Quote (inkanddagger @ Sep 21 2018 07:53pm)
What bothers me the most about all of this is the nearly transparent theatre being put on two parties which are in lock-step with one another when it comes to defending western cultural imperialism, the military industrial complex, and human rights abuses.
The Democrats will promote an alleged rape from more than three decades ago because it serves the purpose of impotent yet enthusiastic social debate. At the same time, they will vote unanimously in favor of authorizing a bloated military "defense" package which siphons billions of American tax dolls into the pockets of wealthy private contractors. And they completely ignore or give only passing comment to real issues that should derail the Kavanaugh hearing; issues like renditioning to literal CIA black ops sites, and the approval of torture during the Bush administration. Democrats blast social zeitgeist issues through a bullhorn to stir up false controversy while embracing totalitarians and torturers.
Watch the show. Kavanaugh is getting confirmed; that was always agreed. We'll probably see something like Collins voting yes, Murkowski voting no, and Manchin and McCaskill voting yes to offset Murkowski and prevent the need for a Pence vote. Then Republicans loudly proclaim bipartisanship, and Democrats walk away looking like they "tried to do something" to their base, knowing damn well they really did nothing at all except provide a circus to keep the public distracted while the military industrial complex tightens its grip around the throat of democracy and liberty.
I think initially Trump really did want to run the country like a corporation that maximizes profit or utility and minimizes cost or inefficiency. I remember him talking about how we waste a lot of money on unneeded military spending and how we should be more economic in negotiating military contracts. He sounded very prudent when he talked about staying out of wars and wanting to end Iraq & Afghanistan. Sure there are people like Rand Paul or a few other outliers but for the most part, those voices are drowned out. It was refreshing to hear him actually bring this up in a sea of Yes-man when it comes to war.
Unfortunately, you can't make it in Washington and be against the military cabal, so eventually, he was refined into a Yes-man like the others. People scoff and discard the notion of a deep state but if you want evidence that it exists just look at this single issue. The media doesn't cover it, the politicians don't ever debate it or bring it up, whether it's Fox or CNN they are always propping some foreign threat i.e. Russia, NK, Iran, etc. to justify endless spending. Remember how once upon a time the democratic party was critical of the Iraq war, military spending, interventions, etc? I remember. I also remember how Democrats and left-leaning media were the loudest in their cries for war to topple Assad. Even on these forums, neocons and Democrats joined forces in 1984-esque cries that the only way we'll bring peace to Syria is through war.
You're right in a sense but the military industrial complex is just one side of the Rubik's cube.
This post was edited by ofthevoid on Sep 21 2018 09:33pm