(Lots of foul language to follow if you're sensitive to that).
I've been weirdly aware of politics from an early age, like, since I was too young to vote and much earlier. I remember watching these "In The News" spots between Saturday morning cartoons. And I didn't like my name when I was a kid: Rich, Richie, Dickie, whatever. My dad said, "You should be proud, it's our president's name." And then that happened. And I watched.
I watched Ford do his janitor bit. Saw Carter play Jesus and get fucked anyway. Then the beshitted Reagan years (and, yeah, the entire Bush family is a toxic suck-up to Ronnie's cowboy act).
When Clinton got elected (my first time voting), me and a buddy drove 12 hrs. straight through the night to witness his inauguration.
Fat lot of horseshit his dumbass sellout presidency turned out to be.
So I'm like, fuck politics. It's not anything resembling democracy. It's more like Corruption throwing itself a parade.
Then we had friends over. We're artists (actually calling ourselves that and attempting to exist in this country). They were a Polish theatre company that lived through their country's communist takeover. They told us how they were touring in Australia at the time when martial law was declared - and they flew back anyway. They said everyone was telling them they were crazy, but they knew deeply that they were needed more than ever. They spent the next long years rebuilding villages, learning songs and dances that were being erased, and helping folks to celebrate what lives they still had.
Upon hearing these stories I thought, "shit, I have to vote." More, I needed to get involved or at least try. I went from buying the occasional Time mag, to subscribing to The Nation. I started reading the NYT and followed an article on "Blogs!" to atrios, josh, and dkos. I donated from my paltry artist stash. I volunteered and canvassed.
Up to recent, I held an early-on Bernie event (maxed at 100!) at the place where I now live in a tent. I signed up early for a $10 per month donate (money which I do not have) just if it might help keep him saying those heretofore unspeakable things.
Well. I'm fucking done. I'll support Bernie's campaign to my last gasp, but if the Democratic-ass party hands the motherfucking Clintons it's crown - I'm done with politics. My time is much, much better spent elsewhere.
