV show. Stupid people pushing stupid “issues” whilst allegedly scoring stupid political “points.”
It’s so weird that it’s been so long since I’ve felt the need or desire to vote.
Almost totally the occupants of the clown car. Sad and destructive.