Expatriatism

 

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” -- George Carlin

 "You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." -- Bullet-tooth Tony, Snatch, 2000

"Never underestimate the stubbornness of the status quo" -- Me, every day of my life.

In the year 2000, upon turning 18 years old, I was given the ability to do many things: go to college, be considered an adult by law, drink in a bar, and of course, vote.

One of the first college courses I took was a political science introductory course as an elective for an engineering degree.  A few things I didn't know was a) my father had a master's degree in the field, and b) that this course was going to be very poignant as it was an election year: the G.W. Bush/Al Gore year.  Oh what a year that was.

Let's see: we had a debate that focused on so many buzzwords like "lockbox" and "wealthiest 1%", the use of the term "fuzzy math", and the icing on the cake: an election that depended on Florida's electoral vote.  Back then, seeing as how Gore seemed like a robot, and I was peeved with Clinton's behavior extramaritally, I figured Bush was the guy to go with.  I wasn't very bright as a young adult, and I was still very closed-minded to a lot of things, so to me, Bush was the way to go.  Of course, that didn't really matter since, well, the Electoral College pretty much determines which candidate wins the states electoral votes.  

I don't think I have to go over how this works.  I'm sure if you are reading this, you are well aware of how democracy works in the U.S., a democratic republic that people strive to turn into a monarchy every now and again...or at least a powerful company with a board of directors that are chosen by John Q. Public.

Anyhoo, Florida was the last hold-out state with its electoral votes still being tallied well into the next set of days.  Al Gore was seen to have won it at first, but that was retracted.  See, Florida, in all of its ineptitude, had a voting system that was so inept, so archaic that they had to scrap the entire thing and do it the old fashioned way.  Look up "Dimpled Chads" and you'll see what I mean.

In the end, George W. Bush ended up winning the state, and the presidency, but not without a lot, and I mean a LOT of controversy, legal wrangling, and pushback.  In fact, this got a bunch of attention because Gore won the popular vote, while losing the electoral vote.  This means that if they even scrapped the electoral college, Gore would have won.  And thus, the debate over the abolishment of said college has raged on since.  That was 24 years ago.  I'm 42 now, and I have to tell you, after 7 elections, I'm officially done.  I quit.  I'm through.  

I declare myself an ex-patriate to the United States of America...while living here.

Let me start off by saying, the system works.  Oh yes, it works.  It worked wonders over the years and then some.  However, said system can be circumvented.  It can be damaged due to the rats and vermin that worm their way through it and do damage on a minor or major scale.  This isn't just limited to career politicians, either.  Lobbyists, big business, religious sects, and I dare say other countries have had their hand in dealing with the democratic process in the United States.  But you see, that's just part of the story.  During my adult life, I have seen, heard, and experienced any and all forms of political doings and derring-do that are within my purview and understanding.  The textbooks in my history class can only tell me so much.  It's up to me to actually read the things and dig through the information.  Sadly, I never did.  My father? It was his field of study.  It's what he lives and breathes for, save for prayer.  Though, I'm actually glad I don't have that same level of dedication or knowledge.  I fear I'd lose my mind or at least start taking up drinking or smoking.  

It wouldn't be until 2008 where I would actually vote with something I probably should have used since the very beginning: my mind, body, and soul.  I would weigh the differences and see who made the most sense to me.  The Bush family had nothing to do with this election; there were no remnants of the Clinton administration.  It was just a complete newcomer in Barack Obama and a repeat electoral prospect in John McCain.  What probably worked the best about these two was that they were measured, adaptable, balanced, and able to run this country with a level head.  It's sad really that I longed for these days more than ever.  In the end, upon weighing where I stood on each issue, I chose Obama, albeit by a rather thin margin.  It wouldn't really matter what my vote was anyway, though.  Thanks to that electoral college, some states will always lean one way, and some will always lean the other way.  Only a select few states will swing based on who is on the ticket.  And the swing could be based on anything: track record, if they are from the state, endorsements from previous presidents, etc.  Obama won and there was much to talk about.  

At first, I was skeptical as I let the media, pundits, and everyone who wasn't a politician decide why he wasn't so important or why he was the wrong person for the job.  Never mind the fact that he did the best he could with what was given him, or that he actually took out Osama Bin Laden (something G.W. Bush couldn't do in his 8 years in office), he was just wrong for the job...most likely because he was a person of color.  I had hoped that we as a people were past this, but sadly, the many "isms" of the past are literally interwoven into the fabric of society, in every little thing.  Racism, sexism, pure capitalism...it's all there.  And to be honest, some if not most folks have no problem being overt or covert about it.  

When Obama's first and second term were finishing, the question was who would come next in 2016.  2016 was already a crazy year with historical firsts (the Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in years) and various tragedies (the many deaths of the year).  Imagine some people's surprise when the two candidates were shown to the country for the picking.  It was Hillary Clinton (former first lady and member of Obama's cabinet regarding foreign affairs) and Donald Trump (real estate mogul, and the center of business attention the world over).  If it were high school, it was the head cheerleader vs. the rich preppy kid who threw the biggest parties.  For the first time in my life, I didn't want to vote for either person.  I really didn't like either person be it for what they stood for, or if they could lead this country going forward.  I mean, Clinton already snubbed Obama and Biden and their assistance if any.  This proved that she was still very bitter about losing the Democratic nomiation in 2008.  And then, there's Trump.  A failing, if not failed businessman is not someone you want in control of the most powerful seat in your country...and mostly because he showed up on reality television and pro wrestling in recent years.  I just didn't feel right voting for either person, so I voted 3rd party that year.  It didn't mean much as I figured that Clinton was definitely due to win this time.  How wrong I was.

I'm sure you've heard of the status quo, yes?  The way things are.  The way things have always been.  People tend to enjoy the status quo because it's familiar, it's comforting even.  It's the "Devil they know".  Why take a risk with something new when we have something here that we've been used to?  People fear change.  People resist it to the best of their ability if it doesn't sit well with them on even a miniscule level.  It's been this way since the beginning of time.  As much as a person or persons want to progress in the forward direction, there will be an equal pushback of the status quo.  Now, you're probably thinking, "If that's the case, then Hillary winning makes sense, since she's been in politics, even as a senator, right?" Well, yes.  However, the status quo here isn't a politician winning an election.  Heck, Reagan and Schwarzennegger were actors and they became President and Governor of California, respectively.  The status quo doesn't want certain people to win the Presidency, like people of color...or women.  Yes, even in 2016, the status quo proved to be very sexist and racist, as it had been since the 1950s.  And why be surprised? There are individuals still in politics that were either born back then, or were raised by people that lived as adults back then.  That status quo is still very stubborn and alive to this day.  Anything that could have been seen as the enemy, whether it was an ideology, a people, or even a gender can't be considered a worthy candidate to be president.  They let Obama slip through the cracks, they weren't going to let it happen twice in a row.  And thus, the U.S. had Trump as a president for four years.

I'm not going to go into his presidency.  At this point, it's all public record as his celebrity status, and his need for attention has recorded anything and everything he's said and done during his run.  I also don't want to give myself another nervous breakdown or panic attack thinking about it.  Yes, when he won, that happened to me.  I didn't think much of it at first, unti I saw the brazen and volatile things being done during his presidency.  It was at this point where it was getting to be a very troubling place to live, if it wasn't already.  Then, the world was subject to a global pandemic for the first time in a century or so.  His actions pretty much showed why he couldn't continue as president in my eyes, if it wasn't evident already.  So, come election time, change had to come.  It's at this point, however, that I started to see something I didn't think I'd see: not only did Trump still have his staunchest supporters on the campaign trail and in the government, but there were more Democratic candidates than usual.  It was almost farcical, really.  There was all this talk about how it looked like the Dems couldn't even figure out if they could beat Trump, let alone themselves.

In the end, it came down to Biden and Trump.  Biden, former Obama V.P. and career politician, and Trump, current president, were going to have at it, while the American people found ways to vote, while trying to stay healthy and safe.  The night of the election, I was having another attack, out of fear and suspense.  I didn't want to think of what could happen if Trump won again, especially with the majority of the world still trying to stay alive.  In the end, Biden won, but not without that same level of legal wrangling, pushback, etc. that I remembered from 2000.  Only this time, it would get rather serious.  As attempt after attempt was struck down to challenge the votes, one of the most shocking things I had ever seen took place some time before the inauguration.  A slew of individuals stormed the building in an attempt to prevent the vote certificiation from happening.  I'd go into detail but again, not looking to relive that stuff.  

The votes certified, Biden was sworn in, and was looking to get things back on track.  All was right, I figured...but then, I started noticing some things.  I started seeing and hearing things from people that wanted Biden to win in the first place.  I started seeing criticisms about his age and his demeanor.  They were questioning his leadership as a competent individual on many levels when they didn't get what they expected for one reason or another.  Now, to be fair, they were critical of him well before he was elected but this started to seem very critical, even for my tastes.  It was almost as if they had no problem taking shots since the Republicans had no real viable candidate for the next election.  Trump was going to get what he deserved for all the things he was connected to, right? Well, not really.

The system works, but it can be manipulated.  The goddess of Justice is blind, yes.  But she's not deaf.  And when money talks, everyone listens.  Trump found a way to evade all the justice that was coming to him as his money and connections found a litany of ways to keep from doing any jailtime.  This, coupled with a Supreme Court that leaned in favor of his political affiliation, and well, who was going to judge him negatively?  This was one of many things the Judicial Branch would do to shift the balance of power in one direction instead of checking that balance.  RBG's death sure was seismic.  

So, despite being indicted and not serving time of any kind, Trump won the Republican nomination.  Wow, I thought.  Was everyone really willing to overlook all of this just to make sure their party would win in the election? Common sense would dictate that he wasn't even right for the job in the first place.  But, unfortunately, common sense and being happy take a back seat to being right and blind support.  Ok, so, he'll go for the spot.  Biden shouldn't have too much of a problem taking him on, I guess.  Then, the unthinkable happened.  Biden dropped out of the race.  A current president, not even going forward with his possible nomination??? WHAT?  WHY? Apparently, Democrats thought he was too old to stand up to Trump.  His first and only debate looked shambolic in comparison.  He looked old and frail compared to Trump.  This, and the severe loss of support due to the handling of the international conflicts would spell curtains for him.  So, who would step up? Kamala Harris, his V.P. and a former hopeful from 2020.  Oh happy day!  This is what we need, right?  Well, remember what I said about common sense and blind support?  Remember what I said about the stubbornness of the status quo?  

I made those quotes in the beginning because they are still very true to this day.  I mean, you can literally see it coming from a mile away with bad bifocals.  People, for all the autonomy and free thinking they want to have, will predictably lean towards having someone tell them what they want to hear, or think they need to hear.  It works even better when they can relate to the person.  And trust me, the status quo doesn't relate to change, but they do relate to fame, fortune, celebrity and power.  How? Many reasons, I guess.  There's the mindset that those who have these things will "trickle it down" to them.  You know, like a king, who gives away mere crumbs to the poor.  At least it's something.  There's also the "relatability" factor.  Can they relate to one of their own better than they can relate to another?  And if so, along what lines? Ideology? Personal beliefs? Or perhaps it's because...they've always liked the person and don't want to be told they shouldn't like them?  Ah....that's something.  Tell someone they can't or should't do something, and you bet they will do it once they have a free moment.  Call it rebellious inclination, or inherent stupidity, but I've see many a person, old and young, forgo common sense and omitting logic just for the freedom to fuck up, or fuck someone else up.  It's their freedom.  Animals have that freedom, too.  We should have enough reason and thought not to...but to them, that's not freedom; that's repression.  Personally, I believe that you truly don't have or will ever fully grasp one's ability to freely act or choose until they see and fully comprehend the consequences behind it.  And, humanity, as time has passed, has lost all comprehension of "cause and effect", behind the veneer of supposed freedom, toted by individuals that they can only relate to on a level much far removed from logic, common sense, decency, or maturity. And in turn, history repeats itself, in more ways than one.  

People, when assembled in groups of great size, tend to lean very heavily on "group think".  For men, it's the thought of validation.  They are validated by the other individuals who share their opinions or relate to them on a level that goes towards the core of their personality.  For women, it's the feeling of security.  They are secure in knowing that others in the group have their back because they can relate to them.  If there's any dissension along the lines of this "group think", those dissenters are swarmed upon, silenced, and ostracized.  And let me just say, that it works for any group.  It doesn't matter what their values are.  Pack mentality has been around since the dawn of time.  If there's any difference, it's that animals act on instinct primarily.  Instinctively, they will join a pack for their needs of safety.  They don't ask questions or reason.  So, when a human does this, and the discourse for dissension comes to light, it's not as an animal, but as a human who craves either validation or security.  Critical thinking, logic, common sense...get rid of that stuff.  You're damaging the very core of our group.  So, if we're going to do something along the lines of, well, stupidity, it's only going to magnify.  And a large group of people that do stupid things can and has been a dangerous thing.  I'm now thinking of the movie "Idiocracy" and telling myself, "Should I have really watched that movie knowing what I know?" Sadly, the answer is yes.  Art imitates life, and in a roundabout fashion, life imitates art.  It's just sad when you see it coming, and you can't do anything to stop it.  All you can do is head to higher ground and hope you don't get swept up. 

Now, here's the kicker about the amount of stupidity of people in large groups.  In this very specific case, it's not just limited to the Red side.  It's just as bad on the Blue side.  Yes, I said it, and I'm not taking it back.  While one side is outspoken, brazen and emphatic about their dangerous actions, the other is very undercover and passive-aggresive about theirs.  This didn't fully sink in with me until, say, 2016.  If one side is going to fully back a fool, results be damned, then the other side will make subtle moves and shifts to support who they think they feel is best, if they ever get around to it.  They'll also blame any and everyone if the outcome isn't to their liking.  That's not to say that the other side won't though.  The bottom line: stupidity doesn't quite know accountability.  There's that "consequence" thing again.  They're free to make their own choices and won't be told otherwise.  Damn the bigger picture.  Let's focus on the here and now, especially if it goes with what I want.  On a related note, the enemies in "Get Out" (who happened to be members of the Knights Templars, by the way), weren't conservative.  They were liberal.  And in their actions and desires, they looked to usurp the Black person's physicality and merge it with their own interests and desires.  They weren't helping at all.  They were hurting them as much as a conservative would.  It's just undercover, not out front.  One side would look past the "Tiki Torchers", while the others would let other ideas of institutionalized racism continue, unabated.  But they're not the enemy.  They swear it...

As for the predictability of stupidity, well, it is to be believed that stupid people will do stupid things over and over again even if it means they will bring harm to themselves or others.  It's the proverbial child who puts their hand on the hot stove.  Mom says don't.  They know not to, but when mom isn't around, they do it to see how it feels.  Yikes, it's hot! And yet, they go back and do it again...and again....and again...long after their hand has no feeling of pain and sensation.  They just switch hands.  Or perhaps, instead of that, they find things to burn like action figures, dolls, clothes.  A fire breaks out and the house is burnt down.  The child is remorseful and mom forgives the child, of course.  However, this child continues the destructive pattern of behavior.  Why? Boredom? Loneliness?  Stupidity? As long as it doesn't go wrong this time, everything is cool, I guess.  Fast forward to today and we have more jackasses doing jackass things since the premiere of the show, MTV's Jackass, and before that, Beavis and Butt-head.  Who's to stop this behavior from getting worse? Perhaps a parent, yes? It's ultimately up to the parent to be there for their children and do the best they can. But in the case of, say, an adult, who's parenting them?  The answer: we are.  We as adults must parent ourselves.  Now, imagine if you will, if your only experience of good parenting was your own parents.  Imagine if they, as parents, really weren't good at their job as parents.  Imagine if those parents are stupid.  Predictably, stupid would pass down, I would surmise.  And, like intelligence can be fostered into something great and grand, so can stupidity.  Animals are capable of intelligence, no question.  However, some animals are not bright enough to know better.  Lemmings follow each other off cliffs and sheep stay together as a group but they need a shepherd.  If their shepherd could care less, and/or is only slightly brighter than the sheep they are looking after, sheep should be in for a world of trouble...but they don't know enough to do so, I surmise. 

Now, we know stupidity is predictable and can be very predictable. Large groups of stupid people have a good amount of power.  Predictably, that large group of stupid people is going to do something stupid...like cling to the status quo even if it means the decision will bring forth something that could affect their very way of life in which they live.  It's how they got by.  It's how they lived happily.  There's nothing wrong with it and change scares them.  Heck, change scares us all. We're stubborn, so we ain't changing our status quo to adapt.  Why should we? We were here first.  We didn't get what we wanted.  Why should you?  And so on and so forth.   So, putting those things together, and utilizing logic to dictate the illogical nature of humanity in a variety of ways....and voila!  Trump becomes the second president in U.S. history to obtain two non-consecutive terms.  Some of you may think that this is a bit much, but remember the adage: Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.  Another very telling example happened a century ago during the time of the Spanish Flu.  Millions died, but not only because they didn't have the tools to stop it, but also because people refused to take care of themselves.  It's their lives.  They can do what they want with it.  Who cares about the others?  Can't spell America without "me".  Fast forward to 2020 and...millions died for almost the exact same reasons.  There was one difference though: we had the science and technology to prevent something like this from taking many lives like before.  Heck, we had a government branch that looked into things like this for years.  Wait, it was closed up?  By who?  All we had was a CDC and they weren't listening to them either?  History repeats itself.  

Before continuing, let me just say that this isn't some scientific periodical or what have you.  It's my stream of consciousness being put to blog while I still have it clear and visible in my head.  It's not up for debate, based on its tone or its factuality.  It's based on my thoughts and opinions which are based on my findings, intelligence, and life experience.  Checking someone on their opinions is about as foolish as deigning someone capable to do something big...like run a country...based on theirs.  Opinions, in their subjectivity, aren't facts.  They can also change, like facts.  But, I just wanted to post this part for whomever is reading this in case they think I think I'm some authority on the matter.  I'm not.  I'm putting this altogether to lead to one very specific outcome: my decision to become an expatriate to the U.S. while being an American citizen by birth.  I'm staying here, but not taking part in any process of voting or whatever.  The system works, but too many people are using it to their own benefit, which takes away from others very callously.  I don't want to be a party to that anymore.  If folks can boycott a business, then I can darn sure boycott a process.  After all, I'm sure a bunch of people have done so already, knowing full well that trouble was afoot.  The bigger picture isn't what folks want.  They want their selfie, American style.  And you can't spell America without "me".  Until a legitimate politician comes forth to try and make things right for everyone (win-win or no deal), then I'm not signing up to take part anymore.  

I'm tired of seeing how government officials work to protect those who have no business being in government, let alone influencing government, while hurting those who look to their government for help and assistance.  I'm tired of seeing my vote make no difference in a state where it's already determined on how it will be governed.  I'm tired of seeing two sides endlessly fight over the same set of turf like two rival gangs, while silencing any and everyone else that actually wants to help their own way, while not joining them. I think Jesse Ventura said it best with the terms "Re-blood-licans" and "Demo-crips".  His time as governor of Minnesota was rife with opposition from both sides as he left one party to do his own thing as an independent.  If Jesse, former wrestler and serviceman, were to put this in wrestling terms, it would be the equivalent of a 3-way-dance between 2 sworn enemies and a third person who doesn't belong, but earned the right to be there.   But most of all, I'm tired of watching love and intelligence get beaten by hate and ignorance every time we must decide our future.  No one wants to work together to cooperate or coexist.  It's all about conquest and competition.  When I turned 40, I made it clear that I wouldn't be about that life ever again.  I gave myself a present of a "drama-free" life going forward.  Now, if drama is going to be connected to me politically, I'd rather not take part anymore.  I will exercise my rights and civic duties where they can actually make a difference, but not along the lines of politics and things.  I'd rather be a helper and a peacemaker, teaching things to those who need it, and I mean really need it.  

I've heard scores of people make jokes and levity about the gloom and doom coming our way.  They cracked wise on Biden's age and Trump's criminality saying that we will lose either way.  Did they not even deduce that people would take that to heart as fuel to decide who to vote for?  Did they underestimate their own stupidity in their large group and the power they possessed in influencing other stupid people in their large group towards who they wanted? And where's the accountability? Do they not see that their words carry power? Their information carries weight?  Or were they too aloof and busy being funny to see that?

I've heard from enough people say that they would vote for Trump again, even after everything else.  Did they not deduce that he never has their feelings or thoughts in mind? Or are they just relating to him on a very fundamental level: the level of intelligence, which isn't very high? Or perhaps instead of just adapting, they chose to stubbornly stick to the status quo?  And what more? Perhaps the other side was just as stubbornly telling them to accept them or else?  This isn't logical or sensible.  Not to me, at least.  

Does this mean I'm going to follow another path? A centrist? A libertarian? A communist? A socialist?  NO.  I'm a human being, not a label.  I'm going with my own decisions, not towing a party line, but towing my own beliefs and mindsets.  You may not want to believe this but, when two sides argue, 9 times out of 10, they are agreeing with each other.  In fact, there's a ton of similarities between where they stand, even.  It just boils down to whether or not they like what the other side is doing, or how it's done. Personal preference...just personal preference. Sadly, as a Catholic, I see it and hear it from the mouths of other Catholics and how they slander other Christian faiths on not being true to the word of Christ because it's not Catholic.  Then I think to the reading in the New Testament on Jesus saying not to stop the others who were driving out demons while not being apostles.  They are still doing the work in the name of Jesus, so why stop them?  I've taken that mindset and have fit it to me with my own in saying, "if your faith and beliefs are coercing you to hurt others in a direct manner, I don't think you're doing it right."  But that's just me.  And no, I won't weigh in on Israel and reproductive rights, because my opinion as a Catholic man should really hold no weight, since as a man, it's not my place to tell a woman what to do with their body, and as a Catholic, I'm in no place to talk to the Jewish or the Muslim.  Right? You don't need my opinion.  If anything, you just want your opinion validated.  You don't really want to hear what I have to say.  You just want to hear what you want to hear.  I know this, because I want to hear what I want to hear, too.  What can I say? I've become comfortable in my contradictions and happy with my hypocracies!  And you know?  It's pretty fun and peaceful.

I'm sure there's more I can say about this whole matter (like how certain professions tend to chime in when the issues don't even effect them personally, or will, like out-of-touch millionaires, influencers, and yes, those in the creative arts like film), but I wanted to put a bottom line on where I stand.  I'll be 46 when another possible president is chosen.  I don't know what will happen between then and now.  But I do know this: you can miss me with all that talk, action, and rhetoric on doing my civic duty and how others do theirs.  Until the system is fully free of its issues, I won't take part.  I won't complain, either, since I won't be taking part. I'm not discussing this any further.  This is the last I'll talk about it. If you need me, I'll be doing my thing on my own, living a peaceful life, enriching my soul, trying to get back in shape, and sparing my mind of all the chitter-chatter.  I gotta do me.  And you can't spell America...without "me".