you're already dead

To make it anywhere in this world you need celebrity status. Track record and credentials will get you so far. Making a public name for yourself will take you all the way.

Look at the three leading candidates in both political parties right now. For the democrats we have the first truly viable African American candidate, a former controversial first lady, and a former vice presidential candidate who made a name for himself in a debate that I felt he lost. For the republicans you have the first Mormon to make it this far, a bigoted ex-governor who isn’t afraid to say he wants the isolation of AIDS patients from public life, and a very vocal former POW who isn’t afraid to challenge his party ideology. All of these candidates talk a big game, and most of them have very important things to say. The unfortunate thing out of this is that ninety percent of American voters aren’t going to listen to what these candidates have to say.

Most Americans will vote based on their prejudices. It’s easier that way. We’re all guilty of it at some time or other. There will be many African Americans who vote for Obama based on the fact that he’s black. There will be many women who vote for Clinton because she’s female. There will be many people who vote against Romney because he’s Mormon. It shouldn’t be this way, but that’s the human reality. This may be the best democracy on the face of the planet – the leader of the free world and crusader for human rights (yeah right) – but your average voter only cares about what’s on the surface. Cater to the fears of the common man, and you will go far.

I use 2004 as my example. John Kerry was a terrible presidential candidate, but that’s beside the point. What absolutely did him in had nothing to do with the swift boat campaign or whether or not he voted for the war in Iraq before he voted against it. John Kerry’s demise came at the hands of America’s homophobia. The train of thought of many as they saw the results come in on election night ’04 was this: “Education is worse than ever, the economy is bleeding from the jugular, and too many boys have died fighting the Taleban and Al Kay-da, but at least the goddamned queers aren’t going to get married.” Americans voted for president based on their hatred of homosexuals.

George W. Bush had the nation eating from his hand. All he had to do was win an Oscar for playing to the common man. Too many people bought into his act of mispronouncing words and coming across as the guy you could have a beer with. When the average retarded American in Kansas says, “That’s the kind of guy I’d like to have a beer with,” you can tell him anything you want. My faith in the electoral process dropped just a little bit further that night. Maybe the federalists were right two hundred years ago. The average American is unfit to vote for president. People latch too firmly to swagger. People want nothing more than to laugh and clap their hands. Distract the masses with flashing lights and a joke or two and you can win anything. Bore them to death with figures and facts and you might as well tie yourself a noose.

However we vote in this primary and in the coming November election, we’re going to lose. Vote for the black man, vote for the woman, vote for the Mormon, vote for the bigot. However it comes out, we’re all still on the losing side. We’re being lied to up and down on all fronts, and in the end do you really expect anyone to uphold their promises of reform or troop withdrawal? Accept the fact that you’re already dead. Vote, and vote honestly, but accept that no matter how it turns out we’re getting a celebrity. There’s no way around it. It all boils down to celebrity. The one who plays most to the cameras will win the support of gullible average America. This is the system we have chosen. Participation is perpetuation. Sitting still and not taking part is aiding and abetting. Now more than ever our world is on the brink of explosion. I don’t think anyone truly understands this. Celebrity will win out once again and whoever takes charge will grab the controls of an airplane with no landing gear. No matter how we vote we get what’s worst for everyone. Just retreat into your fantasy of having a beer with President Bush.