Ladies and Gentlemen. What we witnessed with the Terri Schiavo travesty is a continuation of a strategy on the part of the Neoconservative movement in the United States to bring their ideal, a Platonic Republic, to reality.
I know, the crazed rantings of a madman. Here me out (that's how most madmen start their crazed ranting, so I figured, what the hell). The vast right wing conspiracy that existed for the sole purpose of destroying President Clinton has evolved into a vast Neoconservative conspiracy to transform this nation into a plutocracy, with the William Kristol's and Richard Perle's of the world operating behind the scenes. Allow me to map the Neocon's plan:
1. Subvert channels of education and information. This is happening on multiple fronts. Cuts to federal education funds, the full frontal attack on academic freedom by David Horowitz, the elimination of museum and research funding, media consolidation and control by one party, all of these seemingly disparate occurrences lead to one thing, and ill informed populace ripe for manipulation and control.
2. Celebrate ignorance. This fits nicely into the above. Castigate intellectuals as "elitists" and "snobs". Speak plainly, and in Bush's case, incoherently. Develop a popular culture that diminishes civil behavior and sportsmanship (the winner/loser ethic).
3. Create a crisis. The first crisis is clear...9/11. The Bush administration may not have directed the planes into the twin towers, but they sure as hell fostered the environment that allowed it to happen. The second crisis is economic. From social security to Medicare to the grinding nation debt and persistent unemployment, despite the sunshine John Snow is blowing up all of our collective buns, were are in the midst of a prolonged recession, continued by the failed fiscal policies of this administration.
4. Leverage the crisis to obtain more power. The Nazi's did it by burning down the Reichstag. The Neocons are gobbling up power by playing on our fears (terrorism and job loss) to compel horrendous legislation (the Patriot Act to keep us "secure"/the tax cuts and bankruptcy bill to keep us "competitive") that gives them hard power, the military and police, and soft power, influence over the businesses who look to the short term benefits and "investor value" of this piss poor economic stewardship.
5. Uphold the civil religion and total allegiance, if not outright dependence, to the state. You see the mark of this beast everywhere: those ribbons compelling us to "support our troops", reminding us that "freedom isn't free", and securing the blessings of God to "remember 9/11". These are the outward trappings of this amorphous Christianity, not easily ascribed to any one denomination, save one, the faith of the Patris...the Country. This faith transcends all traditional religious labels and unites us all into one congregation...ready to defend this faith against all foes both foreign and domestic. The high priests of the civic religion are our politicians, ready to invoke the almighty at every charge and at every opportunity. The faith is expressed symbolically...ribbons, service stars, angels, lapel pins, enormous monuments to biblical texts because this provides a simple, cross cultural and cross generational means to express its tenets. You either have the ribbon or you don't. You either believe in the power of the Ten Commandments or you are godless heathen. You are with us or against us.
Along with the physical semiotics, there are policy actions which underscore the civil religion. Bush's compassionate conservatism and faith-based initiatives make the symbolic real and create a dependence of traditional faiths upon the state. Federal funding has a strong allure, regardless of the Faustian bargain required to get it.
The poor economy also compels the civil religion by creating a scenario where the only jobs available are in the government...namely the military. Recruiters comb the poorer parts of towns looking for youngsters wanting to improve their lot in life. As the economy spirals downward, the only way out of poverty is in the service. Further dependence is created.
6. Keep the people distracted. This is easy with 24 hour news coverage from around the world, the bread and circuses of reality TV, and the righteous indignation for hire on talk radio. If it's a slow news day, someone, somewhere is making an ass of themselves and surely, this is indicative of societal decline. I started by mentioning the Terri Schiavo situation. But for the need to keep people ill informed of the disaster in Iraq, the continuing economic downturn, and our utter dependence on China (a repressive Communist country by the way) to purchase our debt, we would never have scene this poor women's sad existence played out for political gain. Sons of bitches!!!
7. Create a permanent underclass. Slavery is illegal, you say. Yep, it's illegal. A guest worker program, on the other hand, is like slavery-light. You import people to do the most menial of jobs for substandard wages, but they get to pay taxes and maybe one day become citizens. In the meantime, their rights are few, they can't vote, they are totally subject to their employer and the federal government.
8. Make enemies. Make enemies to oil the machine of common cause. In Nazi Germany, the hated were the Jews, Gypsies, Gays, and Elites; in China, intellectuals and the bourgeoisie; in Cambodia, the educated and the urban. Notice a chilling pattern?
Once all the pieces are in place, with a large controllable underclass and placated/subdued citizenry, the Neocons can talk their rightful place at the top of the pyramid, controlling things through their attractive puppets, making sure that no unintended consequences come to fruition. It will surely be paradise.
