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The holidays are a time for reflection, and a barometer - provided by our families, of the effects of common culture on our most intimate realtionships. So, this author writes a fine essay on the state of things that we'd do well to heed. But he shies from the abyss.
Going down?
We can't even talk to our families. Ditto co-workers, lodge brothers, sometimes even spouses or children without risking an instant, painful game of full-contact label-slapping.
"Liberal!" "WingNut!" "Moonbat!" "Racist!" "Sexist!" "Homophobe!" "Pervert! "Terrorist sympathizer!" "Coward!" "Fascist!" There's one for all occasions, folks. No more than six to a customer. After awhile, you stop trying. And that is death for a participatory republic.
When we decided that television was where we were going to get our understanding of what was going on in the world, we got television's values as part of the super-size, mediated society package. Maybe you're patting yourself on the back, dear Salon reader, because you have some other sources to tell you what side you're on, but the magic 51% out there might as well have an umbilical attached to the corporate headquarters of BigMedia, through their TV set.
And 51% is all it takes.
The TV society has TV values: 1) Consume, 2) Compete for Status via what you consume, 3) Be sometimes entertained, or tangentally informed, but always anesthetized and 4) What is pleasing to the majority market share is all that matters. Therefore, the politicians who succeed are not the ones that make us think, they are the ones that make us comfortable. The bearer of disturbing news will not be admired for his candor, he will be punished for harshing the media buzz.
The recent downturn in Bush's popularity has little to do with his policies or the illegality of his actions - the groundlings have just gotten tired of his schtick.
When I visited my folks recently, I watched them watch four straight hours of sitcoms. The same ones they watch every week. They didn't laugh once. They hardly moved. Try the experiment. Watch someone watch TV. Does that look like a perceptive, participatory citizen to you?
So what plays better on TV - Careful thought and deliberation with courtesy for the opinions of others, or a nice entertaining round of playground level name calling?
But do the mediated have political opinions? Certainly. I have been screamed at like the author of the article many times by my TaliBaptist family. Their votes far outnumber mine, and they are willing to do great emotional harm to prevent any disturbing opinions from being heard. They will not hesitate to shout me down. After all, isn't that how we do things now? And isn't it fun?
It's not going to change, its not going to get better. The Conspicuous Consumers for Christ Party (not entirely synonymous with the GOP) is in charge, and its going to stay there. They will continue to rule the world through their "gut" (read: cherished prejudices) and ignore the input of those who just don't get why we don't just have faith the great heart of America and the voice of the Living God.
You know the answer.
I don't discuss politics, or any other adult topic, with such people for the same reasons I don't crack nuts with my forehead. It doesn't work, it makes a mess, and at the end you've got more knots on your head than you have nourishment.
As for the author, it is your dad, and not you, that is actualized to the current way of living and reacting in this society. It is you and I that are the dinosaurs, soon to be extinct with our teeth meant to grind propositions slowly for nourishment, rather than slashing fangs meant to draw blood indiscriminately.
Can America survive this epoch of misrule? Of course not. The most casual student of history knows what happens when a country overstretches its economy in foreign adventures, makes enemies, alienates its allies, and teaches its citizens to value entertainment over achievement, and celebrity over virtue.
A Republic can survive anything but the death of the love of Liberty in the hearts of its people. When that happens, no amount of blood spilled, speeches made, or treasure squandered can bring it back. This week the President told us that he will set aside the rule of law whenever he thinks it fit to do so.
History is sitting in judgement, and the Rube-icon is about to be crossed.
America, what will you do?
I'll wager that you'll just change the channel.
