Unoposing Poles
We used to think that we had two polarized political groups. Two ideological visions with irreconcilable differences. We embraced those differences according to our sympathies, backgrounds, and ideas about what a modern prosperous and just country would look like.
We became polarized as a people to the point that we started to imagine the possibility of splitting the country in halves (we never agreed whether to split it horizontally or vertically) and sit back to enjoy the view of what they would do with their half. We knew they’d turn it into a desert pretty soon while our half would become Dubai, Hong Kong, or Singapore.
Too much indecision and inaction and those fuckers kept the whole thing. As we anticipated, they turned it all into a desert. Of course, they made sure to save some oasis for their leaders. To keep the illusion of polarized politics, they gave some “opposing” politicians some free passes for their oasis in exchange for playing their part.
The polarization at the level of ideas is still there, but in practice, at least for this generation of politicians, they are just variations of the same theme.
Both parties feel very comfortable making people believe they are being empowered when in fact all their power, rights, independence, and future is being undermined by the paternalistic discourse they say they are fighting against.
They want people to feel safe, but they make sure that sense of safety comes only from big government. They make sure the very people they oppress are the ones asking for more.
The poor have internalized that they must keep sacrificing for a greater good and ask themselves what else they can give up for their country. Nationalism is a great polarizing tool. If you do not agree you are a traitor and traitors, by definition, relinquish any nation-granted right, right? On the other hand, politicians, moved by the threads pulled by the real players, only ask what the country’s treasury can do for them and their families.
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