It doesn't seem so long ago that we were living in the eighties with big hair, new devices, and an ever increasing hope of prosperity and health, fuelled by the promises of politicians.
Since then we've had several crises, notably the big financial hits, roving war and a systematic failure to deliver on the promises they made. Now we see queues at foodbanks, ridiculously high energy bills, greater social division, a plethora of payday loans companies charging interest rates that would make a loan-shark blush, and a distinct absence of hope and expectation for the future.
Cue an election. Media, celebrities and experts abound. Politicians don their almost-human look and feign interest while delivering their false dichotomies.
What do the people do? Join in, get passionate and turn up like subservient drones to give their passive acceptance to a continuing dismantling of the thing we used to call society.
When the passion of people who object to the world that has been created is demonstrated they are denounced as deluded revolutionaries, bad neighbours, anti-social ne'er do wells and a disorganised rabble of malcontents; their outspoken paid and unpaid detractors maintain individual struggles as they work hard to support a system they have chosen to believe will see them prosper if only they suffer long enough and don't complain.
All the time, the monied, privileged owners sit in the background, watching the cash roll in. Their position isn't up for grabs, they've already grabbed it. It must be hard not to laugh if you're amongst them, but I guess they'll never tell us that, they don't walk among us and we are not invited.
Happy Illusion Day America. We are watching.
