If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal

Western societies offer proof that voting is meaningless, or that when it really challenges power, power makes it meaningless.  Democracy the way it should be is pure fantasy in most countries, notably in America, Europe and Israel – neoliberal harshness triumphing over social justice. Redoubtable political/social activist Emma Goldman (1869 – 1940) once explained: “If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.” George Bernard Shaw once said “(d)emocracy is a form of government that substitutes elections by the incompetent many for the appointment of the corrupt few.”  Western societies offer proof. Ponzi schemes keep them afloat. Powerful interests run things, serving the privileged few at the expense of most others. Elections assure continuity, dirty business as usual triumphing every time. SRYIZA-promised change in Greece never came. The country remains Troika occupied territory – the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) running its economy.  The same goes throughout Europe, the continent and Britain beholden to powerful monied interests, benefitting at the expense of ordinary people. Right-wing extremism and pseudo-populism triumphed in Italy’s March general elections. An unlikely Matteo Salvini-led League/Luigi DiMaio-led Five Star Movement coalition will govern Italy’s dysfunctional state – Giusppe Conte to become prime minister, Salvini expected to be named interior minister, Di Maio to head the commerce ministry. President Sergio Mattarella earlier rejected Euroskeptic Paolo Savona as economy minister. He’ll likely become European affairs minister instead – Giovanni Tria expected to be named in charge of economic affairs. Though critical of Brussels’ control, he hasn’t urged abandonment of the euro – essential for Italy to regain its sovereign independence. It’s been an economic basket case for years – neoliberal harshness exacerbating deplorable conditions complicated further by disastrous euro policy. It’s a straightjacket harming economically and financially weak nations like Italy and Greece – economic powerhouse Germany benefitting at their expense. Euro policy forces member states to surrender their monetary and fiscal sovereignty to Brussels, controlled by a czar-like European Central Bank. Monied interests are empowered at the expense of ordinary people. Italian election results showed voters want change, unlikely under its new coalition government or any other one. On Friday, a majority no-confidence parliamentary vote forced Spain’s modern-day Francisco Franco from office – opposition leader Pedro Sanchez replacing Mariano Rajoy. His ousting followed numerous current and former officials in his fascist People’s Party found guilty of embezzlement, tax evasion, and other corruption-related offenses – ongoing for years. Rajoy has unrevealed skeletons in his closet, tainted like others in his party though not so far facing charges. His party was fined by Spain’s High Court for corrupt practices. Sanchez replacing Rajoy changed nothing mattering most – dirty business as usual certain to continue. The same holds in all Western societies – democracies in name only.

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