The charade of politics is to make voters think that the personal narrative of the candidate affects the operation of the corporate state. It doesn't really matter on the fundamental issues whether the President is Republican or Democratic. Chris Hedges More Quotes by Chris Hedges More Quotes From Chris Hedges We live in imaginary, virtual worlds created by corporations that profit from our deception. Chris Hedges corporations deception world War in the end is always about betrayal, betrayal of the young by the old, of soldiers by politicians, and of idealists by cynics. Chris Hedges betrayal war peace The bleakness of what faces us is difficult to swallow. As long as we engage in happy platitudes and a false kind of vision of the possible, it may empower you over the short term, but it is eventually, because of the reality in front of us, going to lead to despair and cynicism and apathy. It's better to swallow hard the bitter pill of what we're up against. Chris Hedges empowering long reality No real journalist makes $5 million a year... Those in power fear and dislike real journalists. Chris Hedges democracy real years Again, although I'm not a particularly religious person, I go back to the religious left that I come out of: There are moral imperatives to fight back. As Daniel Berrigan says, "We're called to do the good." And then we have to let it go. It's not our job to know where the good goes. Chris Hedges fighting religious jobs The arts often realize human truths well before other branches of human endeavor. Chris Hedges realizing branches art War is not about flag-waving and patriotism. War is about killing and death. Chris Hedges flags killing war Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history. Chris Hedges humans past years The vanquished know war. They see through the empty jingoism of those who use the abstract words of glory, honor, and patriotism to mask the cries of the wounded, the senseless killing, war profiteering, and chest-pounding grief. Chris Hedges grief honor war The failure to dissect the cause of war leaves us open for the next installment. Chris Hedges next war peace The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe not at the same speed as under a Republican Administration, but it's all headed in the same direction. Chris Hedges criminals wall cutting The inability to grasp the pathology* of our oligarchic rulers is one of our gravest faults. Chris Hedges pathology inability faults The belief that rational and quantifiable disciplines such as science can be used to perfect human society is no less absurd than a belief in magic, angels, and divine intervention. Chris Hedges angel atheist perfect It's the willingness on the part of people who seek personal enrichment to destroy other human beings… And because the mechanisms of governance can no longer control them, there is nothing now within the formal mechanisms of power to stop them from the creating, essentially, a corporate oligarchic state. Chris Hedges creating states people The split in America, rather than simply economic, is between those who embrace reason, who function in the real world of cause and effect, and those who, numbed by isolation and despair, now seek meaning in a mythical world of intuition, a world that is no longer reality-based, a world of magic. Chris Hedges intuition real america Legitimate rage on the part of working men and women is directed not only towards government but, I think quite correctly, towards liberals, who speak in a very hypocritical language about caring for their interests and yet support institutions that carry out an assault against working men and women. Chris Hedges caring men thinking The moral nihilism of celebrity culture is played out on reality television shows, most of which encourage a dark voyeurism into other people's humiliation, pain, weakness, and betrayal. Chris Hedges betrayal pain dark The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug. Chris Hedges addiction drug war There are always people willing to commit unspeakable human atrocity in exchange for a little power and privilege. Chris Hedges atrocities littles people The moral certitude of the state in wartime is a kind of fundamentalism. And this dangerous messianic brand of religion, one where self-doubt is minimal, has come increasingly to color the modern world of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Chris Hedges color self doubt
