Years and years of supposed “progress”, billions of dollars, many politicans elevated to positions of power, and for what? The middle class is shrinking, they are becoming poorer, unable to live at their current living standards forced into the lower classes by years of detrimental policies, corruption,and rampant capitalism. The working class will soon become the useless class in the eyes of industrialists. Yet, the political parties in our country, those who are supposed to look out for the interests of citizens, have become ends in themselves instead of a means to an end.

Jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate, the cardinal campagin promise of today’s political parties; jobs, jobs, jobs has been heard but not seen. Increasingly our country has become more and more divided economically, socially, and politically. We give these parties our time, our energy, and our votes, but what do my fellow citizens have to show for it? We continue to hurt, continue to feel the effects of bad policies, corruption, and an inability to direct ourselves in a direction that would be profitable for the 99% in America. So why vote? Why give our money to these professional swindlers? To these political parties that do not benefit us, but only benefit the 1%? We allow these people every election cycle to come to us and ask for our votes, our time, and our trust and what have WE gained by it? A wink and a damn smile? Promises that are never kept? More despair? More hardship? And for what? So these politicians and industrialists can fill their pockets? Satisfy their lust for money amd for power? Power that is against, rather for us at that. What will we do when the oligarchy gets strong enough that they no longer have to consider our interests? How long before they use their power to make us slaves? They are already sucking us dry. How much longer until we have no more to give and then they dispose of us because a number of citizens have become useless to them economically? Because machines have filled our roles?

Our labor, thus far, has been the only leverage we have had to fight the industrial elite since the industrial age began. Protests, Boycotts, Unions have been the tools workers have used to fight against industrialists that exploit the workers, and who abuse their economic power in the poltical and social spheres. Artificial Intelligence is poised to not only make those tactics ineffective, but wipe out any chance for workers to earn a income and not only survive, but thrive in this world, by increasingly displacing workers across different economic sectors with machines. It is happening NOW! Our biggest employers Walmart, Amazon, Mcdonalds, Uber, even professions such as lawyers and doctors have already begun being replaced by those implementing A.I, and have cut their workforce, but have kept all of their profits. Yet, political parties tout “progress” and call for jobs.

Climate change, one of the biggest existential threats we face today as a species, has been widely ignored, and not acted upon. The only planet we have is being destroyed. The weather has become abnormal. Last year we had summer on Christmas Day. Places like California, are suffering droughts. The ice in the artice is melting at an alarming rate, faster than anticipated, and scientists believe we are reaching the point of no return. Yet, our political parties have been beholden to moneyed interests, those who stand to lose money have used their wealth to obstruct or ouright stop efforts that would curb climate change and at least stop the damage to our planet, aided by our political parties, those who claim to “protect our best interests.”

Yet, our ability to thwart these charlatans and evil people has been degraded. These people use advocacy organizations, interest groups, and other methods to oppose and defeat any attempt to fix these problems. Using their money and influence to abuse the political process for private gain, and to prevent any challenge to their power. They are better organized, and do not even obey the same rules that average citizens do. Meanwhile, many citizens have sat back, and allowed this to happen because they don’t care and are consumed with themselves.

I just turned 23, and had just began to learn about what is going on in the world a few years ago and I am furious. I am angry at the elites who wield their power to oppress citizens. Angry at those who sit by idly as the elites gain power, while my fellow citizens get weaker. The wealth of workers has been decreasing for 30 years, and our livelihoods are being taken away by those who constantly mislead us, those who are hanging citizens out to dry so that they can enjot a few extra privleges, those who rose to office but ended up exploiting citizens, but I admire the citizens that tried, who fought in the interests of America. But those who in their apathy and ignorance allowed what was happening in our government, allowed the siphoning of our power and means to act I find it hard to have any respect for.

I fear for the future of this country, for the future of this planet, for the future of our species. Some may believe that God will save us. Save us from the nuclear weapons we have had pointed at each other for years. Save us from our social ills. Save us from the destruction of our planet. Save us from ourselves.

Those who can should step up, they must rise up to the challenge, join together, and face these fuckers before our species face total destruction the likes of which there is no coming back from. If we continue on the same path we are now, wait until shit hits the fan, and when its too late. Are we really going to be the species that looks back and wishes that we had done more, had not come together when we ought, had noy risen up when we ought, or had fought back when we ought? There is nothing that will descend from the stars or the heavens to come fix mankind’s conundrums, ultimately it will rest on all of our shoulders.