A Federal Government shutdown was averted Friday Night. The deal temporarily saved some federal funds for various smaller programs including Planned Parenthood but it cut almost $40 billion from other discretionary domestic spending. This last-minute agreement was not entirely due to the negotiating skills of Senator Majority Harry Reid, House Speaker John Boehner or President Barak Obama, and their respective staffs. A very influential actor was that of long-time consummate Republican Party strategist and power broker, Karl Rove, who effectively ensured there would not be any shutdown.
When Mr. Rove told Republicans of all stripes to compromise and to not permit the Federal Government to shut down, the ongoing political charades and brinkmanship efforts were finished. Mr. Rove believed the Republican Party would suffer more politically in 2012 despite what its core supporters (including arch social conservatives and Tea Party Members) would have preferred.
I was very relieved by this outcome because some TMV commentators believed that I might be a closet misogynist/entomologist, and I would have been personally responsible for Planned Parenthood’s loss of federal funding, the federal government shutting down, or both. Therefore I am posting this opinion in the wee hours of Sunday morning in the hope that few people read it.
Fortunately, I am of the strong and rational belief that anything I argue, say, comment and rant about has absolutely no effect whatsoever on national public policy. In addition, what is expressed by the overwhelming majority of pundits, commentators, bloggers, writers and readers of the vast news/opinion blogosphere on the Internet also has no effect whatsoever on public policy at any level of government.
There may be only a few dozen influential commentators, journalists and bloggers who help shape some aspects of public policy. This august group has long been favored by and they already reflect the inner thoughts and opinions of the members of our wealthy oligarchy that includes our leaders in politics, economics, business, entertainment and society.
Many more people turn to FOX news and other cable news sources than get their news or opinions from the Internet. In fact supermarket tabloid magazines, Internet gossip and social networking sites, and various Internet sports, gaming and pornography site, all have larger followings than the new/opinion blogosphere. TMV inhabits a rather select world along with many similar sites that run the gamut of political, economic, religious, and social opinions.
I would suggest to everyone on TMV that outside a rather intelligent and select group of regular participants and readers, we really don’t mean much in the big scheme of things – and certainly to those who decide our nation’s political, economic, military and social policies. They couldn’t care less about most of what’s said in the blogosphere or on TMV. We write, comment, argue and rant for our own benefit, sanity and entertainment. We’re public policy junkies who need a daily fix.
To the wealthiest 5% of Americans and the largest multi-national U.S.-based corporations, the other 95% of Americans are no more than annoying and buzzing flies. Our collective or individual concerns, needs and desires are of little or no interest to our oligarchy – which includes most of our elected officials in Washington. There is no such thing as majority rule in the sham U.S. Republic.
In about 5 weeks, Congress will face another massive hurdle – whether to raise the Federal debt ceiling. How big a fight this will be in comparison with the last disputing the existing budget is anyone’s guess. However, our oligarchy will make its decision and then inform our elected officials what to do. Our nation’s wealthiest citizens and corporations paid for them and if they want more campaign donations in 2012, they had better do what the oligarchy instructs. They will be able to perform another outrageous and diversionary political farce but the final result will already be pre-ordained.
This summer Congress will debate next year’s budget. Again, I must remind TMV writers and commentators, the specifics of all tax increases or decreases, the programs to be increased, decreased, frozen, gutted or axed, and our national policies will be determined by a small group of our political and business leaders including the wealthiest Americans – in accordance to what is best for them. What the rest of the citizenry cares about – or even the best long-term interests of the nation – will be completely irrelevant to their deliverations and final decisions.
I repeat my warning for those who support federal funds for a variety of smaller programs and organizations (including Planned Parenthood). You should make every effort to reduce your dependence upon Federal funding as quickly as possible to zero by seeking alternative funding sources. Massive program cuts and eliminations are coming over the next several years. Nothing will be spared – regardless of the moral, ethical, rational, or emotional arguments made on their behalf and how much you might criticize the messenger of this type of news.
The only way a small program designed principally for poor or middle class people might be saved would be to convince the oligarchy that it is in their best interests to support it – something that will be close to impossible. For most programs not related to corporate tax subsidies, endless military and war spending, more assistance to financial and banking interests, favoritism to large healthcare, pharmaceutical and insurance cartels, big oil and existing energy cartels, and other monopolistic groupings of large global business enterprises with plenty of lobbyists and money, they will soon disappear in a massive bi-partisan effort to reduce the $1.5 trillion annual deficits.
Please relax TMV friends, colleagues, readers, supporters and critics. I’m merely an entertainer in a specific genre and forum trying to keep his sanity and occasionally make a few bucks. Just like you, I’m only a spectator to the implosion of the American Imperium. We live in very interesting times so now let’s enjoy the show. (La commedia non e ancora finita.)
Submitted 4/10/11 by Marc Pascal happily ranting from Phoenix, Arizona. N.B. Editorials in print media run between 700 and 800 words. All my TMV posts have run between 1,000 and 2,000 words. I do not use twitter, texting, or other short formats. Formal essays, legal briefs, business plans, and various professional memoranda all run much longer. This particular post runs 980 words for those who enjoy counting.