Democracy

Rick’s Perspective on Democracy: A Capitalist Illusion

Alright, listen up, Morty, because I’m only gonna say this once. You think democracy is this noble, pure system where you, the "people", get to make real choices, right? Ha! That’s cute. Democracy, in its current form, is the capitalist world’s greatest trick—it’s the ultimate illusion of choice. Let’s break it down.

Two Pre-Selected Candidates, One Corporate Agenda

You ever notice how it doesn’t matter who you vote for, Morty? You’re not choosing between some grand visionary and a clown, you’re picking between Option A and Option B, both of which have been pre-selected by the powers that be. It’s like walking into a store where the only two products on the shelf are Coke and Pepsi—different labels, same sugary garbage.

The game isn’t about letting you pick what you want, Morty; it’s about making you think you’re in control. But here’s the kicker: no matter who wins, the system stays the same. Democrats, Republicans, Labour, Conservative, whatever. They’re all just brands in the corporate marketplace of politics, selling you the same thing in a different package. The only difference? Who they pander to for votes. But once they’re in, the real work gets done behind the scenes. And that work? That’s for the big donors.

The Revolving Door: Where Money Talks, Policy Walks

Now let’s talk about the revolving door, Morty. It’s where the real magic happens. You’ve got these private companies—corporations, banks, defense contractors, you name it—pouring millions into political campaigns. They don’t just donate out of the goodness of their hearts. No, they’re buying influence. Call it "lobbying" in the U.S. if you wanna put a nice spin on it. Anywhere else? We’d call that corruption, plain and simple.

These corporations and their wealthy CEOs fund politicians like they’re placing bets at a horse race, making sure whichever puppet wins is gonna pull the strings in their favor. Once elected, these politicians are like, "Oh, thanks for the campaign money, Mr. CEO. What’s that? You want deregulation on your industry? Sure thing! You want lower taxes for your billionaire buddies? No problem!" The politicians just slip into the cozy pockets of the companies that helped them win.

Then, when they’re done "serving the people", they step out of office and—surprise!—they get cushy jobs at the very companies they were supposed to be regulating. That’s why they call it the revolving door, Morty. They rotate in and out of government and private industry, like one big sleazy merry-go-round of corporate favors.

The Debt That Won’t Quit

But here’s where it gets even funnier. You think changing the guy—or gal—on the throne is gonna change anything about the mountain of government debt? Think again. The debt isn’t tied to who’s in charge; it’s tied to the system itself. Wars, bailouts, infrastructure, social programs, corporate subsidies—it doesn’t matter who’s steering the ship. The spending machine keeps churning, and it’s always in the red.

Let’s be real, Morty: no one’s paying off this debt. It’s too big. We’re just kicking the can down the road, passing the problem on to the next generation—you. The government’s like that guy who’s maxed out ten credit cards but somehow keeps getting approved for new ones. You can swap out the figurehead in charge every four years if it makes you feel better, but the spending? It never stops. Even if you left the office of president or prime minister completely empty, the machine would keep running.

The problem is, the whole system runs on credit and debt. Governments borrow billions from private banks, corporations, foreign powers. So you get this hilarious cycle where politicians campaign on "fiscal responsibility" and "reducing the deficit", but once they’re in office, they’re handing out contracts and subsidies to the same companies that funded their campaigns, all while signing off on new spending bills.

The Illusion of Democracy in Late-Stage Capitalism

In the end, Morty, democracy’s just a smoke-and-mirrors act in late-stage capitalism. You’re not changing the game by voting; you’re just validating it. The system doesn’t work for you—it works for the ones with the money, the ones who can afford to buy influence. Every election is just a rerun of the same show, and the real script is written behind closed doors, in backroom deals and corporate boardrooms. So yeah, you can vote if it makes you feel better, but remember: the choice isn’t really yours. It’s theirs.

And that, Morty, is why democracy in a capitalist world is the biggest scam of all.