America in November, 2016: Dropping All Pretense of Democracy
November 8, 2016, brought a conclusion to the latest attempt by citizens of the United States to "elect" a new leader. The final months of the election (if it can actually be given that formal designation) offered a cutthroat battle between Hillary Clinton (running as a "Democrat") and Donald Trump (running as a "Republican"), with the two aspirants being mildly different in the sum of their superficial qualities, but completely equivalent in the totality of their fundamental rottenness. It established an all-time low of public discourse that was perversely breathtaking, even by American standards.
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had clear records. Both had, for many decades, dedicated the whole of their unsavory activities to the relentless pursuit of money and power. Both were cunning dissemblers, driven entirely by their own overweening self-interest. Both had repeatedly proven themselves to be corrupt and untrustworthy. Both were committed to upholding the filthy structure of capitalist tyranny. Both were closely allied with the corporate bloodsuckers of Wall Street. Both were eager promoters of war and weaponry. Both were ruthless enemies of common humanity.
Week after week after week, the two contenders exchanged idle threats, slandered each other, and took great pains to shun any serious discussion of the pressing matters that would usually be regarded as being pertinent and essential to the process of choosing a leader. In the end, however, the malign pair succeeded in getting away with it, mainly because the American people put up only token resistance, obligingly gulping down the rancorous mess as quickly as it was dished out to them.
When the crude exhibition was over and the votes were tallied up, Donald Trump was the "winner" and Hillary Clinton was the "loser," but the outcome itself carried less import than the dismal means by which that outcome was achieved. It was a gross offense from beginning to end, loaded with bilge, bluster, and bombast, and entirely devoid of rational debate. It delivered a sharp injury to the sensibilities of any citizen who dares to believe that hearing the straight truth is preferable to hearing brazen falsehoods.
The wretched election of 2016 was a festival of illusion, in which millions of compliant voters were put through their paces and strongly encouraged to choose between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, which actually was nothing more than a false choice: the particular kind of choice, shallow and foolish and degrading, that only a weak nation of feeble citizens, continually given to a blithe avoidance of principle and collectively possessed of a thoroughly craven mentality, would ever be willing to accept. It was merely a choice between two undeniable evils, with neither of them being lesser than the other.
Casting a vote for President has become closely akin to wallowing in a bottomless pool of sickening filth. It constitutes a grim show for those who enjoy such diversions, and it serves the underhanded purposes of those who have control of things (and are bent on preserving their control), but can anyone honestly recommend it as a worthy example of how a nation should govern itself? It appears that America, in November, 2016, chose to give up and give in, sinking to the depths and dropping all pretense of democracy.
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had clear records. Both had, for many decades, dedicated the whole of their unsavory activities to the relentless pursuit of money and power. Both were cunning dissemblers, driven entirely by their own overweening self-interest. Both had repeatedly proven themselves to be corrupt and untrustworthy. Both were committed to upholding the filthy structure of capitalist tyranny. Both were closely allied with the corporate bloodsuckers of Wall Street. Both were eager promoters of war and weaponry. Both were ruthless enemies of common humanity.
Week after week after week, the two contenders exchanged idle threats, slandered each other, and took great pains to shun any serious discussion of the pressing matters that would usually be regarded as being pertinent and essential to the process of choosing a leader. In the end, however, the malign pair succeeded in getting away with it, mainly because the American people put up only token resistance, obligingly gulping down the rancorous mess as quickly as it was dished out to them.
When the crude exhibition was over and the votes were tallied up, Donald Trump was the "winner" and Hillary Clinton was the "loser," but the outcome itself carried less import than the dismal means by which that outcome was achieved. It was a gross offense from beginning to end, loaded with bilge, bluster, and bombast, and entirely devoid of rational debate. It delivered a sharp injury to the sensibilities of any citizen who dares to believe that hearing the straight truth is preferable to hearing brazen falsehoods.
The wretched election of 2016 was a festival of illusion, in which millions of compliant voters were put through their paces and strongly encouraged to choose between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, which actually was nothing more than a false choice: the particular kind of choice, shallow and foolish and degrading, that only a weak nation of feeble citizens, continually given to a blithe avoidance of principle and collectively possessed of a thoroughly craven mentality, would ever be willing to accept. It was merely a choice between two undeniable evils, with neither of them being lesser than the other.
Casting a vote for President has become closely akin to wallowing in a bottomless pool of sickening filth. It constitutes a grim show for those who enjoy such diversions, and it serves the underhanded purposes of those who have control of things (and are bent on preserving their control), but can anyone honestly recommend it as a worthy example of how a nation should govern itself? It appears that America, in November, 2016, chose to give up and give in, sinking to the depths and dropping all pretense of democracy.