Most of us actually believe what we are told, either from one side of the aisle or the other. We may have a rebellious streak, but even our rebellion has conformity. Americans like the independent, rugged individualist and we all like to think of ourselves as being that way. But the truth is "rugged individualism" is not really an asset here. It sets you apart, makes you an outcast. The trick is to be highly conformant, and just unique enough to stand out, to appear unique.

I don't chime in on the political discussions here, because it just doesn't really seem the place to do it for me. I talk about things on a much smaller scale, one in my field, closer to home, so to speak. But the sockpuppeting thing we discussed recently is similar to what I think happens in the political arena in a huge way.

Public office should be about trusted service. That's what it should be. But what it is, is an effort to exert power. In America, the land of the free. Politics is nothing but exit polls, talking points and sound bites which is propoganda using media-friendly phrases. The information we receive is highly polished, doctored and analyzed for impact. Campaigns are polished and produced, and there is no such thing as public education or fact-finding for the people, not in public, not in the universities, nowhere. Action committees and spokespeople are bought and paid for.

In short, all politics is sockpuppets and shills. It is deception at the core level, and there is not a single person that can be trusted in the entire chain of command, from president down to court clerk in the smallest town. Neither party, in fact, party affiliation doesn't matter. The system just isn't setup to encourage honesty or ethics. Quite the opposite, it is setup to encourage deception and trickery, so naturally, only the ones best at deception will prevail. The one that wins is the one you didn't want to win, no matter what.

I don't think it's the Rebublicans fault. And I don't think it's the Democrats fault either. I think it's all of our faults. It's my fault too.

Every time I avoid court because it's a hassle and "no one wins," I give up a little more freedom. Every time I submit to a seat belt law or a search at the airport, I relinquish a little more freedom. Every time I vote, I pick one of two because any other would be a waste. Two choices. That's pretty close to a single choice. Multi-party systems have problems too, they virtually ensure a minority will win. But two choices? That's not a choice, that's an oligarchy. It's not a Republic, it's not a Democracy. It's an Oligarchy.

On the other hand, thinking that way isn't very productive. Every time I watch a two minute "expose" on network TV and form an opinion, I'm part of the problem. Every time I get excited about something, think I know what's best but really just became emotional about what I saw on TV, I'm part of the problem. My job is to check myself, be careful not to get swept up in an emotional belief system. Instead, Think. Decide. Act. Don't analyze, discuss and ignore. Do what I can do today, don't get worked up about the things I have no influence over, and make no mistake about which is which.

I'm a flag waving American simply because Americans are my neighbors. I'll stick by them. But every time I see a road trap and realize that the cop isn't sitting there for anyone's safety, he's a tax collector - Every time I see that, I get pissed. Every time I see someone discussing he morals or ethics of a situation in someone else's life, I get pissed. Every time I see a judge make a controversial "decision", I get pissed.

About the only thing that doesn't piss me off is when I go do something that helps someone else, and I stop thinking about all the damn politicians. I'm better off not wasting time and getting upset about things that are out of my hands. I'm better off when I do something here, today, locally, where I have a small chance of actually doing something that might benefit myself or someone else.

But I still hate the manipulative bastards. I'll have to work on that.