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Political Corruptness
“Drain the swamp,” they chanted, as if they were taking a stand against corruption in high places.
Republicans have maintained a certain level of political power in these United States largely through bad faith incitement of culture warmongering, not the least effective of which is savvy marketing of petty grievances behind the branding of “political correctness” intended to shut down rational public discourse. Appealing to their fan base with pseudo-patriotic bombast and corny sloganeering for the sake of its twin policy priorities of privatizing public services while deregulating private industry for the benefit of moneyed interests and at the expense of the general welfare, the last thing right wing conservatives that stoke resentment of all things “politically correct” really want is a healthy and productive civil discourse.
Is it really so hard to celebrate Christmas in the USA? Does acknowledging our religious diversity with a “Happy Holidays” greeting in a retail transaction make celebrating the birth of your savior so difficult? Is tolerating a commitment to love and partnership outside of any particular theological restrictions so oppressive that it feels like violent coercion?
The ugly truth, of course, is that we love being politically correct in America. Always have. If you don’t believe it, just try saying out loud in any random gathering…