JUST A QUICK ONE...

No, I just couldn't keep the cynicism at bay.

As a brief devil's advocate appendum to yesterday's slightly misty-eyed post, just thought I'd quickly draw people's attention to this open letter to the new president from everybody's favourite fly in the ointment, Ralph Nader. Worth a read.

As a reponse, I'm going to say that sincerity is pretty much a moot point in modern politics, and that whatever Obama actually believes has been near irrelevant up to this point; the shortcomings of his campaign in the eyes of leftists and humanitarians were likely a matter of cruel necessity. He had his work cut out for him as it was staying one step ahead of potentially state-losing bigotry and slander from the right wing peanut gallery; clearly a candidate who'd also NOT delcared his support for Isreal, and had hung out for photo opportunities in mosques and publicly associated himself with Jimmy Carter, would not be preparing to move into the Whitehouse right now.

Of perhaps deeper concern is his sadly inevitable reliance on corporate finance to get where he's going. The ability of corporate interests to effectively buy themselves a president is perhaps THE biggest problem in Western democracy as it currently stands, and, as the happy beneficiary of that process, it would be foolish to expect B.O. to do anything to rectify matters, however much he may (or may not) push other aspects of policy in the right direction.

Those of a more overtly paranoid persuasion may also wish to remember Bill Hicks' routine about the optimistic new president being ushered in the room with the cigar-smoking bigshots. "Roll the film.... any questions?"

Meet the new boss.... etc?

Labels: political shit, rambling