40% Don't vote and I don't blame them

Voting is not a magic bullet. Yes, there are differences between the two mainstream parties here in the USA, the Democrats and the Republicans. The Democrats don't seem to be anti-science, anti-gay, and are less inclined to turn the USA into a theocracy. The Democrats are in favor of keeping abortion safe and legal, for the most part. All of which sounds great to me! The Republicans have twisted good ideas like personal responsibility and self-reliance into some kind of winner take all Darwinian dystopia. So why have I pretty much given up on voting?  I no longer have a voice in government. I'm not at all sure I ever did.

I'm going all Marx here. The most powerful set up the government to do what exactly? Yes, keep them in power. That has not changed. The power of government does nor reside within the people. That's an illusion and a well managed one at that. Think about this mr. voter. Why pays for your choice? The wealthy, very, very wealthy. They want two things, your docility and complacency. They buy this via funding the circus every four years that somehow passes as a free and fair election. It is neither. How can we expect to change anything when we realistically have no say in who can even run? Politicians do the bidding of their true masters.

This is why I think-
There is no talk of alternatives to capitalism.
There is no talk of alternatives to neo-liberalism and neo-colonialism.
There is no serious talk of nationalized healthcare.
There is no questioning of creeping militarism of our police.
There are no controls or limits on how much the Pentagon spends.
So little concern about climate change.          

 Here are a few more,

Don't let The Marx reference mess it up for you. That's just one way to illustrate the current situation. The most important thing to keep in mind is the current path will end one way or another. Growing inequality never ends well, especially for those at the top. Now, in addition, to all that goes along with inequality, we have rapid climate change. No one in national politics takes either problem seriously.

If we cannot vote our way out of this mess, what then? Simple, stop playing the game. But then what happens?

Voters... as sick gamblers

I think we can all agree we are in a really big mess. Sadly, it seems to only be getting worse. Why? It seems to me those really running the show here have forgotten history. Anytime there is huge gaps in equality conflict often follows. I'm not talking about shouting matches on morning talk shows conflict. Its more like crimes against humanity, mass graves, mass executions and general failed state collapse. Yes, this can happen here and will if we just keep playing along pretending our two main political parties actually represent the interests of the people of the United States. They don't. Both parties do the bidding of those who pay for the circuses that pass for elections in this country. Why would either party want to reform (get rid of the massive amount of 'anonymous' cash) a system they both benefit from?  

I grew up around gamblers; card players, bookies and beters. I would have to agree with those who say this is a type of mental illness. Gamblers have to have a place to go, the House. While gamblers are by their nature losers, the House is the opposite. The House wins. Always. The House has gambling literally down to a science. The House provides an illusion of hitting it big by allowing a few here and there to do just that. It happens just enough to keep the others coming back. For most, its a long trip home with an empty wallet or worse. Voters are gamblers. Occasionally, something good happens like the Civil Rights Act, Welfare or Social Security. But little really changes. Racism goes underground (mass incarceration or minorities as well as profiling). Welfare gets "reformed" (new restrictions etc) and Social Security gets commoditized (soon).

Want real change you can believe in? Stop playing the game.