Harlan's newest story provided a lens for my angst, as I saw it as another allegory for all things social. The next year, fresh out of high school on my way to a junior college and too young (20) to vote: Humphrey, Nixon, or Wallace was not even on my radar. I was not apolitical, I was just not yet part of the process. Also, by that time, I had developed a solid reputation as A Rebel Without a Cause.

          When watching films of the revolution most people would ask "Why?" I would ask "When?", "How much more will it take?", "How many have to be destitute before 'enough is enough'?". et cetera. I grew up in 1950s Hermiston after M^cNary Dam closed and President Eisenhower gave a very fine speech on the tarmac of Pendleton's airfield. The savvy moved away and some of the remainder became trapped in a potential well of poverty, and despair. In other words, for me, the "Great Depression" was not some historical artifact, it was a daily experience. Becoming radicalized was not an option, it was an obligation.

          Later, when George, like Bernie, was "speaking truth to power" I was politically active. In fact, I spent an inordinate amount of time attempting to explain political realities to a bunch of recalcitrant college faculty and students.

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<College Election Fraud Story>
          I noticed a flaw in the campus elections process. There was no procedure to prevent vote manipulation at the various balloting locations.
          I brought this concern to the attention of the Advisor, The Student Council members, and various others. No one cared. The uniform response was that the elections were of no real import, and who would care to perpetrate fraud in the first place.
          So . . . I started to tell all and sundry that, in fact, I (and a few others) would "stuff the ballot boxes" on election day. Still no proper response.
          I and my co-conspirators followed through with the plan and not only did anyone care, no one believed we had actually committed election fraud.
</College Election Fraud Story>

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          Take from this story what you will. I have learned, over the years, Cynicism runs deep in the American Psyche. We all live in an Ellison (or, if you prefer . . . Kafkaesque) Novel.

          It has been too many decades. It has been too many elections. I am saddened by the fact that this election is shaping up to be just like past elections. I despair to think I will go to my grave with this pattern unaffected by my existence.

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream!