In whatever country we live in, we trust our government to look after us. If we live in a dictatorship, we maybe trust our local community more. I have been very fortunate to grow up in a moderate democracy. Sometimes it has made mistakes, sometimes it has acted ‘in the best interests’ which really were not. Overall though, I have felt safe and supported, with access to education and health care and a sense of a free society, given some caveats.
What is happening now is worrying. It is fascism, or at least it’s facsimile1, and while it is in another country the fallout will cross borders, and potentially lead to war.
Why does this happen? Because of a mix of blatant and continuous lies, inequality, low education standards (not just education in schools but general lack of awareness or curiosity), religious madness, racism, misogyny, ‘nationalism’, corporate greed causing a steep decline in the standard of living for almost an entire population, insane tariffs, and alliances with dictators and fear. I’m sure there are other reasons as well.
And yet a large percentage of the working class voted this idiot in, and still support him, while complaining on social media about loosing workers (who were probably being exploited, and are now being deported) and consequently their livelihood. Buying into the MAGA* ideology requires a special human trait: the ability to believe in two opposing ideas at the same time. That DT* will make America great again, while slamming neighbours with tariffs and allowing EM* to destroy the services that support the people. They are just criminals after money and power.
So how do we fight this? I am not American, lets be clear about that, but over here in Australia we have our DT wannabes, and they just don’t need encouragement.
The chasm between the rich and (for want of a better description) the working class is dehumanising. Everyday people may be so embedded in financial survival they have lost any meaning in life. What’s to look forward to if you need two jobs just to pay the rent?
If you are an artist in Britain your earnings are probably unstable and about 40% lower than in 20102. Because rents and food and fuel have gone up, basically. Because of greed. And it’s not just artists – everyone is feeling the effects of these billionaires’ greed.
Peaceful protest is great, it helps raise awareness, but really I can’t see it having any great effect. If it gets too much ‘they’ will just use water cannons and tear gas. Hitting them in the hip pocket is good, but that needs discipline. Because if not enough people avoid purchasing products that are owned by EM, or they don’t keep at it for long enough, it won’t work.
Just a thought: this would not have happened without the internet. The massive wealth these evil shits have is largely due to a global reach. Don’t if possible, buy anything they sell.
So these are the thoughts I have, how do I face this, how does this affect me, because believe me it does. It affects all of us, even if it’s just the cost of imports or the growth of home-grown corporate politics. And how do I respond, in any meaningful way?
I am considering a ‘black series’, because all I see on Al Jazeera is woe. Maybe I am having a knee-jerk reaction. Possibly I need to communicate my feelings and this is the only way that makes sense for me. Because I see in all this the darker side of human nature, and also the good side, as people pull together to call out wrongs and fight for a better way.
If we all live our best, most compassionate, truthful life, well, that is a good thing, and one way we can halt this idiocy. I read a story recently from someone living in Los Angeles about living in a poor neighbourhood. They were used to police helicopters and trouble on the streets and then a taco stand opened. And the street changed and became more community orientated, safer and cleaner, because there was a business there, open late. And people started meeting each other at the taco stand. A small example of people power.
Authorities don’t work for the people, they work for big business. We have to make a difference together at the local level. Just by being involved in whatever way we can. Which is hard for an introvert to say. We have to trust in each other.
I am going to stop now before this becomes too much of a rant.
* I won’t pollute my website by spelling out their names.
1 It’s not true fascism IMO. This is all about power and greed. DT and EM and the other boot lickers don’t have ideology – they probably can’t even spell it. They are just unevolved bullies, drunk on their (temporary) power.
2 Artists’ Union England Britain faces ‘talent drain’ of visual artists as earnings fall by 40% since 2010