The Huxleyfication of America

[JMHX]

From my latest Useless-Knowledge.com Column
-----

Take a look at the election turnouts for the past four Presidential Elections, starting from 1988: 50.2%, 55.2%, 49%, 54.5%. Always hovering in the low fifties, bouncing back every eight years or so. This should bother people more than it does.

When half of the United States turns out to vote, is that truly an accurate representation of the position our country is headed in? When so many Americans choose simply to ignore Election Day in favor of watching the pretty graphics on the nightly news to see who was chosen, does this speak well for our electoral process?

Voter turnout in my home state of Indiana in 2000 was 49%, less than half. On that same month forty years ago, turnout was 76%. Twenty years ago? 58%. There is no excuse for this rampant desensitization that I like to call “The Huxleyfication of America.”

Politics has been lacking for the past forty years; that is simple to say. It has been edged out of popular opinion by the ever-increasing distractions of television and the internet. During that famous Kennedy and Nixon debate, it is easy to see how television could have worked wonders on inspiring people to get out and vote.

As it turns out, that infernal box has become one of their largest reasons not to. All one needs to do is turn on the television to see John Kerry and President George W. Bush trading jabs at each other, flinging mud and dodging for cover behind their walls of P.R. men.

If that’s not appealing, I don’t know what is.

Nothing draws the attention away from politics quicker than two esteemed political figures acting like children over who gets to sit in the big chair at the end of the day. It could be argued that polling turnouts were higher in 1960 because debates were conducted and the candidates were seen as gentlemen.

2000 proved to all Americans that every single vote matters, that one cannot feel content to sit down and watch The West Wing while the actual department goes up in smoke with the voice of an ever-increasing minority of voters.

I do not say that one side is right and one side is wrong politically. Certainly, the Democrats and Republicans each have their strengths and weaknesses, and the fact that these are being wholly ignored – turnout for 2004 is expected around 50% - for the sake of convenience is nothing short of disgusting.

Go out and vote in November. It is of the utmost necessity that as many voices as possible be heard, that the President of the United States, Governors, Senators, and Representatives not be chosen by a small minority that has found a way to capitalize on the increasing voter apathy.

Huxley feared that entertainment and the media, things we love, would enslave us without Orwellian help. Now I fear he may be right.

-----

I welcome all comments, thoughts, and debate points.

[Nylo]

Too true, the voter turnout in the U.S is pathetic, only beaten by an even lower turnout by just one or two countries over in Europe. Then when the third party candidate comes in (not that I have a problem with 3rd party candidates), it breaks up any chance of their being a majority vote, instead choosing the leader of the U.S. based on a plurality vote.

Looking at the big picture, if 50 percent of the population votes and that 50 is divided up between three candidates, you're lucky if you get 25 percent of the popular vote actually representing the entire nation.

Voting matters, vote November, dammit!

Add to that the fact that Democrats and Republicans are nearly identical in all aspects.

[JMHX]

At 5/24/04 11:47 PM, CrassClock wrote: Add to that the fact that Democrats and Republicans are nearly identical in all aspects.

Except the Big-3

+ Abortion
+ Gay Rights
+ Stem-Cell

[RedSkunk]

At 5/25/04 12:13 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Except the Big-3
+ Abortion
+ Gay Rights
+ Stem-Cell

Big Three?!

What the fuck?

Crasses statement still stands - they are identical. How much do those three affect the vast majority of Americans?

The system is bullshit, and the power of the ballot box is overrated

Depending on what state you live in - don't bother voting.

[Disgruntled-Postman]

At 5/24/04 11:27 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Go out and vote in November. It is of the utmost necessity that as many voices as possible be heard...

I would like nothing more than to be able to vote, but the elections are two weeks before my 18th birthday. So all I can do is talk politics like I actually have a voice.

At 5/25/04 12:13 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Except the Big-3

Well Jimmy Carter (Democrat) was responsible for enforcing the first antiabortion restrictions after Roe V. Wade by signing in 1977 the law prohibiting Medicaid-funded abortions for poor women.

Other issues? Here are some interesting quotes.

Bill Clinton (Democrat):

I want a government that is smaller and less bureaucratic. We have given you the smallest government, not the other party ... in thirty years, and the biggest reduction in regulations
To Ronald Reagan, whom we wish well tonight, who exhorted us to carry on until the twilight struggle against communism was won
I was struck by the rigor of [President Nixon's] analysis and the wisdom of his suggestions. President Nixon believed that the United States cannot be strong at home unless we lead abroad
I have always supported voluntary prayer in the schools ... We can't renew our country unless more of us - I mean all of us - are willing to join churches.

Newt Gingrich (Republican):

Performance artists in a free society have the right to do the most extraordinary and bizzare things. That's called "Freedom of Speech".
We should be open and enthusiastic as ever about people who want to enter America as legal immigrants.
The greatest leaders in fighting for an integrated America in the twentieth century were in the Democratic Party. The fact is, it was the liberal wing of the Democratic Party that ended segregation. The fact is, it was Franklin Roosevelt who gave hope to a nation that was in despair

Senator Edward Kennedy (Democrat):

[We] need to end the abuses in the current immigration laws that jeopardize the jobs of American workers. At stake are hundreds of thousans of good jobs that should be available to American workers!

Senator Paul Simon (Democrat):

We've reached the point that we need the discipline of a balanced budget amendment

The House Republican Conference:

Participate in tree-planting programs. Take part in special environment events, including commemorating Earth Day and Arbor Day. Adopt a highway, walking trail or bike path. Become an active member of the local conservation groups and boards. Initiate recycling programs. Hand out tree samplings.

Tree-hugging Republicans and immigrant-hating Democrats. O_o

If you look hard enough, conflicting quotes and events like these keep popping up like who was responsible for the Korean and Vietnam War (Democrats), etc.

[JMHX]

If you look hard enough, you will find comparisons in any two things.

[RedSkunk]

gay rights

Clinton and the Defense of Marriage Act anyone?

At 5/25/04 01:11 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: If you look hard enough, you will find comparisons in any two things.

Well actually all I did was paraphrase chapter 4 of Downsize this!

You don't have to look hard for examples on Kerry either.

[JMHX]

At 5/25/04 01:24 AM, CrassClock wrote:

At 5/25/04 01:11 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: If you look hard enough, you will find comparisons in any two things.

Well actually all I did was paraphrase chapter 4 of Downsize this!

Oh no, Michael Moore.

[Gobo718]

At 5/25/04 01:16 AM, RedSkvnk wrote:

gay rights

Clinton and the Defense of Marriage Act anyone?

Ooh, I was so fucking pissed at him for that. Our side, my ass. Clinton shit on a lot of liberals his second term after he shit on a lot of conservatives his first term.

[bumcheekcity]

I think voting should be compusory. You do NOT have a RIGHT to vote, you have the RESPONSIBILITY. I dont think it's a lot to ask people to move from their house to the polling station every 5 years.

[JMHX]

At 5/25/04 05:05 PM, bumcheekcity wrote: I think voting should be compusory. You do NOT have a RIGHT to vote, you have the RESPONSIBILITY. I dont think it's a lot to ask people to move from their house to the polling station every 5 years.

Well said.

[Slizor]

I think voting should be compusory. You do NOT have a RIGHT to vote, you have the RESPONSIBILITY. I dont think it's a lot to ask people to move from their house to the polling station every 5 years.

It is true that you have a responsibility to vote, but should the state make your responsibilities compulsory? I have a responsibility to help my fellow human, but should I be forced to give change to the guy in the street?

Anyhow, I think people were more likely to vote when they saw two distinct platforms. If you look at the President who won by the biggest margin of votes ever - LBJ - you see that he had a clear policy, he was offering something different.

[Wraith]

At 5/25/04 05:48 PM, Slizor wrote: It is true that you have a responsibility to vote, but should the state make your responsibilities compulsory? I have a responsibility to help my fellow human, but should I be forced to give change to the guy in the street?

There must be someone running for whose policies you agree with. And I find that to be a very stupid comparison."Should I give change to the guy in the street?" YES. Such an attitude demonstrates public apathy. "As long as I don't have to do anything, why should I care?" If you are endowed with more finances than someone else, it's your duty as a human being to lessen the suffering of others. Now, I'm not saying give to the lazy, but if there's a crippled war veteran begging on the street because no one will hire him, I would not only give him change, but buy him new clothes and take him out to eat as well.

[RedSkunk]

At 5/25/04 05:05 PM, bumcheekcity wrote: I think voting should be compusory. You do NOT have a RIGHT to vote, you have the RESPONSIBILITY. I dont think it's a lot to ask people to move from their house to the polling station every 5 years.

Every five years? In the US, there's a federal election every 2 years. And state elections? Local elections? Would they be compulsory also, in your pseudo-facist state?

[JMHX]

At 5/25/04 06:18 PM, RedSkvnk wrote:

At 5/25/04 05:05 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

Every five years? In the US, there's a federal election every 2 years. And state elections? Local elections? Would they be compulsory also, in your pseudo-facist state?

Yes.

[FUNKbrs]

At 5/25/04 12:13 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: + Abortion
+ Gay Rights
+ Stem-Cell

This is a great argument to prove the Huxleyfication of America, but it only supports Crass. Abortion, Gay Rights, and Stem Cell Research are pretty fucking minor causes in a world where hunger and war exist.

[RedSkunk]

At 5/25/04 07:17 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Yes.

I don't see how mandatory voting would solve anything. We would still be cowed into voting for the republicrats, and there still wouldn't be anyone to vote for.

-

Additionally, now that I think about it a bit more, jmhx, the three issues you wrote are not very large at all. I suspect you picked those three, because they were three areas where, perhaps, Bush and Kerry differed somewhat. But how about we face reality, hmm? Zogby Polling says the following (from May 16th):

"Nearly one in three (31%) identified jobs and the economy as top issues facing the country, followed by the war in Iraq (22%); the war on terrorism (9%); health care (10%) and education (5%). Except for the war on terrorism, which fell by half (from 18% to 9%), there has been no significant change from last month."

And I have not seen the Democrats differing from the Republicans very much at all in any of these issues.