Primary Day for what?

So it's Primary Day in NYS and I have been graced by the NYS Board of (or Bored with) Elections not recognizing my political affiliation or party with the inability to cast a vote for anyone running for president.

Not that I really see anyone on the ballot worth voting for.

Bernie has been argued as the “best of the bad choices” with his reformist social-democratic ideas. Great. His end point is my starting point. Even if he could get his agenda through the Congress it would suffer death by a thousand cuts from succeeding politicians. Look at FDR's “New Deal” and LBJ's “Great Society” for great examples of this.

The joys of reformism.

Hillary? No thank you. I voted against Bill. Twice. They called themselves “Eisenhower Republicans” back in the 1990's and the DNC is so controlled by big business that I really don't see much difference between her and her Republican rivals. Social issues are one thing. The only reason she is singing the song she is singing right now is because of Bernie and his popularity. It will die soon enough if she wins the nomination.

Trump? Heavens no. Bankrupt four times and how do you lose money running a casino? Plus I don't much like his rhetorical style. He strikes me as an “Arnold Schwarzenegger” candidate – Look at what Arnie did to California and that's what I fear Trump doing to the US.

Cruz? America is still reeling from the last time we let a one term Senator run the country. Inexperienced and too conservative on too many issues.

Kasich? The friendly and compassionate face of Republicanism. Look at Ohio and that's what he wants to do writ large. What Kasich did to Ohio is nothing worth repeating. Plus I already turned down three candidates that shill for big business.

So … I have no one to vote for.

However listening to people discuss the policies of the capitalist candidates I am reminded of how history books are written and the many theories of how history is written. (Aside from the obvious – by the victors.)

There is what is called the “Great Man (or Woman)” Theory of history. Basically put, a country is in dire straights (the band was much better) and along comes a great person to lead them out of their troubles and on to prosperity and / or success.

Look at the kings of Europe and Ancient times. Look at modern American politics and campaigns.

All the economic problems we have – and they tell us how they will solve them.

Look at the social crises that we are facing – and they tell us how they will solve them.

Look at the foreign policy, environmental (unless you are a Republican. Then this doesn't exist.), etc – and they tell us how they will solve them.

Sad but true, they never do.

There is a school of history that goes along with the Marxist interpretation of history.

It has a different answer to the “Great Man (or Woman)” of history.

It goes like this: The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of the world unite!

The only way for the working class to save itself from the perpetual crisis of capitalism is to overthrow capitalism altogether.

So we can play along with the capitalist game of super-hero coming to save us from the current crisis, hoping that we forget that they created it.

Or we can put an end to the system and its defenders and move on to something better.

Your choice.