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Monday, September 24, 2007
Why I Give a Shit
posted by PizzaB0ii

So I was watching "Starship Troopers" a few weeks ago, and I heard the following quote:

Rasczak: You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?
Student: It's a reward. Something the federation gives you for doing federal service.
Rasczak: No. Something given has no basis in value. When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you're using force. And force my friends is violence. The supreme authority from which all other authorities are derived.

Now, given that we aren't fighting giant space bugs hellbent on destroying the human race, the message still resonates truth. To vote is to exercise authority--the only authority that can be merited without resorting to violence. We might not be facing physical destruction by rogue asteroids that giant bugs somehow learned to throw (with pinpoint accuracy) at Earth from half a galaxy away, but we are facing many issues that will determine the future of humanity as a whole.

Certain issues deserve merit. Others deserve to have giant asteroids thrown at them. Who's to decide what is important and what isn't? Simply put: you.

At least in theory anyways. In reality, money controls everything. In our capitalistic society, bottom line profits dictate everything from culture to religion to politics. Do you trust your leaders? Or at least, enough to not keep an eye on them? To follow the money trail that inevitably determines interest rates, average wage, which wars we fight, what to spend tax money on, or even how much they're tipping their call girls?

I bring this up because American politics has been devalued to a point of senseless selfishness. This "me first" mentality that can only be brought about by a hardcore capitalist society. Money rules.

Capitalism as an economic structure works great--wonders really--for progress. But capitalism as a social mentality--as a dog-eat-dog world--limits humanistic progress. I give a shit because this self-indulgent hubris will only spell disaster in the long run (if not now already).

We, the student population of the most prosperous and greedy nation in the world, must stand for a change that does not diminish human value to roundable figures. We must stand against unjustified wars--wars fought simply to fatten some already-rich douchebag's wallet. We must stand against mere nationalism as a farce to incite violence upon the unsuspecting. We must stand for a better world to live in, and not just to simply exist in.

I quote Immortal Technique: "I won't trade humanity for patriotism."

Really, I give a shit because six years ago, some dumbasses decided that flying planes into towers was a morally righteous choice. And now, six years later, we have descended into chaos. Religion dictating patriotism. Patriotism dictating society. Society dictating money. Money dictating government. Government dictating war. War dictating life.

And our only recourse to this madness (short of armed revolution) is by power of vote.

So I hope that you guys take this to heart. Remember to "excercise your authoritah!" But even before you vote, try to remember that you are a human being first, and a citizen second.

Oh yeah, if you vote, a winner is you!

Labels: capitalism, care, give a shit, patriotism, politics, war