Political Warfare, Baudrillard and the Hyper-Real Debt Crisis
The debate we have just witnessed has shown Washington, D.C. not just to be broken, but corrupt. The American people are disgusted watching politicians play political chicken with the nation’s economy and future. In such a bitter and unprincipled atmosphere, whoever has the political clout to enforce their self-interest and retain their privileges wins the battles. But there are two casualties in such political warfare: the common good and the most vulnerable.
Above is an excerpt from an essay by Jim Wallis which was published over at Huff Post Religion.
Although my thoughts on this recent debt debate are not dissimilar to Jim’s, in a very real way, I find my self feeling very disenchanted by this whole thing. In a sense, it is similar to the way I feel when I’m watching a reality TV show; I could care less about the outcome. I wonder if this might be a symptom of living in Baudrillard’s hyper-reality?
Baudrillard argues that today we only experience prepared realities–edited war footage, meaningless acts of terrorism, the Jerry Springer Show etc…The very definition of the real has become: that of which it is possible to give an equivalent reproduction…The real is not only what can be reproduced, but that which is always already reproduced: that is the hyper-real…which is entirely in simulation.
It just feels like the way this whole debt crisis played out, it could have been a script for a reality TV show. It was drummed up to be a huge dramatic issue by the media (not that it wasn’t), but then in the nick of time our hero’s rush in, compromise, and save the day. Not that it’s over mind you. You need to tune in next time to see what happens. There is still a plan to “trigger” another crisis to force another plan.
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Mixed Media Piece above by the talented Chad Andrews
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