Election season scary time of year

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for October 27, 2024)

We're entering the magical time of year. For the next few months, living in a fantasy is socially acceptable.

The strangest season is when monsters lurk in every shadow, free handouts are available for the asking, and everyone gets to pretend to be something they're not. Yes, it's election season.

It would be nice if people got only the politicians they voted for. Those who refrain from the ritual wouldn't get saddled with a politician at all. This change might reduce the number of voters to a reasonable level; something government wouldn't want to let happen. They need you to go along with the charade. It usually keeps the peasants from revolting.

The problem is less the specific politician in the office, and more the existence of the office itself, and the institution the office is a part of. The president may be the least important factor.

Changing the hood ornament on the car that's running you down is effective...at making you feel like you've accomplished something. It won't save you from being run over, but at least you can feel good about what ran you down. Or, this is how it looks to me.

Every election since I've been an adult has been "The most important election in our lifetime". I'm not even saying this is a lie, but it is a sign— a sign we've allowed presidents to become too important.

If a presidential election can destroy or save America, presidents have too much power, and this means government has too much power. The way to fix this isn't to elect better presidents, it's to remove the power from them and from government. Permanently, not just until you get the president you want.

I know you probably believe government is necessary. You've seen how badly people behave themselves and how they avoid doing the right thing. You'll get no argument from me, but the conclusion most people draw from this is backward. If people can't be trusted to govern their own lives-- to make smart, ethical choices-- there's no way I trust them to vote. Adding all these irresponsible voices together doesn't make them smarter or more ethical. It doesn't dilute the bad; it intensifies it.  Allowing this chorus of irresponsible people to choose a politician to impose on the rest of us is insane.

If the monsters of Halloween became real, they would be less frightening than voters.

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Military cultists

An account on X was showcasing a New Zealand military ritual, where commanders are greeted with a traditional Maori Haka dance. The context of the post seemed to be "Look at this ridiculous behavior".

I commented, "No more ridiculous than any other military ritual, like saluting or saying 'sir'."

I got a couple of insulting replies, but no actual argument about how I might be wrong. Because I'm not wrong.

Those who push back against my observation are military cultists. They can't see how ridiculous the rituals they like are; they only see the absurdity of the rituals performed by a different denomination of their cult. It's all about the brainwashing.

I'm completely outside their cult. I see all military ritual as ridiculous. The New Zealand ritual is culturally appropriate-- but still ridiculous. Saluting a "superior officer" is culturally appropriate and equally ridiculous, as is yelling "YES SIR!" to anything said by those "superior" jerks.

I understand the psychological reasons for the dumb rituals-- group cohesion, brainwashing, hierarchy, setting themselves apart from society, etc. But they are still dumb. Military cultists can't allow themselves to see it.

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