This blog will be a compendium of subjects that need to be publicized, scrutinized and satirized!
The world is filled with so much bullshit! We’re inundated with it and it diverts us from what’s real. We’re more concerned with the latest rantings of politicians, radio pundits, the crap that is reality TV et al. (My definition of politics: Poly, from the Greek meaning ‘many’ and tics which are small blood sucking creatures who won’t let go once they’ve gained a toehold.) so called stars from the ‘A’ list all the way down to ‘D’ and beyond command our attention because of their ‘fame’. ‘Fame’ is merely the fact that many people know who you are. It has nothing to do with proficiency in anything. Who really gives a shit that some Hollywood wanna-be like Pauly Shore is promoting a reality show about his day to day existence? (Just an example. Don’t start googling this faux wanna-be yesterday’s news non star-ter)
We love to see dis-function because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Reality shows are cheap to produce and give a measure of ‘fame’ to those we would ordinarily never look at twice. (A prime example: Jersey Shore) The intrusion of this dis-function into our daily lives serves as the distraction we think we need from the world around us. People who control our lives (politicians, business owners, multinationals, landlords, banks) are bullies of the worst sort and don’t deserve our valuable attention.
What’s coming up in the form of distraction that we can do without? Political ads on TV and radio. Yes, the season is fast approaching.
I remember one TV ad where there were so many side effects the announcer started reeling them off including headaches, nausea, depression, irritability, anxiety, and pain when swallowing. I’m talking about the start of the 2012 election cycle and yes, those TV ads will be hard to swallow. Florida is a presidential election battleground state and this will be the first election in more than a decade without limits on corporate and union contributions.
The research firm Washington Analysis projects record political spending of about $4 billion. The only up-side is maybe we can bail out the post office with the unprecedented flood of political junk mail. You’ll be asked to take a survey and then donate to the cause. Do they read your survey? Sure they will just as soon as that pesky lobbyist gives them a minute! (Google the number of lobbyists in Washington, it will make your head spin like Linda Blair in the ‘Omen’)
If TV were around in the 1800’s how would the attack ad go? Cue the music from the Frankenstein movie with a deep voice intoning “Lincoln, the people’s candidate. He’s campaigning everywhere. Does he want to appear on our money too?”
When you see that grainy black and white image of a candidate and it’s their worst picture, you know someone’s getting attacked. And you know someone is slinging mud when they flash the words “He probably kicks his dog too!”
Our election cycle is way too long. In that time we’ve had more promises broken than a used car salesman trying to unload a Hummer at a Sierra club convention.
Other countries don’t put up with this lengthy an election cycle.
In France the political season is 3 months long, in Australia, 6 weeks and 5 in Canada. If this next election persists longer than 4 hours call your doctor. We’re gluttons for political punishment. Beat us whip us promise us earmarks.
An American election cycle is like having a multi-year toothache that can’t be pulled and Florida is the epicenter. Think about hanging chads, butterfly ballots and the fact that in Miami-Dade County alone 5 out of every 2 people vote.
Voters endure a steady low threshold of pain through most of the process and there’s no amount of Novocain or pain pills that will help. It’s a Twilight Zone political marathon on every channel and you can’t shut it off. It’s the worst reality show there is, because there’s no escape. They’ll robo call you and stuff your mailbox. Lonely? Donate a buck to one campaign and they’ll send you mail for years. You become like family; a dysfunctional extended political family that wants to borrow the car and will never gas it up. I guess I’m looking forward to the shopping catalogues and TV holiday ads now.