PoliticalKabuki

PoliticalKabuki.com is a "not for profit" endeavor. The only financial interest we have is the out-of-pocket costs to maintain this URL and web site space on a host server. Ours is a labor born solely from the desire to take a more active role in opposition to the path on which we see America marching. We see that path leading to an ever increasing concentration of market forces, a massive accumulation of wealth and income by the upper one-half of 1%, a widening gap in the relative quality of life between upper and lower income groups and an alarming diminishment in democratic processes. A systemic result of the concentration of wealth and income in a so-called 'free market economy' is the concentration of political power in the hands of business executives and the super rich. The disproportionate accumulation of economic and political influence is largely masked by a gradual improvement in the well being of all levels of income. Maintaining a perception that the whole society benefits while a very small number reap incredible riches is key to sustaining a structure of extreme inequality. Big business and the super rich employ massive resources to create that 'reality' of well being. The emerging crises in health care, pension programs, education, the environment, etc. are deferred, framed and often minimized so that solutions do not endanger prosperity at the top. Risk and responsibility is 'democratized' while tax structure, public policies and the law are shaped to favor the economic and political elite.

During the past three decades dominant economic, political and religious interests in America have combined to take control of government and fundamentally transform it into an instrument of greed, dominance and repression. The ideologies of conservatives, libertarians and the rightwing Christian evangelicals serve the political and legal interests of the financially powerful. Political ideas such as 'laissez faire,' small government, 'deregulation,' and 'starve the beast' play into the hands of those in power and strengthen the collusive relationship between business and government. Political restraints once imposed by 'countervailing powers' and democratic 'checks and balances' are being undermined.

The public relations and advertising industry, which has served business so well by generating markets, shaping attitudes and creating desire, is now more evident in politics and government than ever before. Their job is to create a sense of well being and to focus attention on matters that do not threaten the existing political and economic structure. Putting together focus groups to determine language and labels that elicit a positive feeling has become an important government function. Terms such as 'war on terrorism,' 'axis of evil,' 'Clear Skies,' 'Healthy Forests,' 'Patriot Act,' 'death tax,' and 'personal accounts' are some obvious examples. Instead of arguing facts or logic, 'spin' is used to mold public sentiment for policies and government action (or inaction). The idea of employing the 'bully pulpit' to prove a case and persuade the citizenry has descended into a process of photo ops, sound bites, 'fans only' audiences and a broad use of disingenuous marketing techniques

Media in America has failed to adequately reveal this story. No surprise really...they rake in money from the process Additionally, cheap entertainment has become the focus of profit driven newsrooms. 'Political correctness' is disdained, but 'issue framing' and linguistic manipulation is given a pass. 'He said, she said' political reporting is presented as 'balanced coverage.' Those in power know that propaganda is cheap to produce and easy to disseminate. Consolidated news organizations curry favor and frequently trade accuracy for access. 'Independent' public radio and TV are operating in a survival mode and are being tempered to accommodate views of the extreme political right. Public broadcasting is becoming another mouth piece for the controlling economic and political elite. Much of our 'information' comes from business or government press releases and briefings. 'News outlets' distribute what is easily available and focus on the bottom line rather than produce authentic investigative reporting.

These circumstances account for an increasingly Orwellian atmosphere in contemporary American life. The political process which we have come to refer to as 'American democracy' is now a stage that defines its own reality and the players are only the most powerful and financially well endowed.

PoliticalKabuki.com is an attempt to bring more attention to this transformation in American politics and add our voice to a popular resistance.