I’m still reading social media reactions to the climate protest tomato soup toss in the UK and the sloshy potato toss in Germany.
For those who don’t get it, the point is to make a big social comment. The action gets the media attention that allows an activist to speak to many through the media. I believe that the statements above also include a disdain for “things” that are valued more than people.
Many many people suggest that voting is the answer.
It used to be. Sorta. Way back at some point in history, you could pay attention to political campaigns and sorta have an idea what a politician stood for. You sorta knew what their track records were. Candidates were sorta available to the press and even to the public.
But as time went on and big money became giga-money with mega self-interest and the ability to self-perpetuate – the actual democracy of our system kind of fell apart.
When you add in the ability of the ultra-rich to sway the public by paid-for social media trolling, sophisticated disinformation campaigns, and more paid-for propaganda as well as creative campaign donations you end up with a political sham. Most of it is complete bullshit.
We don’t know what we’re voting for anymore. And if we did, the candidates don’t deliver it anyway.
And if you need proof of this, start to list the hurts of our world and tell me –
did you vote for:
- massive pollution
- climate change that brings floods, insane weather, drought, crop failure, and species die off
- a massive concentration of wealth to a very small number of people
- increased poverty
- endless wars over things
- global recession
- pandemics that easily travel around the world
- increasing government control and overreach
- and in my country: collapsing social systems including public healthcare and schools with the promise of more collapse
I didn’t vote for any of it but that’s what I got.
I’m not against voting. I’m against calling countries that vote for their leaders “democracies” when these days most of our politicians are helped into places of power with the financial endorsement of the ultra-wealthy. I’m against voting for government officials who do whatever they want with ZERO accountability. I’m against continuing with a system that believes money is next to godliness. That rewards getting ahead even if it means harming many people in the process. I’m against a system of unchecked growth – it always ends in disaster.
I’m a bit old to toss soup at paintings but I understand the absolute frustration of voting for the things you want and getting crap in return. I understand the devastation of being young and knowing you inherit a collapsing world – not of your making.
Vote if that spins your wheels. Write to your leader and insist on change. Both are better than nothing. Maybe even better is to start writing to the media. Letters to the editor do get published and read. Start learning who the super-wealthy string pullers are. It’s time to name them and hold them accountable publicly. Hold leaders accountable publicly. Keep asking questions until they get answered. Get involved. And if all else fails… toss some soup.
Photo credit: Element5 Digital @Pexels