~ Ford, a Texas-based writer, contributes essays on music, Texas life and cultural issues regularly to The Agonist

^{Note: This is a repost of an article I wrote and then later deleted. Temporary cave-in to conformity. Screw conformity. ~dhf}

I go through periods where I can hardly stand to listen to political debates, much less participate in them. The reason: fundamental dishonesty among participants.

On the right we have those willing to con other countries out of their natural resources so Americans can enjoy a higher standard of living. When deceptive economic practices no longer work, then an assassination or two is called for, if that doesn’t work, then military attack is the next option: we kill your ass and take what we want. This group sees the world as a dog eat dog kind of place and thinks diplomacy useless, unless diplomacy is defined as total capitulation by the “other side” in the face of annihilation.

I suppose this would be an honest platform if it was presented to the public in its true light, but instead, such plans are cloaked in disguises like spreading democracy and bringing freedom to the world. Sharing our better way of life with others. Christianity?

I don’t fucking think so.

On the left we have people calling for fairer treatment of others, a more equal division of wealth and privilege. Here you’ll find those espousing universal health care, environmental legislation that would reduce mankind’s effect on the planet and forced socialization of many industries. Some (but not all) of this sounds like the teachings of Jesus. But the first century prophet, Jesus, is publicly scorned in this group. And when push comes to shove, people on the left are as addicted as any to the pleasures and perks of empire. It’s always someone else that should be making sacrifices for the masses.

No, you say? Well…

The United States has somewhere around 6% of the world’s population and use 25% of the world’s oil. So let’s be fair. We’ll get jars and fill them with beans. Three white beans for each black bean (I had it the other way around, but decided it’s time to give black a break for once). Everyone draws a bean. If you get a black bean, you get to keep your car. If you get a white bean, we’ll send your car to someone in a developing nation and you will not be allowed to buy one to replace it. You can walk or ride a bicycle. I am sure those that receive these cars will be happy and probably won’t want to attack us any longer. (And no, Sean-Paul, you cannot take any more airplane trips to foreign lands. It’s someone else’s turn. Maybe one of those Ethiopians would like to visit San Antonio. And no, Don, you don’t get to keep all those horses and cattle or all the acres of land in your family.)

No, you say? Sounds fair to me.

From my vantage point it seems like we have been getting more than our fair share of lots of things (food and medicines and electricity and education. . . ), thanks to the Right’s economic Hit Men and our brave soldiers that kill people and blow shit up on our behalf. The Left is been more than happy to take its share of the spoils.

Neither side of the debate really wants to give up the perks of living in an empire or to admit the things we do to maintain them. We live in a state of denial, hopelessly addicted to having more than our share and fighting like hell to keep it. This addiction will not be broken voluntarily.

So why argue over minutia?

Or bother voting when there ain’t a cunt-hair’s difference between the two candidates left to choose from?

Ron Paul/Dennis Kucinich for president.