Saturday, November 2, 2024

Can the American Political System Be Fixed?...

 
"Constant election campaigns, as a permanent media spectacle produce pathological individuals in a pathological Society."
- Jacques Ellul

...the emerging answer.... is "no".

The Purpose of Elections Today:

1) Elections legitimize the political system
2) Elections transform a “false choice*” into a real one
3) Elections exonerate propaganda
4) Elections enable identification with the civil religion behind political power.

“False choice*” because given their disapproval ratings, no one would choose to elect Trump or Harris to a dogcatcher position if they were offered a real choice.

Ranked Choice is ALSO a False Choice Rubber Stamp!

"We have seen that the existence of two contradictory propagandas is no solution at all as it in no way leads to a 'democratic' situation: the individual is not... a supreme Arbiter when he decides in favor of the more honest and convincing (candidate)... The individual is seized, manipulated, attacked from every side: the combatants of two propaganda systems do not fight each other, but try to capture him.

As a result the individual suffers the most profound psychological influences and distortions. Man modified in this fashion demands simple solutions, catch words... a clear and simple division into Good and Evil... he cannot bear ambiguity. He cannot bear that the opponent should in any way whatever represent what is right or good." (254-255)
-Jacques Ellul

More on Election Theory

2 comments:

  1. No, nothing from "Rattrapper". Asking why someone else didn't comment isn't a comment. You said NOTHING about the topic Minus posted about. As is usually the case. Because your pea brain struggles to formulate coherent replies.

    ReplyDelete