Anderson Cooper The Journalist

Both major political parties in the United States continue to play their game of political ping-pong with the general electorate, doing all they can to repel voters and then proclaiming victory when the other side is more adept about it.  The political spinning, meanwhile, continues to go on, distorting the truth – indeed, ignoring the truth – and proclaiming voter fidelity when it is actually disgust with the other side.

As various pundits appeared on Wednesday night’s AC360, it became obvious:  they were not here to share the truth, but only their version of it, which seems motivated by one of two things:  desire to pump up one’s party and self while denigrating the other, or an attempt to hawk one’s new book and make some sales.

As for honesty and truth, well, those are casualties of the war, which is not what it is painted to be.  The war is not Republicans against Democrats.  It is the entrenched powers versus those who are not in  power.  In short, it is them versus us.  And “they” have only one aim:  to stay in power and enjoy the luxuries of their offices, the holding of which comes with many benefits and luxuries.  As for “us,” for the most part we do not care,  ot even enough to analyze and dissect the situation as it actually stands.

There is a crisis within the American political system, which continues on a downward trend that has been its own for the past several decades.  Americans, rather than identifying this crisis and seeking to do something to rectify it, instead take sides and enable the playing of the game.  ”I’m a Democrat and this is what I believe,” says one side, only to hear the other retort, “Oh yeah, well i am a Republican and this is what I believe.”  In reality, no one should really care.

What everyone should care about is getting things done for the American people, whether it be national health care or any other issue with such far-reaching ramifications.  Instead, we debate the issue endlessly, to the point that we are paralyzed.  As a result, nothing ever truly gets done for the American people.  There is no benefit for them.  But there is benefit for the officeholders, who have crafted a system that ensures their survival despite being wholly ineffective and useless.

The true battle is “us” versus “them,” and they will be the winners, in all honesty.  They hold all the cards and, more importantly, all the enthusiasm needed to ensure their survival. – George Curcio