The 2024 American socio-political landscape is impacted with immeasurable effluvium. Political perjury is profuse, and social subterfuge is the status quo. Consider the level of “ignore your eyes, believe what we tell you” insanity consuming the country:
Men can be women
The Republicans will destroy our Democracy™
The Democrats care about the people
Illegal immigrants are seeking asylum
The border is secure
California is a model for America
Joe Biden has created a booming economy
Abortion is a reproductive right
People don’t kill people; guns kill people
Those not of your political leaning are the enemy
Government is responsible for welfare
A man who is cognitively unfit to stand trial is mentally fit to be president
Socialism is good; capitalism is bad
Drag shows are “family-friendly”
Gender is a social construct
and so on and so on and so on
This is on the order of Orwell’s omen that “[t]he Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Between politicians perpetually perjuring themselves and mass media mendacity, is it any wonder that people lack trust in them, and even the average American regularly disseminates dishonesty whether intentionally or incidentally? How have we wandered so far from fact into the realm of fiction? Why do so many believe the balderdash and accept the mendacity?
You may recognize the title of this piece from a statement made by Jack Nicholson’s Joker, in the 1989 movie Batman, that “this town needs an enema!” His lament was that Batman, or as the Joker put it, “a man dressed up as a bat” was getting all the attention he (the Joker) deserved. His contention was that he was normal, and a man dressed as a nocturnal flying mammal was not. It seems we’re caught up in a similar situation, but it’s not an evil supervillain who is seeking attention: it is the politicians, pundits, and narcissists with which society today seems replete.
Perhaps it is social media that has pushed us over the edge from vanity to egomania and omphaloskepsis. In the age before cell phones - perhaps it could be a time period referred to as “BM”: Before Mobile (pun intended) - only some holding public office, those hired by Hollywood, and newscasters tended to be well-known or to receive any type of air time. With the proliferation of handheld broadcasting devices loaded with self-aggrandizing apps, we’ve fallen down the rabbit hole with Alice into a Kafkaesque wonderland. People are obsessed with trivialities, consumed with carnality, obsessed with obtusity, and immersed in absurdity. Up is down, right is wrong, evil is good - it is all utterly psychotic.
And for what? Are people that desperate for attention? To wield power? To exert influence? I suppose it depends on from whence it comes. All of it is evil, the intentional destruction of society, unraveling societal norms, eschewing any sense of self-control - it is a rejection of morality, of objective truth, and - yes - of God. Our moral digestive system has been congested by a convoluted cascade of crap, and it’s time to unload.
Everyone knows that constipation is uncomfortable, and in time, can become life-threatening. Our society is at that point of preparing to burst and become septic. As patients who suffer a ruptured stercoral ulcer have a high mortality rate, so does a society that turns its back on objective truth and morality.
Some will say “God isn’t necessary for morality.” But there is no “evolutionary” explanation for objective morality. If there is no God, there is no objective standard. If there is no objective standard, all things (including morality) are relative. If all things are relative, anything goes. And this is what we are seeing today.
John Adams said that our Constitution would only suffice to govern and constrain “a moral and religious People.” I have written before of his contention that “should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World” (John Adams to the Massachusetts Militia, 11 Oct. 1798).
Adams’ foreboding declamation is coming to fruition. People use language of “justice” while injustice is practiced. Politicians use language of “moderation,” yet they, and the populace, practice “iniquity and extravagance.” A facade of sincerity fails to cover the “Rapine and insolence” flourishing in government and on city streets.
Our country needs a hefty dose of intellectual Dulcolax to flush the festering fecal matter from the hearts, minds, and souls of its people. America needs to rediscover its moral and religious roots; otherwise, the United States soon will be “the most miserable habitation in the world.”
You forgot pedophilia is a sexual preference.
“BM”: Before Mobile {laugh} I love that! We have a new era split! BM and AM!
Great article. Having fun with big words? Despite the usage of big words, this is a very readable article. We feel very much like we are in "1984 land". We seem to be living a fiction. To see reality you need to turn off your mainstream TV, your mainstream Social Media (turn on MeWe), step outside and experience real nature instead of virtual reality.
Virtual reality has become very unreal!