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July, 2000
Lesser Evils: The Politics of Capital
by Frank Scott
American consumers of democracy shop at a marketplace in which the
labels on the packages are different, but the contents the same. Ad
campaigns and issue positions vary, but the commodities are
manufactured by the same firm. Like most merchandise , the goods are
affordable only to the capable bidder, and while campaigns strive for
appeal to the middle, the product itself is produced and distributed by
the top.
Public opinion will be twisted and turned by millions of dollars before
the November elections, but most of the minority that votes will be
against, not for, the major candidates. This may offer hope for a
breakthrough in the monopoly that controls America’s politics of
capital, as minor parties stand a chance of gaining a foothold among
disgusted consumers . But it will continue a long tradition of lesser
evil voting.
Many concerned citizens genuinely believe in one franchise of
corporate politics, but most will vote to save the nation from the
horror which will occur if the other franchise is elected. Some will
vote to make life better for all, but all will merely insure that things
get worse for some.
This is the substance of profit and loss politics under Capital. Horror
does take place, with the only difference being who suffers most,
how quickly and to what extent. But suffering is guaranteed, with the
choice of lesser evil.
As an example, Bill Clinton has been called the best president Black
America has ever had. He has appointed more blacks to his administration
and is more comfortable than any other president when he is in the
company of black people; especially if they are of the educated and
professional class.
But during his presidency , the number of young black men in America’s
prisons has enormously increased. Blacks represent 13% of the nation’s
arrests for drug related offenses, but 59% of the convictions. When we
see photos of Clinton smiling with his black friends and associates, we
should remember that they certainly have done well, but those with less
money have done much worse, especially if they are young men or single
mothers. Profit for some is always accompanied by loss for others: this
is a guarantee in the lesser evil system.
Both corporate parties are defenders of that system, with minor
differences in just how much government they will allow , either as
gentle regulator of the market, or supplier of band-aids for the
bloodletting that is the final outcome of free market economics , for
those not moneyed enough to be “free”.
Democrats respond to union finance, and by tradition they rally to
the support of workers and other ordinary people. But they do this in
ways that maintain corporate capital’s power and control over the
system, and they see to it that notions of democracy as something other
than financial power are not treated too seriously.
A minority of Democrats speak to issues like peace, health care and
higher wages, but they aren't really allowed to do much more than
speak. This small group within the party keeps progressive politics
alive as a hope for the future, but the controlling interest for the
Democrats is the same as the Republicans. It is corporate capital.
Only the ignorant or naive think otherwise.
The Republicans have long been known as the party of the rich, but they
occasionally take on a more populist tone . As liberal politics have
become more elitist, using working class taxes to support middle class
interests, Republicans have often seemed to speak for working class
citizens. They do so with even less honesty than the Democrats.
The disintegrating moral state of the nation, long obvious in its
capacity to commit mass murder all over the world, has come to general
awareness mainly through issues like school prayer , abortion and other
personal rights battles. These often pit an educated, affluent minority
against a majority with less financial and professional clout. And
again, contrary to political mythology , Republicans , often cynically,
seem to take the side of the latter group. Pity the poor voter.
The breakdowns that produce religious fundamentalism in less developed
parts of the world do the same thing here in the rich center of global
capitalism. Just as the lack of democracy and the ravages of market
forces have driven millions in the developing countries to religion as
a haven in a heartless world, here in the USA, “progress” has
created social divisions which drive people into houses of god. These
seem to offer cheaper moral solutions to the problems that markets
can only solve with expensive immoral commodities.
Both major candidates profess close personal ties to god, specifically
the New Testament Jesus. One identifies Jesus as his favorite
philosopher, and the other as a moral guide, consulted before any
dilemma by asking; what would Jesus do? Their Christianity is in keeping
with the American majority, said to worship god, pray and believe in a
hereafter. That last might be due to the miserable reality experienced
by so many in the here and now. But the candidates follow the polls and
focus groups, so Jesus it is.This does not stop them from rushing off
to, say, the Israeli political lobbies to profess faith in the Old
Testament deity’s Jewish holy land, more for dollars than god.
This is the religious aspect of American lesser evil politics: God is
mentioned before, during and after every lie or murder, whether of an
individual or of an entire people. Whichever party the corporate
candidate is from, it operates exclusively under god’s franchise.
Voters are advised to pray , pick a lesser evil and say Amen. That’s the
politics of capital, but It’s a hell of a way to run a democracy.
Copyright (c) 2000 by Frank Scott. All rights reserved.
This text may be used and shared in accordance with the
fair-use provisions of U.S. copyright law, and it may be archived and
redistributed in electronic form, provided that the author is notified
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Archiving, redistribution, or republication of this text on
other terms, in any medium, requires the consent of the author .
frank scott
http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/~frank
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225 laurel place, san rafael ca. 94901
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