Remember the movie “Memento”, about the guy who couldn’t remember recent things because his short term memory was damaged? Er…what was I saying?

That brilliant film now seems to be an unintentional but fitting allegory for American voters and our democracy. Here’s a proposed synopsis for a sequel “Memento 2 “:

The American Voter awakens in the morning. It’s June 2010. The economy is hobbled, corporations dominate democracy and our government, Wall Street corporations are making record profits while unemployment and foreclosures are at record highs, oil gushes uncontrollably from a well in the Gulf, insecurity and anger are rampant across the country.

The American Voter suffers from short term memory loss, has no idea where  he is or why. “Wow, things are really bad, anyone can see that. How did this happen? Who’s responsible for this? If only I could remember! Wait, that doesn’t matter! Whoever’s in charge now is responsible since it’s happening today! Yes! ”

Swiftly, before this thought is knocked out of the head of The American Voter by news about Lindsey Lohan’s marrying a giant promotional bottle of Hornitos tequila,  they switch on the tv. Cable News is playing and the Talking Heads explain that the current President is a man named Obama who, with his fellow Democrats, have not solved all of these problems.

“Bastards! It’s all their fault! They need to pay a price for things being the way they are! We need someone else in power who wouldn’t get us into this situation! Hmm…Re-pub-licans? They’re saying all the right things, everything I want to hear! I may not be able to remember who got us into Iraq and Afghanistan, who freed financial and oil corporations from regulations and thus allowed them to destroy our nation’s economy and oceans but I do love me some retribution! I’m voting you Dems out of office!  That’ll teach you!”

I hear Lipton is interested in marketing Memento 2 with promotional tea bags.

Really, how can Americans be so damn clueless? “Bush who? Republicans were in control of Congress before? Did they lower the deficit then, solve the Health Care crisis, make our economy better and make life better for Americans just as they promise to do now? Huh? Sure I’ll pull your finger, why not?!”

If you’ll excuse me mixing my allegories on an empty stomach, another one came to mind. This situation is like impatiently watching firemen trying to put out a forest fire started by arsonists, they don’t succeed as quickly as desired so they are the ones blamed for the fire, they are fired from their jobs and the arsonists are instead put in charge of stopping the fire they started.

Instead of short term memory loss being a physiological thing for far too many Americans, maybe they’re just political pot heads. They get high on their politics, eat crappy food that makes them obese and lazy and lose their short term memory of why they voted for Obama and which party put this country in a position where it needs to be rescued.

From now on, whenever I hear someone railing against Obama and the Dems for not quickly fixing all of the destruction of our country we’re suffering through that the Repubs and Bush caused and want to express their dissatisfaction by putting matches and gasoline back in the hands of these arsonists, all I can say is, “Are you high?”

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Khirad
Member

There was once a South Park, where it turned out that “Earth”

bito
Member

I wonder if this site will even make any difference to persons with ADD. http://www.healthcare.gov/

Another problem, I see, are the talking heads do not even challenge statements by politicians that are blatantly wrong.
Example from today: Recently the CBO released a revision on the reduction HCR will have on the debt–it will reduce it greater than first reported. Yet, a Republican Representative from Texas goes unchallenged stating that HCR will add trillions to the debt.
Did he not know, did the host not know, or it it just policy to let a pol have his point–lie or not. Could the host at least asked him if he didn’t believe the CBO or where he got his figures.

Like I said, it is just an example, but how can one expect an electorate to be educated? Can we not expect a little guidance from those you are supposed to be giving us the news. Or is it all just opinion now?

Just once I would like someone challenge Sen. McCain and his making it sound like “earmarking” will save us trillions of dollars. What, at best it will alter the spending of $20-30 billion out of a trillion dollar budget? Why is allowed to inflame his base by making it sound so large? Why is he unchallenged?

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

*

bito
Member

OK, BT, I will start using your stats over the CBO’s this time, maybe somebody else next time…….Think I’ll just switch around. Cato one time, the CAP the next.

Questinia
Member

There is a great overlap between ADD and PTSD. I recall after 9/11 we, as Health Care Providers, were given information about what to expect in the weeks, months, and years to come. The numbing, teabaggish acting out as well as the acting out of inducing war, anger, attention and memory deficits, were all prognosticated.

Given that we are an ADD nation to begin with, as we were settled by people who could not abide by European systems (continuing to this day it seems) a superimposition of PTSD upon those symptoms puts them into nitro- funny car overdrive.

Khirad
Member

Yes, Q, I’ve read those theories as well, about why so many “Hunters” settled America. It actually makes sense.

Farmers are often too cautious or set in their ways to take such risks. And some of the rules they have are mindnumbingly, draconianly, stupid (especially the way they’ve structured the school system).

Questinia
Member

Absolutely on the school system, Khirad. I think most Americans learn heuristically. I know I do. I can do the reading and rote well enough but it is not my natural way to learn. The pond I write about in my post, for instance, is an example of that.

Perhaps the school system is yet another way to keep a certain subset of kids down and unaccomplished.

whatsthatsound
Member

Great article! I hear that. But I think we need a viable, We The People focused third party to emerge, and how! Because I agree with you that Republican Disaster Government got us into all these messes, there still isn’t enough difference between the two parties to ensure that the needs and rights of the common man will have priority no matter who is in power for four or eight years.

If Republicans regain power again in the midterms and ’12 elections, I’ll think the average American voter is a fool, but at the same time I won’t be shedding tears for those poor Democrat incumbents that tried their hardest to right the ship, because they didn’t.

Questinia
Member

I heard from a very good source that incumbency being in peril is a complete concoction by the media. It is not being observed on the local and state levels.

Nonetheless, I agree, Democrats were ineffectual by and large.

PatsyT
Member

If only they were high!
We could rebuild the economy with the sales of Cool Ranch Doritos!
Well, we do have one fresh reminder of the magic of Bush…..
httpsh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InYVVS5ddKU
http://www.tvweek.com/viral-video/3/

bito
Member

Think she should have practiced in front of the mirror first? Or many a fundraiser for her local PBS station might be a good audition. But what?? She’s a Bush! She starts out on national TV?

PatsyT
Member

She wasn’t any better today either.
How many great young reporters are there that have worked the tails off and really NEED the work!
She is adding to the unemployment numbers!

FlyingLotus
Member

Unfortunately, ADD is not solely a problem for voters on the right, but from the left, and progressives too.

I see this especially when gay rights are the topic of an article.The amount of bitchin’ and moanin’ I see is absurd.Do people really think voting in a republican, whether by actual choice, or by proxy, sitting out an election, is going to “change” things for the better?!?

Yes, indeed they do.MA is case in point.

My favorite quote of Gore Vidal, “The United States of Amnesia”.

Or, excuse me while I channel my inner Wanda Sykes, “You people are outta your rabid ass minds!”

bito
Member

I agree Lotus, I saw Laura Flanders (Grit.tv) on today and saying how terrible the financial Reform Act was. Oh, you are so right Laura, it is so much worse than what Bush proposed, and the amendments that the R’s proposed wouldn’t have gutted out the whole bill. It is the Dems fault for making any compromises just to stop ANOTHER filibuster!!! Why can’t the Dems get Unemployment, COBRA, small business credits, a jobs bill, deficit reduction……passed? why do they insist on 60 votes?

bito
Member

Don’t forget the “bikini graph”. Still it is Obama’s fault!

http://stevensonblog.blogs.tuscaloosanews.com/files/2010/06/4668683929_77773d55ff.jpg

Kalima
Admin

You funny, just did a huge belly laugh for me, I owe you My Darling, how much?

bito
Member

While you were posting, AdLib, I was reading this article that attempts to take advantage of Nevada’s ADD and complete ignorance. I realize that i am a news/political junkie, but Lordy!! I rail against MSM and their lack of depth and their so called “both sides of the story.” If one person is lying, that is not the “other” side of the story.

Back to the article, Sharon Angle in a very short time seems quite capable to ignore her own hypocrisy, lack of knowledge and inability to use logic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cAi6UnAfT4&feature=player_embedded

Angle Calls Unemployed Americans

dildenusa
Member

Who was it who said “Let them eat cake?” Oh well, it doesn’t matter anyway. I heard an interesting statistic this morning on NPR. Since December 2007, one-third of the workforce,

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_total_number_of_people_in_US_workforce

has been affected by the recession. Maybe my short term memory is gone but I can still do the math. Let’s see, 150,000,000 * 0.3 = 50,000,000.

Khirad
Member

Why aren’t there more reporters like Jon Ralston.

He was, *gasp* actually asking questions and following them up – challenging her, and not letting her get away with her crap.

Rachel was right. If only more of them were let out of their information vacuum on FOX & Co., and challenged on their BS.

Kalima
Admin

What was this, no jobs. What are these ideas?

This woman has a job, how dare she?

I have 3 friends in America, no jobs, no insurance, no life, can you fix a you stupid woman?

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

*

bito
Member

BT, Explain,please.

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

*

bito
Member

Since I am unable to understand her program or get Ms. angle to elaborate, I will have to make some assumptions.
Are there not programs that supplement low income wage earners now? Odd the top of my head I can think of food stamps, WIC, Section 8 housing, and some states, workers with jobs have unemployment if one does not work a full forty hours. Some states/cities have low income housing. Probably more.
Are those supplements?