I have yet to understand the age of empire which eric hobsbawm describes as the years between 1875 to 1914. Why must I understand this piece of work is simple. I want to understand the forces that lead the world into the World Wars, as this is connected to the struggle of poor people throughout the world today. There seems to be a lack of historical content in American everyday life which is good but creates situations where people believe events to happen devoid of any kind of build up to that event. Today the united states is engaged in a War with Terrorism. Yet, as many people note, I believe this to be a continuation of foreign policy aimed to dominate the geo-political landscape. Its called imperialism and it serves to encourage “the masses and the disenfranchised, to identify themselves with the actions of the nation/state.” It does this by diverting attention away from real problems to issues that deal with national identity or service. It acts to dissolve the responsibility of the state to the people in favor of the ruling elite’s Interest.
Today it seems that the masses are doop’d by the political engine we call the electoral procress. Yet, the very nature of this process means that the nation/state still doesn’t believe in the populas’ ability to accurately vote for the president of the united states. This statement along with the statistic that only a third of the country votes shows that we have an then what we have an inherently bias electoral selection process. To simplify, if we have an electoral college, which out weighs the popular vote, and less than 40% of hte country votes, there is something wrong with the system. not even 50% of the country voting then something is wrong with the system. Even in the dictatorship of Cuba, 95% percent of hte people vote for the “dictator.”
What does this mean for the American people? I believe this reinforces ignorance and naivety that is rewarded in our society. A perfect example of this is the recent appointment of Sarah Palin as running mate to John McCain. Which is a play on words, because a mate infers that there is a level of equality between people but Palin’s appointment represents a departure from the social accepted understanding of what a vice presentdental candidate should be.
Palin’s approval by the republican party and John McCain represents a move to further increase the ignorance of the American people. One example, of many, is her lack of sophication when it comes to speaking the english language. If one looks at a dictionary, which I am sure Palin can read, we will see that the english languge will filled with more than the ten statements that Palin utters in a public appearance. She is a walking, talking bumper sticker than doesn’t offer insight but tells you about her moral values. Like a hockey money with lipstick driving an suv that has a bumper sticker that reads that “the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull is that the hockey mom wheres lipstick!”
I cannot begin to understand the complexity of such statement but this serves to normalize of dumbifily the positions of electoral offices which are already plagued with ignorant people. It makes it okay to be Governor of a State but only know one supreme court decision. It doesn’t challenge our lack of information in The United States but encourages inadequate school which tells the history of the United States as America is the United States when its The United States which resides in the Americas.
If this is all the United States has to offer for elected officials then count me out. The fact there is a discussion about Obama and McCain makes shows the level seriousness this country demands of its voting. And as I have been doing for hte last 8 years, i now have to tell foreigners that our country isn’t lost we are just confused.
