Stranger in a Strange Land

I have a confession to make.

I didn't watch the presidential debate on tv Friday night.

I know, it makes me a less informed voter, but nothing short of Barrack Obama sprouting horns and proclaiming himself the fleshly vessel of a demon could sway me. And even then, I'd want to know what the demon's stance on health care is - he might STILL be less reprehensible than the Crypt Keeper and the Alaskan Stepford Wife.

To be honest, our political situation has become so depressing that I decided I'd rather play badminton than watch it unfold. It is becoming increasingly obvious that me and mine (liberals of all stripes) are no longer welcome here, and I just didn't want to be reminded of it.

Conservatives, as defined by Conservapedia "are generally characterized by adherence to limited government, public morality, and free enterprise."

OK - how the $700 billion bailout is an example of "limited government" or "free enterprise" escapes me, but that's what it says.

Another definition, this time from the dictionary:
"con·serv·a·tive, [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] –adjective
1. disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change."

How can anyone who has been conscious during the last 8 years think that, 1) maintaining the status quo is a good thing, 2) there is any hope of returning to the good old days, or 3) change needs to be limited? If anything, change needs to be encouraged, welcomed, and accelerated, if we are to survive. If the people opt to be conservative in their selection, in 4 years we'll be facing this decision again, but gas will be $7.00 a gallon, and more young Americans will be visiting (and dying in) exciting places in the Middle East, courtesy of the U.S. military. Is the American populace really THAT stupid?

Well, last time around, they were. And they could be again.

So I didn't watch that debate, and I don't know if I want to watch any of them. I feel like an outcast in my native land (ok - more so than usual...) and I just don't need that feeling expanded by watching the war hero and Barbie touting the benefits of a path of stagnation while half the audience nods in agreement.

1 comments:

Cerus said...

It is alright if you did not watch the debate, Linus. I don't think you should be strung up for it, maybe flogged lightly by attractive, huh what where was I?. Oh right.

When I was a freshmen or so in college, I would have thought differently, but now that I have some more experience under my belt, I can see where you are coming from.

The silver lining (while tarnished, heavily) is that conservatives, largely,only have a foothold in times of prosperity because they can spout their shit and everyone is willing to put up with it because the world is "okay" and they're making money.

However, when things are in the tank, many of those people pull their heads out of their asses long enough to listen to the guy saying that everything should be left as it should be because, fundamentally, everything is sound, and say "Really, this is sound? My future is fucked but the system is how it should be... umm, no, let's go with the other person who doesn't say stupid shit like that."

That is how I view it, and how it seems to have been in the past. Unfortunately, four years ago, we saw the slide coming but it wasn't big enough, and most people didn't pull their heads out of their asses long enough to change the guard before it royally fucked things up.

Lesson learned? Doubtful. But, at least there will be a change of guard... unless he is the Antichrist, which if he is, I won't have to worry about my loans and the car dealerships will be left unguarded, so I'm still seeing some positives.

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