The death of the American Republic.
Last night, during a rowsing political discussion with my mother, I made the suggestion that in 2008 the American people should go to the polls and vote against every single incumbent in office on principle alone. It's not so much that I think the pack of assholes that would take their places would be much better than the pack of assholes who are in charge now, it's just that my inner rebel revels in the thought of the message it would send to our leaders if every single elected official in the country who was up for reelection in November of 2008 found themselves defeated. Can you imagine it?
My mother, who is a fairly staunch Republican but nurtures my rebellious tendencies most of the time, suggested that I start a "grass roots Internet movement" to accomplish just that.
I don't think she knows how the Internet works.
What saddens me is that I can no longer think of a scenario that would stir such widespread electoral revolt, let alone an actual revolutionary movement against the United States government. Back in the day ("the day" being the first twenty-five years or so after the Revolutionary War), our government was afraid of us. Why wouldn't they be? The citizens of what was now America had revolted once against tyranny, they would certainly do it again. Our infant republic had to be very diligent to avoid even the appearance of tyranny, lest they should find themselves burned out of their offices and hung from the highest street lamp.
Do you think that George W. Bush is afraid of you and I? Do you think that any of our leaders, from the mass of criminals and fascists that make up the United States Congress to the incompentant slobs that inhabit most of the statehouses in this country, think that there's any likely hood of the mob coming over the hill with torches, lining the up against a wall and shooting them all? Not bloody likely.
They're not afraid anymore because it's no longer a possibility. The people we call our leaders sit on thrones of inscrutable power, conducting the vast majority of their business without the consent or knowledge of the people. They no longer fear a mass electoral rebellion, which would be the modern equivalent of the Revolution. Wait, you thought I was suggesting armed rebellion against the American government? No, I'm not that particular flavor of anti-government whackjob. While I think that armed revolt has certainly served a very valuable purpose in many nations and in many ages, this is the twenty-first century. Besides, those psychopaths have WMDs ;)
No, this is the 21st Century. We rebel by going to the polls and throwing these vile men out on their ears. Unfortunately, such revolt is not going to happen. In 2008, the American people will elect whoever the major parties want us to elect and that will be that.
But don't say I didn't warn you. When your local government siezes your land for a mini mall, the Feds subpoena your library records and toss you in the can without access to a lawyer, your local cops fine you for refusing to produce proper identification and you can only buy your favorite video game or cold medicine with a license, well...that ain't my fault. You did it to yourself.
My name is Sam Ferguson, and I am living in the last decades of the Great American Republic. Long live the Republic.
-Sam
Home