People across the US have given their verdict. Tuesday's midterm US elections have limited the ability of President Donald Trump, to steer his programs through the Congress. This was a referendum on the polarizing President, even though he is unable to go for re-election until 2020.
Conversation across homes, workplaces and cafés revolved around the blue wave or a red tsunami or things perhaps, which did not make much sense. In chilly, windswept Election Day, I had observed voters in their overalls, hurrying down the pavements, towards the polling centers. There was anguish, frustration and a bit of panic in their body language.
However, at the end of the day, results really did not matter much. For all the impact it had was on the way our world is governed. After all, these elections are as meaningful as voting for the ultimate winner. It could be the Deep State or the guy like me, who goes to work very early in the morning, in biting cold. That is really not a step towards anarchy or atheism or cynicism or defeatism. It is just the reasoned response to decades of data that we were granted access to.
The system in the US cannot be changed from within, because people who want a change will perhaps, never be allowed inside. This is a broken, malignant and also a corrupt, system....to the point of total degeneration. Like the wacky political entities of South Asia.
Looking back not far away, there is plenty of reason to believe that both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections were perhaps 'dressed' up (or rigged). We are inclined to believe all this really happened, but are not supposed to discuss it. So, why do we even bother talking about the US elections anymore? There was absolutely no excuse for taking part in this ritual.
There exists no reason to pretend that it was honest, meaningful or simply significant. It did not matter whether the blue won or the red, or whichever 'animal' on the party flags emerged victorious. These were both pre-programmed chips in the same rigged game. It was just irrelevant whether one had voted for Tom or Jerry, Punch or Judy, Jekyll or Hyde.....because the big puppeteer controlled both and got paid, without regard to the actual winner.
It really had not mattered that there are more women elected into the Congress than ever before, or that a Somali Muslim is now walking the corridors of the House of Representatives today. None of that has weighed at all, because from a distance, a combination of red and blue will always look purple. Just as, from a distance 'black' and 'white' jumbled together looks like grey. And so, in the end it has not been a source of influence, at all.
It is only the media...newspapers and television that are discussing the intricacies of poll results. They compete because they deem this to be the battle for their individual survival. Remember, Ken Livingstone, the English politician, had famously said that if voting would change anything, it would be expunged or simply abolished. Likewise, if this really mattered, it would certainly not become a part of the news program.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, a real danger of a nuclear war has loomed over us. Our media will never discuss it. And, Tuesday's elections will not alter its course. Or significance. There is a lot of media talk about the 'rise' of anti Semitism, and the fears that have accompanied this. Every mainstream outlet as well as most politicians had been happy to sell weapons to Ukraine.
This is a country where power was usurped by fascist militia, in a war against people who had simply objected to the removal of their elected president. Perhaps for the first time in nearly 70 years, we have witnessed men with swastikas on their hands, killing civilians in mainland Europe. And, did they do so with the tacit approval of governments of the civilized, western world? The global media failed to discuss this. And, Tuesday's elections will not change this.
The erstwhile media talk about Jamal Khashoggi and has rebuked Saudi Arabia for their alleged domestic and international 'crimes', whereas the real crimes have gone unreported. Most of NATO happily continues to send weapons and trained pilots, which have enabled the slaughter of tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians. Without a doubt, this war is act of flexing muscles, and an extension of Trump's policy all over the Middle East.
Obviously, this war had been fought with US support, and arguably on their behalf. Through the courtesy of the proxies we have armed and trained? The media shall not discuss this. Tuesday's elections shall not amend it. Free speech is under real threat, both in the press and particularly in the internet. From countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India people are being pushed out of platforms they hold. They are victimized and robbed of the comfort of their identity. The media shall not discuss this. Tuesday's elections shall not change this.
The 'news' we come to know, is but a carousel of convenient fictions, political manipulations, and camouflaged agenda made up of statistics and bits of vacuous distractions. Post election, media will continue to chatter about which corporate frontman has won which US district or what color my home state Florida is turning. Or, the migrant Caravan that is fast heading to the southern US borders. Or perhaps, that China interfering in the votes casted in the US ballot boxes. We must therefore, disregard all this.
Neo Fascism is real. So is real suffering, and also real is corruption. And a real risk of nuclear war has now dawned upon us. Therefore, we need to discuss these issues, most urgently. Not, the blue waves or the red tsunami that is likely to engulf our lives or comforts. Let me recite a prayer that everyone in the US does manage to hold out till the November of 2020. God bless America!
The writer is a former educator based in Chicago, USA