Why Do We Keep Doing This?

Complain about corruption, inefficiency and downright evil all we want, the citizens of the United States seem to have a propensity for the idée fixe  that we NEED politicians who are corrupt, inefficient, and evil. We keep voting them into office, and then screaming about them, marching against them, crying and whining and doing little else - like electing leaders who want to destroy us. Do we love self-inflicted victimhood so much that we prefer complaints to solutions, bad men over good. Despite our arguments, we keep voting them in . . . or the "yes men/women" who are complicit in allowing them to proliferate.

I am sick unto death seeing superior, well-liked politicians, with vision - even far reaching "pie-in-the-sky" visions, like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, AOC, et al, constantly being slammed, dismissed as "too idealistic" - "not ready" - "just as bad as Whoozis," and to that growing list we can now add the name of Zohran Mamdani.

"He's a socialist" (sound familiar?) . . . "he's too young "how about "too old?") - "he's naive and doesn't stand a chance."  

We heard about Sanders and Warren being "too old" - incapable of leading the country. Does anyone with a modicum of common sense believe that either of those two seniors would have put the country into the fucking tailspin of a disaster we're seeing now?  A disaster many of us saw clearly a decade ago - though to give Trump and Co., credit, they've exceeded expectations on their criminality, abuse of power, self-interest and "screw the people" tactics. They don't even try to hide them anymore. Why would they? 

Yes, many of us despise the Trump regime, but there were - and there remains - enough who approve and fully support the authoritarian dictator-esque, Trump who issues forth executive orders by the dozens, without even a clue as to what he's signing. This, from the idiot who accused his predecessor of using an "autopen."  

I got into an argument with someone when I brought up the changes Mamdani wants to attempt in New York City, with (gasp) "radical socialist" ideas like free transportation, affordable rents, lower food costs for quality groceries making good nutrition - which actually promotes good health - available to the marginalized, raising taxes on the wealthy, and . . . ahhhh - there it is. That last one is the kicker innit? 

There are fears that any kind of financial restructuring that increases the taxes on the super wealthy of the U.S. is always a cause for concern.  "Businesses and the rich will elave NYC in an exodus the likes of which have never been seen before."  For wanting to help people?  Yup. We Americans love our oligarchs, we love to pool our meager resources from low salaries paid by the billionaire class to give them gifts like cars and planes and mansions. This isn't just seen in our politics, we see it daily in the bullshit bullshit industry of religion. Giant shiny (and usually hideous) structures holding thousands of poor people singing the praises of the likes of Joel Olsteen whose church members pay him over $40 million a year while many of them live in in near poverty - but Joel "deserves" it because . . . I have no idea why, because he doesn't. But good for him - living the AGD - American Grifter's Dream. Ditto Kenneth Copeland , or Todd Coontz  - one of the rare examples who got "caught" and is now serving a prison sentence. He must not have made enough money.

So today, when I brought up how encouraged I am for my home city and seeing Mandami's victory, the first thing I heard was, "he's a Jew hater. He supports Hamas."  I countered this was simply untrue, and backed it up. I realized this was a one issue only voter, and for this non-Jew "Jews" was that one issue. I continued, "you're wrong. He believes in equal rights and dignity for BOTH Israel and Palestine - he has spoken about the atrocities of Hamas and YES, he openly despises Netanyahu, as does every single Israeli I personally know. Regardless of any of this, if he wins - he will become "Mayor of New York City"  - a role which, as far as I know, has no actual bearing on foreign policy be it Israel's Ukraine's or Japan's."  

"He's a socialist idiot who will destroy New York."  

I could not go on. I was trying to remain calm while my "opponent" was growing hysterical and turning red. That was the end of that, but it left me wondering why are we so suspicious of people who seem to be really good people, who don't have any real scandal in their past, yet willingly turn the blind eye towards those who cheat on their companies, spouses, governments, constituents, and congregations. Do we feel we don't deserve "nice things" like affordable quality healthcare, or education, or liveable wages?  These are seen by too many Americans as "pipe dreams" when they should be realities . . . or at least the striving towards them should be. 

I don't think I'm naive, stupid, a "low IQ individual" - but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the way we're going IS the right way, and I am just too limited to comprehend how any of this benefits anyone . . .  other than those we see who benefit from it massively. Maybe I'm wrong to despise them and their policies and what I perceive as "corruption" with my entire soul. I don't think so, but maybe just don't know. What I do know is how very tired I am.