The world has always been somewhat crazy. Each century has had its share of violence, greed, exploitation, etc. Yet, as most philosophers and spiritual thinkers tell us, the more we proceed into the future, the more we should evolve and progress, not regress. Well, the 20th century sure killed that theory, didn’t it? Two major world wars, with the disgraceful phenomenon of a Nazi regime in one of the most industrialized nations sure upset that apple cart. Then, a Cold War between the two major 20th century powers held the entire planet back from real and fruitful progress. Alas, this new century, only a mere 16 years old, seems to be regressing upon that same terrible path.
Imagine having a total nincompoop placed in the office of president for not just one term, but two? Imagine having many of our fellow citizens actually believing that our (secret perhaps) government had nothing to do with the events of 9/11. Then realize how that gave concert to the most dastardly act by our nation: The illegal and immoral invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan! Once again, so many of our fellow citizens still, to this day, believe the lies and disinformation perpetrated by the nincompoop’s regime. Meanwhile, our economy is on the verge of financial ruin by the marriage of massive military spending and the greed and deceit by Wall Street predators.
These disgraces proceeded into the next con job orchestrated by the Fat Cats who run things: The election of a new stooge, a.k.a. Mr. Hope and Change. He sure did his part for these seven-plus years to maintain the power and influence of the Military Industrial Empire. How brilliant these handlers are. They found A) a Democrat who had a record of compromising his principles repeatedly, B) a man who is as much white as he is black, yet who allowed himself to be portrayed as the latter, (wonder how his white relatives felt about that) and C) a ‘commander in chief’ who religiously followed the advice and consent of the war hawks and bankers. This was exactly what the nincompoop’s regime did in relation to the occupations, phony wars, and of, course the Wall Street bailouts.
The next section of this Amerika 2016 Mad Magazine is our current presidential horse race, replete with continued saturation in the media of the Two Party/One Party political mania. It is as if there is NO other options for we poor voters at all. You either are with, as Ralph Nader used to say, Twiddle Dum or Twiddle Dee.
Take a look at what this empire serves up to you. We have a super rich (shall we say ‘filthy rich’?) reality television star, flying under a phony populist banner. A man who has done virtually nothing for working stiffs in his entire business life, yet attracts them like flies to **** only because he is the anti-politician. He promises to ‘bring jobs back to America.’ Yes, he will, and what kinds of jobs will they be, low paying non-union (he is non-union by the way ) factory jobs at $10 to $15 an hour that will not support a family? Or perhaps the kinds of jobs he is used to hiring in his hotel and resort businesses: doormen, janitors, chambermaids, kitchen help.
His main opponent would love to see our nation transformed into a ‘born again bible-toting, rifle-shooting police state that rules the world with military might.’ These two clowns just love to talk tough about bombing the **** out of any enemy chosen for the moment. Yet, where was ‘The Donald’ during the Vietnam era? Did he sign up to ‘fight the good fight.’ or did he show his disdain for the whole mess by active protest along with other college peers? As for the other joker, where was he during the first Gulf War? How come he didn’t sign up and fight those terrible A-Rabs that he now wants to bomb into smithereens? What a joke!
The final section of this Mad Magazine Amerika 2016 belongs to the ‘We feel your pain’ Democrats. Enough should be known now about Miss Killary, just from her opponent’s rhetoric during the debates . . . except, of course, concerning the Libyan Massacre, because ‘Feel the Bern’ supported that disgrace. Miss Killary is so far to the right on the important issues concerning the Military Industrial Empire that even the ultra far right-wing Koch brother thinks she is not so bad after all, and maybe quite ‘presidential.’
As for ‘Feel the Bern,’ the man has great ideas concerning our working stiffs and standing up to Wall Street etc. Yet, when it comes to the same Military Industrial Empire, he remains silent. Why not? He is, after all classified and running as a ‘Democrat’ isn’t he? He won’t go against his president and all the terrible things that man has allowed to happen under his name (continued occupations, extraordinary rendition, drone missile attacks, bank bailouts to name but a few). Plus the fact that Bernie will have all these fine young first time activist kids being told that he will support Miss Killary once she gets the nod. Methinks leaders of new movements (as he calls this ‘Feel the Bern’ thing) should lead by example.
So, this new issue of Amerika: Mad Magazine of 2016 will be difficult to purchase in your mainstream outlets. Sorry folks. You need to really study history and ‘truth to power’ to enjoy it . . . once you can find it out there!
Philip A Farruggio is a semi-retired baby boomer born and bred in blue collar Brooklyn NYC. He is the son and grandson of Brooklyn longshoremen, and educated at ‘ free tuition ‘ Brooklyn College, class of ‘ 74. Philip has written over 300 columns since 2001 and his work is found on many fine progressive sites like World News Trust, Nation of Change, Information Clearinghouse, Intrepid Report, Sleuth Journal, Dandelion Salad, Counterpunch and Dissident Voice. He can be reached at paf1222@bellsouth.net.
The analogy would be funny if it weren’t so true. The world gone MAD with this Empire. Not even an apology for the mass murder at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the bombs were dropped when the US military knew that the Japanese were desperate to quit the war.