The Culture War: The Absurd Arena Live Discussion Board
Live chat at 12pm EST with Katie and Wilson in the Substack app chat!
Click here to join the live discussion board with Katie and Wilson in the Substack app chat
Hey Useful Idiots,
From Twitter to the corporate Sunday shows, it seems that in the past few weeks, a dump truck has unloaded on top of me an unending shower of garbage about the Culture Wars. Check out this tweet that popped up on my timeline from someone on the “left:”
And, after wiping the last remnants of trash out of my hair, I responded: what has any of that done to help actual Americans? the sick, hungry, or poor? The culture war, a tool used by the elites to divide the masses against each other, serves as a perfect distraction to, as Norman Finkelstein says, “derail, deflect, and diffuse a radical class-based politics.”
In April, Bud Light and the Trump indictment monopolized the airwaves while Biden’s decision to let Medicaid end for millions of Americans and reports of rampant government censorship snuck by unspoken in mainstream media.
Similarly, Useful Idiots guest Christian Parenti explained why the Democrats in power don’t help the people of East Palestine, even though doing so could ensure a landslide win over Republicans in a battleground state: “They’re afraid of the slippery slope. That if you give anything to working class interests, there’s the threat of a good example.” Because a win over the other faction of the ruling class isn’t actually the goal; the real win is dividing and conquering the rest.
So for this Absurd Arena, let’s be like our bipartisan Congress and play war games about the Culture War. How have they affected you? Do you see any significant importance in them? Do you agree with the idea that they’re a (extremely effective) distraction from issues affecting Americans?
Join Katie and Wilson at 12pm est to join the debate.
It's planting and pruning season here in the fruitbelt, so no live chatting. The Culture War is not farm-friendly, and seems very urban and white. Folks here on Lake Michigan's east shore work, pay bills, save to pay for braces and new tires. The imposition of ESG and drag queens performing at libraries just doesn't rock our debt-ridden boat. Female health issues are important, and Medicare for all would have been nice. It is absurd that media time is centered on issues that don't fix roads, get food on the table or reduce energy costs...oh well...trees won't prune themselves.!
I missed the "live" chat again, but am not sure I can participate due to lack of a Smart Phone; this might qualify me as a "Useless Idiot." My view of the "Culture War" is that it's a Top-down, Ivory Tower driven phenomenon. And, the kicker: It's all about White People. They've (whoever "They" is) managed to re-package old-fashioned Racism with "Woke!", which is itself a theft from American Black culture, as Aaron Mate pointed out somewhat recently. The ironies multiply--and divide.