As I have watched this once great nation slide toward fascism (defined as "A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.") I have just about given up on the idea that our citizenry will awaken to the dangers around them and exercise their power at the ballot box before it is too late.
Follow me below the fold.
There is a local television station here in the Cincinnati market that runs a daily 'poll'. They happily admit that it has absolutely no real accuracy, since only those who are interested in the question bother to call in and 'vote'. But, what the hey, it sometimes makes for interesting reading. The poll topics range from the silly, "Do you think the Reds will win their series with the Cardinals?" to the idiotic, "Do you think that President Obama did the right thing in killing bin Ladin?" Even though the polls don't really prove anything, they do provide at least an indication of what people are thinking - or, which is the point of this diary, that people just don't think.
There is been much written and talked about lately regarding the idea that, since the big oil companies are making record profits, the subsidies that the government gives to big oil could probably be phased out and, just perhaps, used to shore up some of the things that Republicans are looking to cut. Anybody who watches any news - even FOX news - should know that the Dems are pretty solidly for the ides of rolling back the subsidies and the Repubs are solidly against.
So, on this past Wednesday, the local poll question was "Do you think President Obama should be re-elected".
Yes: 35%
No: 65%
No big surprise. Cincinnati itself is reasonably liberal (remember Cincinnati elected Jerry Springer mayor), but the viewing area encompasses Northern Kentucky (home of the Creation Museum) and large portions of rural Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Said viewing area encompasses a good chunk of John Baynor's district in Ohio and Northern Kentucky goes solidly for Mitch McConnell.
Then we come to Thursday. The poll question was "Should the subsidies for big oil be cancelled?"
Yes: 68%
No: 32%
This is why I despair. The inmates are running the asylum and there are too many quasi-humans who have evidently been born without functioning brains. How in the world can you want to elect a Republican President and, at the same time, want to cut corporate subsidies? That's like expecting to see a Young Republicans club running a voter registration drive in the projects. Or Democrats holding a 'Support Gov. Walker' rally.
Perhaps the founding fathers had the right idea. Maybe there ought to be more of a requirement for voting than just being able to sign your name on a voter registration card. Maybe you should have to prove that you have at least two functioning brain cells and that they can both function at the same time.