Speaker Pelosi is reported as saying that the folks who got into the Capitol building the other day want to destroy “democracy” and substitute “whiteness.” On the face of it this is a lie, since the protestors were not advocating anything particularly white but asking for redress for an election stolen by people mostly white. Democracy is a troublesome term always. A reasonable definition would be a regime in which citizens are equally free and decisions are made peacefully by majority rule. But Pelosi’s “democracy” is a bit strange. There is democracy only when her viewpoint is the only one allowed. The 74 million who voted for Trump for President are not members of her democracy, but enemies who must be eliminated or re-educated and have no equal right to talk to their rulers. In fact, her “democracy” is an ideological fantasy that does not exist in the real world and can only be attempted by coercion (which is already being publicly promoted). Sounds like the Chinese Communist Party, without the Chinese constructive pragmatism. Being white is real, but “Whiteness” too is an ideological concept. Is whiteness an enemy of democracy? Can you think of any nonwhite country other than Japan that qualifies as genuinely democratic? There are many things that Trump supporters might be accused of, but she resorts to “whiteness” as their greatest sin because of the moral charge connected with any hint of mistreatment of nonwhite people. And if we cannot help being white, shouldn’t she show us a little sympathy rather than extreme malice? Republican leader McConnell tops Pelosi in dishonesty and stupidity, impossible as that seems. He said he is forwarding Trump’s impeachment because he wants to save the GOP by purging Trump and Make American Great Again. (Presumably, if he is actually convicted of “high crimes,” Trump will not be able to run next time.) Mitch wants to get back to the old comfortable self-serving party rule and pre-Trump business as usual. But what GOP is he saving? Does he think that the 74 million people who voted for Trump will rush back into the arms of Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney? He shows not only contempt for the 74 million but also a cluelessness that qualifies as stupid. Reminds me of a snake swallowing his tail. There was a time when exercisers of high government power were expected to have done something worthwhile or at least have long experience in office. Even if not perfectly honest they had some knowledge of large human affairs and competence in handling them. Madame Pelosi has never in a long life done anything notable, much less distinguished. Her knowledge of history is adolescent. McConnell has never shown any accomplishment or wisdom in anything beyond political party tactics. Their world is limited to the corridors of power. They are courtiers, not by any stretch of the imagination leaders. Not a single congressperson had the courage or initiative to leave their cocoon and listen to a mostly peaceful if angry group of citizens. They are too elite and virtuous to be held to account for their actions. Then there is Kamala Harris, without any achievement or worthwhile distinction or even experience, soon to exercise the immense power of the Yankee Empire, heavy with potential for destruction within and without. Can you imagine her, or even Biden, going up against the wily and patriotic leaders of China, or Russia, or even Iran? But, not to worry, we still have the best government money can buy.
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Successful capitalists are men whose main focus is on making money. Now and then, a few may be tempered by some religious, patriotic, or cultural consideration. That is not true of the global capitalists who are the de facto rulers of the people of the United States. For them, politics is not protecting the welfare of the people. They feel no patriotism, no sentiment for the commonwealth of their fellow citizens (us). For them politics means securing profitable favours from government. Face the facts. Ignore ephemeral issues. The global capitalists, as the events of recent weeks make clear, own the government and society of America--- lock, stock and barrel. They, through their willing lackeys, own both political parties, the bureaucracy, the police, the judiciary, the military, the media, the educational establishment, effective street mobs, and most of the clergy and local and State governments. Us Deplorables are disposable people. With the bottomless supply of impoverished Third World labour, they have no interest in even keeping us alive. There is considerable evidence that they or planning for our disappearance. So much for Heritage Americans. The new world of global capitalism has no need of our old-fashioned ideas of freedom and self-government. Freedom of speech and press for all practical purposes no longer exist. A couple of shallow rich boys can prevent the elected President of the United States from speaking to the people. Nobody ever voted for them but they never doubt their right to control the country. My family on both sides goes back to the 1600s in America. My words are monitored by a few Hindu imports hired by the rich boys. Dissidents can be shut off and personally destroyed without any remedy. The new executive will certainly press for the tools to make “hate criminals” of any who disputes the official state of things. The purpose of law is no longer to administer justice but to protect de facto power. They have no interest in suppressing falsehood. Their goal is to suppress damaging truths. There is not yet the 3 a.m. breaking down of the door, but otherwise we have a full-fledged Communist regime. Forget the silly Republican fraud about fighting socialism. The capitalists and the government are already so deeply wedded in mutual profitability that “free enterprise” and “socialism” make no sense. Donald Trump aroused a great wave of dissident sentiment because the core American people are desperate for a champion. He failed in every way. He does not understand the battle he was in. He did nothing for his people. He has effectively betrayed us, with calamitous results. We deplorables are in every way worse off now than if Hillary had been elected. She would have aroused opposition. Trump’s most recent declaration that his people will not be harmed under the new regime is a ridiculous lie, like all his other promises. There are a lot of us, but we have no leaders, no plan (except stupid counter-productive rallies), no program, no organisation, no control of any social institution. Our only slight and short-term hope is that the new power wielders will, for their own purposes, try to quiet things down. What now? |
AuthorClyde Wilson is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at the University of South Carolina He is the author or editor of over thirty books and published over 600 articles, essays and reviews Archives
October 2024
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