Steve Bannon has the look of someone who knows the Martians are coming. Fortunately for all concerned, he’s headed to jail for the nonce, but unfortunately not long enough or soon enough. The rest of the lot all look like Madam Toussaud’s wasn’t sure what to do with them. Perhaps a room of their own: But not a room with a view, let’s leave E.M. Forester out of it. But the election has sucked all the air out of the room of linguistic coherence.
One week away as I write this; skipping over the very possible Democratic defeat, one has the sense that, other than women’s health decision-making which isn’t on the list of topics at this point, it’s foggy going. It’s bread-and-butter issues. With bread-and-butter issues you don’t have to be direct or specific, you can just hit the emo buttons. But the war is on. No missiles, no bombs and shelling, just the concerted trope that loss of the election for Republicans “is not on the table,” as one of the deniers stated. Begs the question, “What is on the table?” The line to reason was cut some time ago probably even before the January 6th attack on the Capitol. More like some time in 2015. Actually, when we elected Reagan.
George and Mary, my surrogates, certainly worry about how this will end. Villains always betray their true motives with perfectly obvious actions. Or in fact invent plots which suborn truth or guilt by playing on emotional red herrings and other deceptive jargon. “But that’s not the case here,” Mary asserted. “It’s the abandonment of all respect for reality itself. The idea is that you can simply create your own reality now and there’s no law that says you can’t do it. That’s not even anarchy.”
“But they don’t know what reality is,” George countered. “Reality doesn’t work or conform to the mental map that’s been drawn up. Denial is the only way they could conceivably zomboidize their actions and then not fear the obvious repercussions that should appear. They are above reality so whatever they feel like projecting is logically valid to them. Even when they may sense it’s false. We can call it self-deception. It’s always based on the easiest mental route to follow.”
Mary was cautiously alarmed. “So, it’s the fall, dissolution, demise or whatever of all the very principles of government that we’ve taken for granted?”
“We’ve gone along thinking that rule of law was strong enough but is it?” We always think it handles all our circumstances until it doesn’t. The marauders always have control in mind. Without real programs or policies, control of thought may keep the object of attack, now rebel band, at bay. That’s who we are. That’s what all the populations under fascists have to accept. War is a constant. It’s a state of mind.” George looked like he needed a drink.
“Turkey and Hungary are only semi-Eurocentric out of necessity. And the demagogues everywhere hate the concept of free speech. Power and control are the drugs that get injected. The hippies were comparatively calm and docile for the most part. Was Abbie Hoffman a demagogue? Not in the true sense. Peace and love was the elixir, the image of rebellion without violence,” Mary still had her memories.
“Illusion and reality” are at war now. It’s very primal. The duality within us. Does the animal kingdom create illusive beliefs? God no! It would have been over long ago. But we’re a civilization driven by ego more than consciousness, the subconscious runs the show most of the time.”
“That’s hard to dispute,” Mary agreed, “the child always wanting something, feeling inchoate needs, needing to be told what he/she needs to do. By and large we’re very creative but that is influenced by taste and desires. But the women who worship Trump! What has he got for them? Is it the old money=sex-appeal when you haven’t got the rest?”
“Ooh,” George said. “But you’re right, it’s all about trash. Who gets to throw out the most? No one even notices. It’s a blender drink.”
“We’re getting cynical now, aren’t we? We’re getting caught in their undertow. Swim to the surface and take some big breaths. Wars of words rarely conquer.” George and Mary headed up for the night.
If the Dems win most of their contests and retain the Senate, the sore losers club may well, if not certainly, install their obstinance with force. Nothing pretty here. Depending on if you read this in time, which I hope you can, the big unknown is looming. But there’s really nothing that’s unknown. We know we may be in for the ride that changes the course of history. Any wishful thinking prior has been washed down the face of time. Let’s be strong and hang tight.
Alan Harris of Shelburne Falls and the former Noble Feast is working on Trump survival strategies for which voting is the best antidote, along with lots of exercise, love, and belief in our better angels. See you at the polls.