I have toyed with the idea for a number of years of writing an apologia, an explanation as to why I have chosen not to vote since 1984. To set the record straight from the beginning: I am not apathetic. In fact, I follow national, international and local politics fairly closely. I must admit, however, that the task of keeping tabs on the political scene in the US has become increasingly difficult in the last few years as public media becomes increasingly corporatized. Our fourth estate watchdogs have become ideological partners with US ideologues who, in my opinion, are responsible for the malaise of US politics. Consequently, the political issues tracked in commercial media are those of concern to corporate America. With the exception of local tragedies that reinforce the growing culture of fear, substantial reporting of issues affecting US citizens is generally superficial or ignored. The reporting of overseas news is generally restrained to events and issues that reflect current US foreign policy. Those citizens who propose solutions to local or international problems that ignore or are intellectually or morally antagonistic to the capitalistic objectives of contemporary political elites have an increasingly smaller forum and likelihood of being heard and responded to.
Consequently, candidates for political offices with national status or exposure are consistently cut from the same cultural cloth. The social conventions of corporate society are extremely conformist, and to be successful in a corporate environment an individual must conform in even the smallest, seemingly inconsequential ways. Who can imagine a presidential candidate campaigning daily without wearing a tie? A Spongebob Squarepants tie, perhaps? Or, high top sneakers and a sport coat? Such apparel may be acceptable in extremely private moments in the corporate world but never when someone other than immediate family may be encountered, unless, of course, for a photo opportunity designed to demonstrate what a “regular Joe” our corporate candidate is in “informal” situations. They dress the same. They cut their hair using the same military template. Their social backgrounds are so similar as to be of little relevance to developing an understanding of their political positioning.
The lock on national and international politics held by former employees and business associates of corporate capitalism should be alarmingly distressing to every free thinking individual in the world. Such people are not people who can provide truly visionary solutions to never before encountered problems. For them, thinking outside of the box is something anyone who is not homeless can do. All such individuals can provide is a canned response presented in a clever way. Why would we expect these people to perform in ways that are advantageous to all?
I really hoped for change in the 2008 election. Unfortunately, I hear little of substance coming from either presidential candidate that entices me to rethink my principled abstention. Over the next few months I’ll offer some general thoughts on the political situation in the US and, perhaps, some commentary on specific issues and incidents that seem to invite discussion of positive political value.
