The Debacle of New Orleans
(This is a revisit of the American tragedy of our time as sung or metered to to the tune of The Battle of New Orleans)
On September 2nd Dubya took a little trip
To the city under water on the mighty Mississip
He took a little bacon and he took a little beans
For the people who were dyin’ in the town of New Orleans
Old Dubya told them it was such a cryin’ shame
That the help didn’t come in time but he was not to blame
He hugged them and he patted them with pity in his eyes
And he acted like he gave a shit and filled them full of lies
(Chorus)
They cried out for help but no one came a runnin’
The King was on vacation and they would have to wait
After four long days he told them help was comin’
But for most of those who clung to life the help was much too late
(Verse)
They worried and they fretted as they saw the water rise
While the government was saying this had hit them by surprise
They didn’t have the money or a car to leave the town
So they couldn’t pack their families up and head for higher ground
The water got so high that it covered up their homes
They were told that they should try to reach the Superdome
So they climbed up on their rooftops and they lifted up a prayer
While Old Dubya played a guitar like he didn’t have a care
(Chorus)
They waited and they cried but no one came a runnin’
King Dubya shoulda been there when the waters overflowed
He posed and he smiled as the cameras kept a hummin’
As he graced them with his presence on the Gulf of Mexico
(verse)
Dubya told the people have no fear you’re not alone
Then he continued on vacation, left the people on their own
A wave of compassion’s on the way he’s fond to say
But not until we figure out just who’s in charge today
Well, who is playin’ first and what is playin’ second
I don’t know is playin’ third while the water’s all around
Chertoff’s playin’ I’m the boss and Brown is herding horses
And Dubya’s playin’ with himself while helpless people drown
With no food and no water they could only pray and cry
But no one seemed to give a damn if they would live or die
So they broke into the stores and took whatever they could find
These victims of society the ones we left behind
(Chorus)
Well they swam down the streets with their heads above the water
Though the mud and the slime as the bodies floated by
They were trapped in their attics and dying of starvation
While Dubya smiled and came up with another fuckin’ lie
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Creating Armageddon out of Whole Cloth
We are witnessing a somewhat frightening phenomenon; the rapid rise of paranoia, fear and outright craziness among white, right-wing, evangelical, so-called "Christians". There has always been that element among us, the rural, less educated, lower intelligence, more radical "Christians", the holy rollers, the snake handlers, etc. Radical Christians have always longed for persecution like that of the early Christians, and when they can’t realize it they have always tried to invent it - but this is getting serious.
I see unsettling signs of a gathering storm, the stocking up of weapons, of ammo, freeze-dried food, and survival supplies. These people are apparently convinced that there are evil people in control of our government (Obama and his Muslim minions) who are intending to destroy the US, specifically to kill and imprison white “Christians”, or “Uhmurikins” if you prefer. They fantasize that "white" citizens will soon be attacked by our military, that there will be roving bands of human flesh-eating “zombies” created by some kind of virus or that there will simply be a civil war or a citizen’s rebellion pitting our military against United States “freedom” fighters akin to those uprisings we have seen in Egypt, Libya and now Syria. The “evidence” to support and stoke these fears is being spread by radical right-wing radio talk shows and websites like the madman, Glenn Beck.
There is good evidence that many of the conspiracy nuts among us are infected with at least a mild psychopathic disorder and actually look forward to a stimulating confrontation and shootout with those they unreasonably fear, disagree with or just don’t like because of skin color or ethnicity. A race war, “Christian whites” against just about anyone else, especially Muslims and Blacks, or a war between the right-wing and liberals would fulfill their sexual fantasies. After all, what purpose life if someone isn't out to get you? Jesus, pull the trigger.
In case you haven’t heard, one prime piece of evidence of Obama’s plan to enslave them is the claim that SSA and the DHS are purchasing arms in preparation for civil unrest. This was spurred by an order supposedly placed by those agencies for either 147,000 or 1.6 million rounds of hollow-point bullets (or any number in-between, whichever report you want to believe) for use by their armed officers. The government says this is standard ammo to re-supply the approximately 130,000 federal officers employed by these and other agencies. The wing-nuts would rather believe all this ammunition will be used to attack US citizens and enslave them.
Other claims are circulating that armored tanks are on order to be used against civilians and that FEMA is stockpiling body bags and caskets to hold the victims. The tank rumor is not true, as verified by Snopes.com, and instead of new tanks being ordered to use against citizens it was simply a contract entered into with manufacturers to repair and upgrade tanks being returned from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, a standard maintenance activity. As for the mountains of caskets to bury you and your neighbors after the Obama machine kills you, the FEMA stockpiling of packaged meals, blankets and body bags is considered prudent in view of the possible catastrophes being predicted by climatologists and the charges that they have been ill-prepared for previous disasters.
Those Chicken Little alarmists who make a fortune spreading fear and those who manufacture weapons and survival supplies have a vested interest in creating a market for their wares. The vulnerable among us will always be prime targets for those with no morals or ethics when it comes to separating fools from their money.
That said, it is always prudent to not hide your head in the sand regarding the possibilities of a devastating interruption of our lives by some unforeseen or distantly possible catastrophe. Every family should take some minimal precautions and have emergency protection against prolonged power outage, disruption of the food supply chain, or – in a more realistic case – the hair-trigger eruption of right-wing crazies in your neighborhood that can’t wait to start shooting at phantom dangers including innocents who might simply be coming over to check on their neighbor’s welfare.
Call of Duty fantasies aside, you can own a weapon or two to guard against an intruder but you don’t need an AR 15. If you have to spray a hail of bullets to defend against an oncoming assault of crazies you are not going to last long regardless. This ain’t a video game and you ain’t Alex Mason.
We are witnessing a somewhat frightening phenomenon; the rapid rise of paranoia, fear and outright craziness among white, right-wing, evangelical, so-called "Christians". There has always been that element among us, the rural, less educated, lower intelligence, more radical "Christians", the holy rollers, the snake handlers, etc. Radical Christians have always longed for persecution like that of the early Christians, and when they can’t realize it they have always tried to invent it - but this is getting serious.
I see unsettling signs of a gathering storm, the stocking up of weapons, of ammo, freeze-dried food, and survival supplies. These people are apparently convinced that there are evil people in control of our government (Obama and his Muslim minions) who are intending to destroy the US, specifically to kill and imprison white “Christians”, or “Uhmurikins” if you prefer. They fantasize that "white" citizens will soon be attacked by our military, that there will be roving bands of human flesh-eating “zombies” created by some kind of virus or that there will simply be a civil war or a citizen’s rebellion pitting our military against United States “freedom” fighters akin to those uprisings we have seen in Egypt, Libya and now Syria. The “evidence” to support and stoke these fears is being spread by radical right-wing radio talk shows and websites like the madman, Glenn Beck.
There is good evidence that many of the conspiracy nuts among us are infected with at least a mild psychopathic disorder and actually look forward to a stimulating confrontation and shootout with those they unreasonably fear, disagree with or just don’t like because of skin color or ethnicity. A race war, “Christian whites” against just about anyone else, especially Muslims and Blacks, or a war between the right-wing and liberals would fulfill their sexual fantasies. After all, what purpose life if someone isn't out to get you? Jesus, pull the trigger.
In case you haven’t heard, one prime piece of evidence of Obama’s plan to enslave them is the claim that SSA and the DHS are purchasing arms in preparation for civil unrest. This was spurred by an order supposedly placed by those agencies for either 147,000 or 1.6 million rounds of hollow-point bullets (or any number in-between, whichever report you want to believe) for use by their armed officers. The government says this is standard ammo to re-supply the approximately 130,000 federal officers employed by these and other agencies. The wing-nuts would rather believe all this ammunition will be used to attack US citizens and enslave them.
Other claims are circulating that armored tanks are on order to be used against civilians and that FEMA is stockpiling body bags and caskets to hold the victims. The tank rumor is not true, as verified by Snopes.com, and instead of new tanks being ordered to use against citizens it was simply a contract entered into with manufacturers to repair and upgrade tanks being returned from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, a standard maintenance activity. As for the mountains of caskets to bury you and your neighbors after the Obama machine kills you, the FEMA stockpiling of packaged meals, blankets and body bags is considered prudent in view of the possible catastrophes being predicted by climatologists and the charges that they have been ill-prepared for previous disasters.
Those Chicken Little alarmists who make a fortune spreading fear and those who manufacture weapons and survival supplies have a vested interest in creating a market for their wares. The vulnerable among us will always be prime targets for those with no morals or ethics when it comes to separating fools from their money.
That said, it is always prudent to not hide your head in the sand regarding the possibilities of a devastating interruption of our lives by some unforeseen or distantly possible catastrophe. Every family should take some minimal precautions and have emergency protection against prolonged power outage, disruption of the food supply chain, or – in a more realistic case – the hair-trigger eruption of right-wing crazies in your neighborhood that can’t wait to start shooting at phantom dangers including innocents who might simply be coming over to check on their neighbor’s welfare.
Call of Duty fantasies aside, you can own a weapon or two to guard against an intruder but you don’t need an AR 15. If you have to spray a hail of bullets to defend against an oncoming assault of crazies you are not going to last long regardless. This ain’t a video game and you ain’t Alex Mason.
Friday, January 25, 2013
With this post I plan to reactivate this blog after several years absence. You can see by the previous post where I stood politically at that time. Much has changed since and what was true then does not apply in the present moment as what we think of as time weaves itself through and around our conscious experience which becomes the whole cloth by which we reference life. Our experience of life and the linear time frame that frames it is an illusion of inconceivable meaning and purpose.
But, here we are, or so we think, and we deal with this life as we are able, as we think we should, and as we are compelled to by some unidentified driving force. Call it God if you like but of that there is no definable proof. As I recently quoted Marcelo Gleiser, "Thought is derivative of being, and is thus insufficient to answer questions about the origin of being."
What is a good subject? Where should I start?
Here's an observation. I stopped by Target tonight to pick up a couple things and I saw a couple female employees in their red jackets,vests or whatever, stocking shelves. I overheard the young one ask the other woman, "Have you heard the news? I'm going to be a mama." "Oh", the other exclaims, "That's wonderful news." "Yes", says the young mother to be, "I think my fiance is more excited about it than I am."
It's a sign of the times, of how times have changed. No longer is it considered a stigma to be pregnant out of wedlock. You can announce it to the world with no fear of recrimination. And for you bigots, no, she is not black, both are white women. Hopefully, her "fiance" will do the right thing and not hightail it for the coast. Even if he does marry her it probably won't last. Divorce also is no longer a stigma.
On the other hand, Target management may not be thrilled by the news but their turnover is probably so high it doesn't matter. Most likely this young woman is a temporary employee, held to minimal hours and does not receive benefits any way, so why would Target care? This young woman is as expendable as a paper cup that you drink from and then throw in the trash. This is what the profit-sucking corporatists have done to America. No longer is there any competition to speak of which would inspire the competing stores to hire and train quality employees and genuinely compete for customers. A few corporate conglomerates control their respective markets and you have no real choice where to shop. Locally Target competes only with Walmart and the fast fading K-Mart. There is no dignity or true security working for either of them. Their training is minimal so they have little invested and their profit plan calls for operating with as few full-time employees as they can get by with. At most of these stores try finding an employee on the floor to ask a question or where to find a product. And when you finally find one, chances are they don't know the answer. There is no work ethic because there is no feeling of ownership by employees. They are little more than indentured servants who are being taken advantage of. This is the new America championed by the element that reveres and worships big business.
A good example is the local Kroger store. I've been shopping there for years and there are only a handful of employees that I recognize on a regular basis. The others pass through like migrant farm workers. Many are there only a few weeks before someone new takes their place.
Enough for now. I hope to tackle interesting subjects as they arise from my daily experience and those in the news that elicit public interest and controversy. I have to familiarize myself with the blog apparatus which has changed since Google bought eblogger. Please comment at will.
More soon. Yea!
But, here we are, or so we think, and we deal with this life as we are able, as we think we should, and as we are compelled to by some unidentified driving force. Call it God if you like but of that there is no definable proof. As I recently quoted Marcelo Gleiser, "Thought is derivative of being, and is thus insufficient to answer questions about the origin of being."
What is a good subject? Where should I start?
Here's an observation. I stopped by Target tonight to pick up a couple things and I saw a couple female employees in their red jackets,vests or whatever, stocking shelves. I overheard the young one ask the other woman, "Have you heard the news? I'm going to be a mama." "Oh", the other exclaims, "That's wonderful news." "Yes", says the young mother to be, "I think my fiance is more excited about it than I am."
It's a sign of the times, of how times have changed. No longer is it considered a stigma to be pregnant out of wedlock. You can announce it to the world with no fear of recrimination. And for you bigots, no, she is not black, both are white women. Hopefully, her "fiance" will do the right thing and not hightail it for the coast. Even if he does marry her it probably won't last. Divorce also is no longer a stigma.
On the other hand, Target management may not be thrilled by the news but their turnover is probably so high it doesn't matter. Most likely this young woman is a temporary employee, held to minimal hours and does not receive benefits any way, so why would Target care? This young woman is as expendable as a paper cup that you drink from and then throw in the trash. This is what the profit-sucking corporatists have done to America. No longer is there any competition to speak of which would inspire the competing stores to hire and train quality employees and genuinely compete for customers. A few corporate conglomerates control their respective markets and you have no real choice where to shop. Locally Target competes only with Walmart and the fast fading K-Mart. There is no dignity or true security working for either of them. Their training is minimal so they have little invested and their profit plan calls for operating with as few full-time employees as they can get by with. At most of these stores try finding an employee on the floor to ask a question or where to find a product. And when you finally find one, chances are they don't know the answer. There is no work ethic because there is no feeling of ownership by employees. They are little more than indentured servants who are being taken advantage of. This is the new America championed by the element that reveres and worships big business.
A good example is the local Kroger store. I've been shopping there for years and there are only a handful of employees that I recognize on a regular basis. The others pass through like migrant farm workers. Many are there only a few weeks before someone new takes their place.
Enough for now. I hope to tackle interesting subjects as they arise from my daily experience and those in the news that elicit public interest and controversy. I have to familiarize myself with the blog apparatus which has changed since Google bought eblogger. Please comment at will.
More soon. Yea!
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