This is one of those times when I opened up notepad simply because I feel I should type something. So I guess it doesn't matter what I actually type. Of course, it never matters what I type, but with this post that is particularly true. So we shall begin on Matt's Mystical, Magical, Magestic, Mysterious Meanderings.

Where have all the great politicians gone? I realize that settling for Bush is not a big deal since there have been (wait for it) worse presidents in American history. I mean Hoover, of course, and definitely anyone after Lincoln and before T.R. (that includes that long lost relative of Shadow Van Something--US Grant). BUUUT during these eras with horrible presidents we usually had great leadership in other venues of politics. The depravity of White House economic ignorance through the 1870s and 1890s depression gave rise to the labor unions. Now keep in mind, these were really fucking bad ass labor unions. They were not relegated to some obscure role in the weak democratic party. No, no my friend. These labor unions ruled the world. This time period of shitty presidents also gave rise to the populist movement, which, in my opinion, revolutionized the Democratic party. So, I repeat, where have all the great politicians gone?

There's this thing that worries me. Bad presidents have always presided over generations that lived horriffic lives. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun in that we've only had one bad president, but I'm still worried. To be alive following 'reconstruction' was to be in pain. Yeah, no that I write this out it seems rather alarmist of me.

Does anyone else notice 1984 starting to take shape. The reduction of civil liberties are the most notable example of the Bush's attempt to create an Orwellian state. But the part that worries me most is that our country is engaged in constant warfare. I realize that one could argue we've been in constant warfare since 1941. However, the past conflicts did not pile on top of eachother like they do know. 15 years separated Korea and Vietnam, another 20 before Iraq I. But now we have 10,000+ soldiers in mulitple theaters for sustained offenses. And there is no reason to assume this will stop. And I'm not telling you anything you don't know. Even the most hawkish person will agree with these facts, and they will justify these facts. They'll say something like, "The current set of circumstances allows us no choice but to engage in these conflicts." Perhaps the hawk will add, "To win these battles we must win the peace." WIN THE PEACE. Everyone admits that's the goal. We must make war to facilitate the peace, and, because of the current circumstances, these 'wars' must take time. That REEKS of 'war is peace'!!! To enable peace we must have sustained periods of fighting. We are only 'at peace' with the middle east if we are engaged in some form of warfare. WAR IS PEACE! I know this doesn't make sense right now but thats because I haven't surfed in a week. But trust me. War and peace are now tautological. We've created a world where WAR IS PEACE. Notice I say 'we' (not bush) because we have enabled. Why have we enabled it??? Because IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH! (more on that in a future post)...

I'm definitely going to refine this over the next few days/weeks/months in hopes that I start making sense. But in the meantime I urge you to look out for the myriad of ways our world is making the following contradictions somehow, almost magically, true: FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, WAR IS PEACE....

STOP, now, whats that sound
everybody look whats going down