Merry Christmas

 "People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance."

Niccolo Machiavelli

Excellent advice.

Machiavelli lived from 1469-1527. He lived in Italy as a diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian during the Italian Renaissance. His most famous work is a political treatise titled The Prince.

Niccolo claimed that his experience and reading of history demonstrated that politics has always involved deception, treachery, and crime. He encouraged rulers to engage in evil when political necessity requires it and argued that successful reformers of states should not be blamed for killing other leaders who could block change.

Some consider it an honest description of political reality, others describe it as a how-to manual explaining how would-be tyrants should seize and maintain power. Some scholars, even today, consider Machiavelli a "teacher of evil."

Don't be naive. These words are an honest description of political reality. Today. In America.

The last time Don Whoreleon (thanks Jimmy Kimmel) ran for president he was licking putin's balls in an interview with Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly said "But he's a killer." The Commander-In-Thief (thanks Jimmy Kimmel) said "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?"

There was an uproar of outrage. Problem is he was speaking the truth.

This country kills, it supports dictators it considers beneficial to our interests then double-crosses them if it doesn't work out, it lies to the people, it hides facts from the people, it cheats the people and keeps them in their place. Politicians do NOT look out for the best interests of their constituents. 

People have figured that out. That's how Fiberace (thanks Jimmy Kimmel) got elected. Twice.

You don't have the control over your life that you think you do. Unless you have a lot of money. Money is the great equalizer. Most of us don't have enough money to afford even Spam more than once a week. The other six days, it's cat food.

As low wage-earners we cede control of our lives to politicans, bankers, and vicious corporate executives, none of whom give a damn whether we live or die. They shit on us and force us to clean up the mess.

That's why Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. You can get drunk and people forgive you. Your perception of reality gets rosy until you are puking up Christmas dinner on 12/26. But for a few hours, life does not seem to be that bad.

The opiate of the masses. It is what we are allowed.

So listen, I truly want you to have a magnificent Christmas in 2024. I really do. Dig your family, drink excessively, and laugh a lot. We are told incessantly to "live in the moment." Good advice. But most moments wallow in cesspools. Christmas is sweet magnificance. A rare exception.

Merry Christmas, all!

And to all, a good night.