George Carlin and the 2008 Election

“All of this back and forth debate implies that there are really choices in this country---that we really have choices. It’s an illusion.

There is no real choice. They say “freedom of choice”. You’re given the illusion of choice.

Americans are meant to feel free by the exercise of meaningless choice.

You know what the choices are in this country? Paper or plastic, aisle or window, smoking or no smoking. These are your real choices. You don’t get to choose anything." (video)

Here in Chicago I'm going to be attending the Obama rally. This will be an "international event." It brings back memories of the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention. The police state is being put into place for maximum security and the button-sellers are out on the streets to make sure everyone has a button for hope and change.

I voted yesterday and wrote extensively about it earlier. You can read more by looking for the piece through my profile. I will be Twittering from the rally so you can look up kevingosztola on Twitter if you want to know more than what is shown on television.

Essentially, all I can think about today is what George Carlin said about voting.

Back when Bill Maher’s show “Politically Incorrect” had not been removed from the airwaves, Carlin also said:

“The things that matter in this country have been reduced in choice. There are two political parties. There are a handful of insurance companies. There are about 6 or 7 information [outlets]. But, if you want a bagel, there are 23 flavors because you have the illusion of choice. You have the illusion of choice. You don’t get the important stuff. You have no “freedom of choice.”

It’s like this---The power has shifted over the past eight years significantly. So-called rights, so-called liberties, and the economic well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans have been jeopardized by thousands of corporate and special interests.

How much has the number of lobbyists in Washington skyrocketed? In 1976, there were 3,470. Now, there are 35,000, which is an increase of 741%.

Who have the politicians you voted for been listening to? Not you.

The two most prominent parties in America have been corporatized and hijacked.

Democrats and Republicans run candidates for president who argue over “lapel pin patriotism” and are unwilling to address the daily realities Americans face and provide meaningful solutions to the problems these realities create.

What did Thomas Jefferson say (and this is quoted in Naomi Wolf’s Give Me Liberty)?

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