Love in the age of bullshit

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:36pm

It can be so hard to get people to think beyond the surface. Who can blame them? I mean who has the time?

As just one example, people keep admonishing me about 'wasting' my vote by voting for Jill Stein. She can't possibly win, right?

If you confuse cultural clichés for your own thoughts, are you really thinking? How much of the bullshit we are constantly fed should we believe uncritically? It pays to question things in the bullshit festival our culture has become. With propaganda raised to an art form and a corporate mass media that has wormed its way into our shared consciousness, you can't go wrong questioning things and questioning them deeply. In our profoundly sick society, liars are well paid and truth tellers shunned, if not killed or hunted to the ends of the earth. This whole society is full of shit. The conventional wisdom is almost always wrong...and it gets shoveled at us 24/7. It's easy to see how so many people end up swallowing it.

We must stomp out terrorism (as opposed to co-opting it and ceasing to create the conditions for it)
We must make war on the world (as opposed to leading it to peace)
We HAVE to vote for Hillary (as opposed to doing something useful and morally defensible)

No vote is ever wasted – not if it's counted. And certainly not if it's honestly counted. Because then it will be recorded and can be referred back to. It is a matter of the historical record and will say something to future generations (assuming there will be future generations who care about history). The point is, it says something.

I know that's not as sexy as having a person who claims to be on your side in the seat of power, having 'your team' in control, but dissent matters too. Especially when people are being slaughtered all over the world, including in the streets and jails of America because of OUR status quo.

Elections in a democracy are not equivalent to sporting events, not a game, not a horse race. You don't have to be on the winning team for your vote to count. Not in a real democracy anyway. If you vote, it counts. Or should.

If enough people had been allowed to vote for Bernie unobstructed and if the votes had been honestly counted, he'd have whupped all comers and been elected president. Anyone who doubts that is just wrong. They may or may not be fools or liars, but they are definitely wrong.

But I digress.

Many of my fellow Berners are joining me in voting for Jill Stein, not necessarily because we think she can win, but because we mean to cast a vote that doesn't make us hate ourselves, a vote that sits well with the values and integrity of the Sanders movement at its best. And because, win or lose, our votes will boost the viability of the Green Party, hopefully bringing it from the fringes of American political life into being a real contender, allowing us to finally break out of this two-party prison.

It's an error to think of a president as the government. Presidents are only a small part of the government. They are powerful but their power is limited. What's important about presidents is whose interests they truly represent, who they take their orders from (and it ain't us, we are merely pandered to, manipulated and lied to).

In the USA, both teams report to the same oligarchs. We just tried to change that. We failed. Or more accurately, we let them cheat us out of it.

Our shitty electoral process has degenerated in the present round to a debauched circus that would shame the WWE. Not only is it kabuki, but it's the worst kabuki ever. A glorious reality-tv spectacle staged for the rubes. Trump's the villain of course, but it's all bullshit.

At this point, helping establish a desperately needed third party is more important than which asshole gets to screw America and the world for the next four years.

Peace and love, y'all.

Isaac-rolling-in-mud-assiniboine-1899-II

Tags:

Jill Stein

Green Party

Voting

democracy

Vote

Comments

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:37pm

Hey everybody.

Submitted by Oldest Son Of A... on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:26pm

OPOL... We have missed the inspiration...

That you brought to us several times each day...

Keep It Coming Brother!

—

"Do you realize the responsibility I carry?
I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."
~John F. Kennedy~
Economic: -9.13, Social: -7.28,

Submitted by zett on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:42pm

It's so good to read one of

It's so good to read one of your pieces again!

You've done your usual beautiful job!

Submitted by 2andfro on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:48pm

It is MOST EXCELLENT to see you back, Brother OPOL!

Hope your health has improved; this essay shows you still have the fighting spirit. It made my day (along with the free muffin the local bakery said I'd earned this morning).

—

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti

Submitted by Leema on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 6:17pm

We've been crawling thru the desert so long....

good to taste your healing waters once again.

—

When wealth rules, democracy dies.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:42pm

Hi OPOL! Welcome back! We missed you!

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:51pm

Thank you.

This is my first post since leaving TOP in May.

Submitted by LaFeminista on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:23pm

Missed you, good to see you back in fine form

Submitted by Caerus on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:48pm

Virtual hugs for OPOL

So good to read your words again, love the upside down flag. You find the best graphics too.
Hope you are well, emotionally and physically, and taking good care of yourself.
Thanks for your wonderful essay.

Submitted by JekyllnHyde on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:44pm

Still Hounding the 1%, OPOL? Keep it Up!

It's so great to see you here again. No one writes diaries like you do.

As for the 1%, their greed knows no bounds.

—

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:50pm

Thanks, JIH.

Good to see ya.

Submitted by Dot Owen on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 9:02pm

Please try to not leave us without your inspiration for so long

again.

I hope you've kept all the thoughts from that time to share.

Submitted by dkmich on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:43pm

Heh, OPOL

I saw this on FB and had to come over and say welcome back. You've been missed, and we're delighted to see you.

—

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:52pm

Thanks, DK.

It's good to be (tentatively) back in the saddle.

Submitted by JekyllnHyde on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:56pm

Keep Resisting, Keep Disobeying, Keep Protesting

This guy showed us the true meaning of dissent in a democratic context.

—

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Submitted by duckpin on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:47pm

A very important and beautiful post - Many thanks!!

This fact, in my view, bears repeating: Obama will become the first president to keep the USA at war throughout his two terms in office. We are being bullied into voting for Clinton who will continue the war business.

Not for me.

—

"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:02pm

Thank you, duckpin.

Submitted by Dallasdoc on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:48pm

Welcome back, my brother!

Hope you're feeling better. It gives my soul wings to read your beautiful truths once again!

—

Please help support caucus99percent!

Submitted by Rusty1776 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:53pm

Thank you, OPOL. Your essays are always energizing and

inspiring. And I've really been needing a source of energy and inspiration, the last few weeks have been pretty rough.

We can all support OPOL here . . . OPOL's Facebook page

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:55pm

Thanks, brother.

And thanks for your brilliant writing. I'm always blown away.

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:53pm

You make me smile, good doctor.

Submitted by gustogirl on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:55pm

Digress away!

If enough people had been allowed to vote for Bernie unobstructed and if the votes had been honestly counted, he'd have whupped all comers and been elected president. Anyone who doubts that is just wrong. They may or may not be fools or liars, but they are definitely wrong.

That's not a digression. It describes a very serious problem.

Very nice to see you here, OPOL! Hope all is well with you and yours.

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:13pm

A serious problem indeed.

Thanks, gustogirl.

Submitted by Phoebe Loosinhouse on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 1:56pm

Wonderful to see you!

And fabulous montage as usual - truth-telling leavened with a bit of humor in the middle. I've always been partial to sheep because of my treasured copy of Don Novello's The Blade - I would bet Trevor is a Shellville alumnus.

—

" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:04pm

Thanks, Phoebe.

And thanks for the work you've been doing.

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:00pm

Heart leaps to read your good post today, OPOL;

hope this reply finds you in good health and spirits!

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:06pm

I appreciate it, smiley.

Hope all's well with you.

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:10pm

DUUUUDE! ! !

Long time, no see, Bruddah! Hope you are well? and loved? Of course!
Clarity as always, although not welcomed by those who need it most, unfortunately. Still Always a pleasure when you share your thoughts!
peace
Edit: And the photo of the soldier and distressed signal is heartbreaking. And some wonder why suicides are so high in the military?!?

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:07pm

Thanks, TB&U.

Submitted by OLinda on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:16pm

Hey OPOL!

Great to see you. Excellent essay as usual, and particularly much needed right now.

"Stealing your car and asking for gas money." Aint it the truth!

I'm with Jill.

Take care.

OLinda

Submitted by ZimInSeattle on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:21pm

Good to see you OPOL! I want my $2700 dollars back from

those bastards that stole it along with the election. Redacted Tonight

—

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK | "The more I see of the moneyed peoples, the more I understand the guillotine." - G. B. Shaw Bernie/Tulsi 2020

Submitted by LaFeminista on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:21pm

Keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting

a different result is a sign of stupidity, yet the majority [just 43 to 48% don't vote]] still keep on voting for one of the other of the duopoly.

This year I have decided to change at least what I do.

This time we may well end up with a President with less than 40% of the popular vote, meaning about 20% of possible voters.

1 in 5 Americans over 18 may be enough to elect our next President who no doubt will claim a mandate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:23pm

This article says everything about voting every 4 years

is exactly that, a sign of stupidity and insanity. The whole article is worth reading.

But why is it that we—all of us in our so-called developed Western democracies—put all of our political energies—to the extent we care at all anymore about these rigged political contests—into these elections that the vast majority of the voting public believe at best to be a necessary civic duty? Why do voters hold their collective noses once every four years and to pull the lever (or, better yet, touch the screen) for the lesser of two evils in order to “keep the other guy out?”

Does anyone really believe that this process will ever achieve anything other than what it already has over the preceding centuries? Does anyone believe that our modern electoral system is the best, sanest, noblest or most ethical way of finding accord with those around us? Does anyone believe that the corruption, waste, fraud, abuse and rampant criminality of our political class is anything other than the inevitable end result of this centuries-old democratic experiment?

These are not rhetorical questions. They are real questions, with a real answer. And that answer is”no.”

https://www.corbettreport.com/the-last-word-on-voting/

It's great to see you again, OPOL. Fantastic diary as usual.
I hope you are doing okay and please don't be a stranger.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:22pm

Wow, I come back, and a lot of Awesome folks do too!

Thanks for making the trip. I think the pre-convention fatigue is over for a lot of folks, and we're ready for the next round.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by jamess on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:24pm

Yup

having a "condoned" Third Party option,

would solve the "Lesser than Two Evils" problems,

which so many Americans claim to hate.

With the disasters in both the DNC and RNC this cycle,
this just might be the year, that some Third Party can get the necessary traction.

Good to see ya, back at it OPOL.

the good fight continues.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:44pm

If they even allowed "None Of The Above"....

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by EyeRound on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 6:20pm

New polling methods

are eliminating the "none of the above" in Reuters/Ipsos presidential polling. Seems that including the option "neither/other" in their polling options produced "underreporting" of pro-Trump or pro-Clinton votes, depending on the polling date. Since both of the candidates have such high unfavorables, "neither" got lots of votes. Now Reuters has decided to "fix" the "underreporting" by eliminating the word "neither" from the choices in their upcoming polls, thereby making their results more closely mirror results from other polling services.

Remember to bring along the salt!

Submitted by Hollyanna on Sun, 07/31/2016 - 12:07pm

Too risky.

None of the above might win in this cycle!

—

"As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.
"As long as there is a criminal element, I am of it.
"As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free." Eugene V. Debs

Submitted by stagehand099 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:31pm

Awesome post OPOL!

Hey I saw this on FB...wasn't a member here so I signed up to read it. Glad you're back at it, buddy. My resolve to do the right thing is always lifted when I read your stuff. Cheers!

stagehand099

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:52pm

Thanks, man.

Submitted by JtC on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:35pm

Thanks OPOL...

sure does my eyeballs good laying them on some of your wordage.

Thanks, brother.

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:53pm

Thanks, JtC.

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:45pm

OPOL! \ (^_^) / Mahalo and aloha nui loa, bruddah! n/t

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:54pm

Mahalo, lotlizard.

Aloha.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:54pm

Hi OPOL, happy to see you strong enough to write again

hope you will gain strength. I hope your son is also doing fine. I remember a photo you made of him staring out at the horizon over the ocean, which I liked a lot.

Image 9 and 12 speak strongest to me. That's why I tried to write a letter to brother vladimir for help, but my German snark was not recognized or understood, so I erased the letter. Let us find out what our duties will be in real space in the future. These are scary times.

Glad to have you back. Be well, good man.

Submitted by OPOL on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:56pm

Thanks very much, mimi.

Nice to see you.

Submitted by pro left on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 2:57pm

Great post!

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:02pm

Good afternoon, OPOL!

Great stuff, as is your way.
Hope all is well with you and yours.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Not Henry Kissinger on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:04pm

Hi OPOL

Glad to see you back.

—

The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

Submitted by blue tide rising on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:57pm

Love the graphic

as much as I love seeing OPOL back.

Thanks for lifting my spirits.

Submitted by BalanceSeeker on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:09pm

Voting our conscience

can not be the blame for what happens because they vote their fears.

Good to see you OPOL.

Submitted by Indrasnet on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:17pm

truer words were never spoken

so good to see your essays again.

Submitted by Lily O Lady on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:26pm

The only thing wrong caucus99percent was not

enough OPOL. You fixed it! Thanks!

Good to see you're rabble rousing again. Be well.

—

"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

Submitted by hester on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:44pm

With you here, my own heart sings and the healing (for me)

can begin. Thank you thank you and thank you a million times for this.

—

Don't believe everything you think.

Submitted by ppnortney on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:48pm

What a pleasure

to read a post from you again. Hope you're doing well, I see you're still full of piss and vinegar. So are a lot of us, thankfully! Love the graphics.

—

The smaller the mind the greater the conceit. --Aesop

Submitted by MarilynW on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:50pm

Thank you OPOL for some honesty

in the Age of Bullshit. I heard Hillary at the DNC, "we are going to STOP climate change." Now that's BS, it's beyond stopping but she wouldn't know that. We can only mitigate it by slowing it down.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by Ellen North on Sun, 07/31/2016 - 1:55am

But Hillary's going to tell

But Hillary's going to tell it to frack off!

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 3:59pm

Hey brother

so nice to see you here and read your righteous words. I always love your images. They add impact.

We still have much to do.

US green party_0.jpg

green party protest_0.jpg

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by mjsmeme on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:09pm

Hi OPOL, I'm getting ready to send this card to Bernie

@ Sen Sanders in Burlington 1 Church St, 3rd Floor Burlington, VT 05401
but wanted to send you a copy in appreciation of yr words of wisdom.
Thank you.

Submitted by elenacarlena on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:10pm

OPOL! Good to see you, darlin! I am a huge Rod Serling fan,

came to read because I saw that, was thoroughly enjoying all the graphics and thinking, "This is great, reminds me of OPOL!" and lo, turns out there's a reason for that!

Welcome back. I rejoice in your return. Hope this means you're feelin spunky!

—

Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.

Submitted by JekyllnHyde on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:28pm

A Tribute to Rod Serling: The "No Criticism Zone"

Here's the original, ec.

—

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Submitted by Dallasdoc on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:44pm

Does Bors still post at LOF?

I doubt it, with output like this. They'd burn him at the stake.

—

Please help support caucus99percent!

Submitted by JekyllnHyde on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:53pm

I Think He Does, But I'm Not Sure

I haven't posted there in a couple of months and only wander there once in a while if someone links to something either here or on Reddit.

—

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Submitted by Lily O Lady on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:49pm

It was on TOP and I recced it. It was courageous! Tom

Tomorrow has not mentioned Droney in ages and sticks to OMG Trump! themes. I gotta hand it to Bors. He's got guts!

—

"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 11:10pm

I feel sorry for Tom Tomorrow / Dan Perkins.

After building a prize-winning reputation over the years, suddenly This Modern World strikes me as having been neutered.

Trump Trump Trump is boring, and I’m sure Tom/Dan knows that. I really hope it isn’t a case of a lifetime’s work being sacrificed on the altar of fealty to Markos.

Submitted by Lily O Lady on Sun, 07/31/2016 - 6:40am

I'm surprised by how effective OMG! Trump! is a getting

the necessary level of loyalty to Clinton. Michael Moore and others who supported Nader have fallen in line behind Clinton. It might have worked on me if I didn't see the TPP et.al. as "game over" for both democracy and the biosphere.

—

"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

Submitted by FuturePassed on Sun, 07/31/2016 - 11:48pm

And war with Russia could wreck your whole day. N/T

Submitted by elenacarlena on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:58pm

Love it, JnH! I remember Twilight Zone and Night Gallery well.

BTW, did you know it is we who are the echo chamber?

All together now! We love ____! We love ____! We love... uh.... Who is it we are supposed to be echoing about?

—

Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.

Submitted by JekyllnHyde on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 6:09pm

Who is This "We" You're Talking About, ec?

BTW, did you know it is we who are the echo chamber?

—

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Submitted by elenacarlena on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 7:38pm

Heh. Per that site over there, we at this site over here, c99,

are the echo chamber. I know, I didn't recognize us either.

Love your cartoon echo-y guy, though!

—

Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.

Submitted by WI58 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:22pm

OPOL

OPOL
Glad your back and hope your in good health, missed your posts while your were gone

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:39pm

Hey OPOL, good to see ya up and at it again. Good post, as

usual, thanks. That first graphic says it all to those of a certain minimum age, even ones like me who never actually watched it.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by triv33 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:41pm

Great post, OPOL~

I haven't been up for much commenting lately, but I popped in when I saw this on facebook. After what those DNC shitweasels did? Stein 2016.

—

I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~

Submitted by Dallasdoc on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:52pm

Hugs and kisses, triv

It's good to see you around these parts again.

—

Please help support caucus99percent!

Submitted by triv33 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:06pm

Hey there, Doc~

I've been meaning to get here more often. Great to see you.

—

I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~

Submitted by aliasalias on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:46pm

Great to see your writing again...

I will also be voting for Dr. Jill Stein, just like I did in the last Presidential election. Again, it is a pleasure to read your stuff and I shared it on Facebook, like I did for so many of your 'diaries' in the past.

Submitted by Free Jazz at Hi... on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:51pm

OPOL!

I lurk here due to time constraints but I HAD to login and say hello! Miss your posts at GOS, but your time is better spent writing than dealing with trolls and dipshits. Great to see you, OPOL

—

"It's a big Internet!"

Submitted by Ranger_995 on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 4:54pm

Hey Bud! Hope all is well. nt

Submitted by moneysmith on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:07pm

Made my day! Thank you so much for this, especially

"At this point, helping establish a desperately needed third party is more important than which asshole gets to screw America and the world for the next four years."

Could not agree more. We should not be forced to choose between two of the worst people in the entire country.

Some of Bernie's campaign managers sent him a letter asking him to run on the Green ticket. I'm not optimistic, but who knows? Anyway, thanks for this amazing read -- your pieces always restore my hope that things can get better.

—

Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 5:30pm

It's so good to read you again, OPOL.

Thank you so much for this essay. Spot fkn on, as usual. It is a two I party prison, no doubt about that anymore. Bernie pulled the covers back and revealed it for what it truly is. We cannot unsee that anymore.

We are currently allowing them to cheat us out of it, but we must stay diligent and continue to expose them for the corrupt individuals they are and corrupt system it is. I, too believe Herr Drumpf was created so hrc would win. She's in their plan to do their bidding. They've been grooming her for sometime, now.

I hope to read more of your work. It's good to have your voice back.