We have more information at our fingertips than ever before in human history, yet we’re also isolated from each other in our digital, allegorical caves. Expressing dissent is easily done, but committing yourself to actually resist the powers that be takes a sacrifice most people are unwilling to make. Antiwar organizers know this frustration all too well. Getting people to realize that a difference can be made through protesting is hard enough, but encouraging them to do more than that is damn near impossible. Apathy reigns supreme, and rather than use the internet as a means to change reality, we view it as reality itself.

download fileThere’s also something to be said about the fact that we’ve become so demoralized that we not only accept a certain level of corruption, violence, and dishonesty from our leaders, but actually expect it from them. As horrible as the tasering of this student was, it honestly didn’t surprise me. This clip of ‘The Word’ is especially relevant since The Daily Show had put a positive spin on Hillary’s atrocious healthcare plan just moments before. Stewart’s framing of the plan as a progressive idea that only neocons are against was irresponsible at best. We can not allow ourselves to be reduced to settling for the lesser of two evils, especially when that standard slips lower every election cycle. If we refuse to accept this centrist status quo bullshit, we can in fact change things.