158 Comments

As a 63 year old retired teacher, coach and independent as hell, you’re writing is sold to the damn point it’s beautiful. I’m cheap as hell as I got two times so not much retirement but working through retirement cause I’m gonna work till I die, but I will go ahead andupgrade the pay. I agree with you hundred percent. We’re fighting global here and what’s going on and our political system is nothing but a soap opera, days of our lives or general hospital.

Expand full comment

The only problem is I’m sitting outside in a hotel in New Orleans on my way back to Houston for a two week vacation and my wallet got stolen. So I’ve got no card. I’ve got to go to the bank and get a card. If you want email me and I will upgrade. You deserve it girl.

Expand full comment

"Let me select the candidates, and people can vote all they want."

Expand full comment

That old saying, insanity is when you keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

Expand full comment
Aug 24·edited Aug 24

Li[k]e hoping a hero will come along?

We are the ones we've been waiting for. But I will not be first into the fight. I will not step off, turn around and find no backup.

Expand full comment

American politics in a nutshell.

Expand full comment

The human heart in a nutshell.

Expand full comment

U.S. Political System = Kabuki Theatre 🎭

Expand full comment

Not to be concrete or anything but the Economist, usually lickspittle when it comes to America, ( huge American subscription base ) , publishes a Democratic Index. There all the world democracies are ranked and in it the US is described as “flawed” and lounges in 26th place, which seems generous. A Hobson’s choice every four years and this cycle continues the roll. As the DNC demonstrates over and over - we pick the candidate, you get to vote for sharp stick in the eye or frozen boot in the butt.

When has an American voter voted for something important? The Guv can piss away $8 trillion on Iraq and Afghanistan without that vote. That is 25x what it would cost to end world hunger and gain a billion friends. But somehow fraudulent invasions get priority so that a billion more enemies can be generated. And they want to export democracy. Next we’ll be hearing from Ghislaine Maxwell on the pastoral care of mall runaways.

Expand full comment

Demoncrazy being that thing where you tell your believers that the majoratty voted for fascism ?

Arrest the police , fire the councils and get this bloody synthetic drugs off the streets.

wonder wonder why they're trying to outlaw militias...

Expand full comment

The problem is the prison. We really do need to break out and refuse to go back in. We need to fight, fight fight. I am not the person who first came up with this "the only thing worse than the world coming to an end is the world coming to an end without a fight". I can't find who said it, but there it is. Keep fighting.

Expand full comment

"The Hitchhiker's Guide through the Universe" ?

Expand full comment

Brilliant Caitlin!

I'm naming your article "THE ALLEGORY OF THE PLASTIC KEYS" (for the philosophical ones out there...)

Expand full comment

I tried that blue key for a long time, then one day I peered inside the key hole and found it was filled with epoxied bullshit.

Expand full comment

Let me say one word to you.

PLASTIQUE

Expand full comment

Excellent!

Expand full comment

Even I’m chuckling at the lunacy! But the Big Green Key is appealing!

Expand full comment

The big green key is as much a con as any key and more than most.

Expand full comment

How about the Party for Socialism and Liberation?

Expand full comment

it's styrofoam. you can use it as padding between the door and the first person at the door when you break it down with the full weight of all prisoners (that want to get out).

Expand full comment

While about one third of USA voters vote red and about a third vote blue, another third don't ever vote. They understand that it is all a sham and part of our hi-tech version of Plato's cave. The red and blue presidential conventions gather up all the the most brain dead, enthusiastic party buffs and put them on display. The whole game is played solely for the six swing states. The set up of the electoral college is totally rum. Elections are a silly fraud on so many levels: The ballot box being a distraction from revolution.

Expand full comment

"the most brain dead, enthusiastic party buffs and put them on display." - not only, lots of them are just sold out operatives. And since the western, especially the US, culture is success (aka money) at any cost they proudly display their "achievements".

And, without any doubt, many viewers are envious.

Expand full comment

They like big vote totals to claim a mandate only to squander every opportunity to achieve one platform item. Then become too bashful to change Senate voting rules.

Expand full comment

Half do not vote.

Expand full comment

That would be funny if only....

Expand full comment

Thanks, Caitlin. Wonderfully, evocatively presented.

My sensing, my dream, my prescription -- Readers: Don't be distracted: Vote Green Party in November and -- voila! -- you will have escaped the prison!

Viva Palestine!---Hamas and ALL of Palestine! That's Job Number One for the Greens, and I have every confidence that they will toil assiduously in other crucial areas to right the ship of the Amerika that currently lists in a floundering, flailing, failing path through the turgid waters.

Expand full comment

Brilliant! Nailed it.

Expand full comment

Very Kafkaesque.

Millions in the street threatening the powers that be would be a good start. The police state action and general news blackout of the demonstrators in Chicago is now standard policy. The mayor of Chicago welcoming first amendment rights was a farce.

Beware of the left vs.the right distraction.

It is not Republicans vs Democrats,

Look up.

It is the 1% vs. the 99%,

It is the haves vs.the have nots.

Organize. Fetch the guillotine.

Expand full comment

Everyone has an aversion to the real solution from #3.

Expand full comment

When #3 stops talking and takes action we will see. <crickets>

Expand full comment