title: We Are So Boned
category: politics
content: |

    <h3>Drunk Analysis</h3>

    <p>It doesn't look like the challenger, Senator John Kerry
    (represented by Glenlivet 12) will win.  Though I can't say
    that I'm an ardent supporter of his, he at least looked (tasted)
    a little bit better than the incumbent, President George W Bush
    (represented by Wild Turkey).  I know which one I'd rather vote
    for (drink).</p>

    <h3>Sober Analysis</h3>

    <p>By "we" I mean the people of this country, not just those
    who did not support Bush.  By "boned" I mean that Bush's deeds
    apparently count for very little, and will now count for even
    less, as he believes he has a divine mandate to do what he
    wishes (or what his handlers wish).</p>

    <h3>Fears</h3>

    <p>Umberto Eco writes about <a
    href="http://www.themodernword.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html">fourteen
    characteristics</a> of <a
    href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism">fascism.</a>  I
    score the incumbent's administration at 10.5 out of 14.</p>

    <p>Eleven states banned gay marriage.  I thought we had gotten
    beyond writing discrimination into law, but I guess not.  Oy
    fucking gevalt.</p>

    <p>The collective American attention span has become so short
    that most of the electorate won't bother to compare candidates
    on more than one issue.  Some don't even go that far.</p>

    <p>This country may crumble under the weight of all the meaningless
    divisions between its citizens.</p>

    <h3>Questions</h3>

    <p>What happened to the Republican party of old?  The ones who
    were fiscally conservative, and socially laissez-faire?  The
    ones who thought that government should be no bigger than
    necessary?  The ones who respected the rights of the states?
    The ones who kept religion in their own houses instead of
    using it as a tool for political ends?</p>

    <p>What happened to the Democratic party of old?  The ones who
    actually gave a hoot about their fellow human being?  Have they
    ossified into a party of hollow, limp politicians who are swayed
    by the merest mention of campaign contributions?</p>

    <h3>Promises</h3>

    <p>I made a promise to myself: write a treatise elaborating my
    opinions on what's wrong with this country and how to go about
    fixing it.  Those parts that the government can fix, anyway.
    I'd better start keeping it.  Would that the cultural problems
    were easier to fix...</p>

    <p>No more masturbatory political angst for tonight.</p>