BREAD AND CIRCUS

The November election debate has now fallen to the new low of arguing whether Obama's recent lipstick on a pig remark is sexist or not.

The corporate plan is now fully in motion. Trivialize the campaign, appeal to emotions, ignore the important issues like Iraq and the widening of war in Afghanistan and into Pakistan. Ignore the economic crash. Ignore the massive loss of jobs. Get the angry working class focused on issues of sex, race and the "social issues" instead of class and corporate power.

The oligarchy clearly understands that America's racism can be played like a fiddle as Sarah Palin's job is to drive home the point that she represents "American life in the 1950's" when whites were "happy" and people of color were under control.

Demographics show that in just a few years time blacks and Hispanics will be the majority population in the U.S. Efforts are now underway to ensure that the ruling elite will stay in power by destroying "democracy" as we know it. By ensuring that political campaigns become "money races" that have nothing to do with relevant issues those in power understand that more and more of the public give up on voting. They hope that future elections will be left to the white minority elite with the money to play the game of monopoly democracy.

It's a cynical ploy but by driving people away from the voting booth the oligarchy plans to win.

This is the same strategy now being implemented in Canada, England, Australia, and most other countries around the world. The corporate interests are locking down "democracy" to ensure their interests prevail in the coming time of scarcity.

It was heartening to see yesterday that Republican/Libertarian U.S. Congressman Ron Paul brought Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader together for an alternative party unity event. This is the kind of alliance building beyond the two corporate parties that is much needed. It won't have any immediate effect but long-term could serve to bring the growing numbers of disaffected voters into the camp of those who are pushing for ballot access law changes which are crucial if we ever hope to break the current log jam. By coming together these disparate forces also begin to break down walls of distrust and begin to see they share many common concerns.

Organizing against empire is always a one-step forward, two-steps back process. We have a long way to go before we can begin to break down the walls of the entrenched power structure. Until it happens the "electoral" corporate bread and circus will continue. Look for more debates about pigs, lipstick and the like.