The Drumbeat of Stupidity

The drumbeat of stupidity goes on. P. Diddy, wealthy, well-dressed, and self-important, no longer speaks, choosing instead to have a spokesman utter gibberish on his behalf. Diddy only pantomimes or nods his head. Sweet Jesus.

It’s Election Season in America, and the Republicans are going to sell us their bonafides as the party who can keep us safe from bearded terrorists. Don’t be surprised if they tell us that the War on Terror is going swimmingly or that the occupation of Iraq is a complete success. Hell yes, why not? the electorate has bought this basket of horseshit before, and in big-time power politics you always play to your strength. The fact that the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan – remember that “short” war? – is immaterial. Who cares if Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, probably living now in a New Jersey suburb, next door to a high-ranking official from the Department of Homeland Security, who will, when questioned several years from now, deny any knowledge of the fact. “I never had any reason to believe that Osama bin Laden was living next door. As far as I was aware, my neighbors – who I never met, by the way -- were model citizens. The Washington Post was delivered to their doorstep each day, the yard was cared for by what looked to be an illegal immigrant, and there was a Ford SUV parked in the driveway. I had no reason to be suspicious.”

Indeed. Out here in the Golden State, it’s Competence versus Charisma, Angelides versus Arnold. Big fear tactics will be used by the Schwarzenegger camp: “Angelides will tax you into the poor house!” and without a doubt a sizeable number of voters will buy the line, even ones who would stand to benefit from having a real Governor in Sacramento. Arnold will run from one $10,000 a plate dinner to another, telling each audience what he thinks it wants to hear. It’s campaigning, Hollywood-style. Presentation matters; truth doesn’t. It’s all make-believe anyway, right?

Do you ever think about the food you eat, where it comes from, how many miles it travels from where it’s produced to where it’s consumed? Because of trade and monetary policy, it’s economically viable for a store chain like Vons to import apples from New Zealand. The apples taste OK, usually, but it’s a damn shame, not to mention a tremendous waste of natural resources, to buy apples from New Zealand rather than apples grown in California or Washington. I wonder what the future of basic food will look like; will there be enough for all or just the fortunate few with enough dough to pay?

It’s funny. In the name of corporate efficiency we destroy the small farms and farmers who might save our asses in the end. Efficiency for stockholders and CEO’s, death for the rest of us. Why not? It’s the American Way.

Yeah, that drumbeat you hear in the night is coming closer. It’s only a matter of time.