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October 9, 2009October 9, 2009 - 4 Comments

Just Another Day In America

It not easy to find anything worth writing about these days. If the US citizenry are unable to comprehend the dubious caliber of those they vote into office, even when political corruption jumps out in front of them with the violence of an asteroid striking the planet, then there’s little point wasting my time writing about it.

The political media, whether blogs, newspapers, or TV, are abrim with the despicable behavior of political figures performing top-notch impressions of sleazy, back-street, alley cats. Why, then, should I wear my fingers to the bone bashing out more of the same?

American readers possibly will not comprehend the next few paragraphs; culture may get in the way – but a few days ago, wearing the super-glow-right, florescent, plastic over-vest as demanded by my employer, I walked into the break room at work to be accosted by the union representative.

Did I want a super-fashionable, quilted, winter jacket, emblazoned with the company’s name and logo, to replace my old plastic vest, she asked? I could even have my name etched on the pocket, if I so desired.

After some deliberation, for my super-glow-right, florescent, plastic over-vest and I had formed something of a cozy relationship, I decided to accept the proffered jacket, and to hell with commitment.

“That’ll be just fifty dollars, then,” demanded the union rep..

Even after I, and my super-glow-right, florescent, plastic over-vest had disappeared out the door in the direction of my school bus, I could tell that not one of the Americans in the break room had the faintest idea what was causing me to laugh so loud and for so long.

I give the company fifty bucks to walk around advertising for them? My arse!

I recently met up with a friend who works down the local Social Security office. Over a drink or two, he told me a tale of the ‘BeVe button’*. Apparently, a certain button on the SSA’s computer screens, designed to bring up information on particular clients, when pressed will allocate credits to the office stats. In other words, it’ll make that office appear more efficient than it truly is. Of course, the button was never designed for that purpose, but unscrupulous office managers, wishing to ingratiate themselves with their Area Directors, have been known to issue orders to their staff demanding the button be utilized more freely for that purpose.

My friend, not himself given to cheating, was somewhat put out by the receipt of such a managerial order only that afternoon, and was happy to talk about it – once I’d plied him with half a bottle of the best from Napa Valley.

I was in Wal-Mart this morning. Around here there’s really nowhere else to shop. I always buy organic when its available and Wal-Mart had been improving its range of organic produce, until the recession hit. Today, I couldn’t find one item marked ‘organic’ in the store. Even many of the household names had gone, replaced by Wal-Mart’s own ‘Great Value’ brand.

What’s happened to all the organic food suppliers Wal-Mart has dispensed with?

Huge monopolies like Wal-Mart dictate the terms of business to thousands of producers. With one stroke of a pen they can be put out of business. The ‘climate change’ scenario is being manipulated by Wal-Mart.^[1] That company stands to make further enormous profits from global warming, but at what cost to others?

It’s little wonder the average American finds it difficult to differentiate between corruption and fair play. This country is so steeped in corruption it permeates every aspect of life.

Consequently, even when it does jump out in front them with the violence of an asteroid striking the planet, many of them scarcely notice.

Still, a report today says that is less likely to happen. According to Nasa, any chance that an asteroid called, Apophis, will collide with the Earth in 2036 has now been reduced from 45,000:1, to 250,000:1.^[2]

Which is really good news for betting shops and corrupt politicians everywhere.

^{*I believe it stands for ‘Beneficiary verification’ button.}

^{[1] “Walmart Sustainability Index Means Big Business” GreenBiz.com, September 24th 2009}

^{[2] “Asteroid collision ‘less likely'” BBC, October 8th 2009}

Filed under: Kidding the masses

September 22, 2009 - 7 Comments

Making No Difference

Over-sentimentality is no substitute for a properly governed welfare state. If you listen to many Americans, though, and if you’re not careful to hang on to your thought processes, you’ll come to believe it is.

They certainly do.

It’s all about this thing they call ‘neighborliness’.

Listen to them talk, and it’s as though no-one else in the world ever does a favor for their neighbor. In America, life revolves around good deeds and everyone looking after everyone else. So there’s no need of a welfare state.

Is there?

The truth, of course, is somewhat different. It’s all just a load of gross over-sentimentality carefully designed to persuade the average Joe American that if he falls on hard times – which he’s not going to do because the ‘American Dream’ won’t allow it – but if he does, his neighbors will rally round and support him till things get better.

A friend of mine, who drives for another school bus company, has to endure this gushing sentimentalism while he’s out on the road. Three or four times a day the radio operator in the office is required to transmit a little gem designed to make their drivers feel good. Today, it was about keeping a watch on the neighbors to ensure they’re alive and healthy: “Our neighbors truly rely on us…” was the finale to this trite and somewhat nauseating nonsense.

My neighbor doesn’t. He’s got a rottweiler in the yard and a case of loaded guns on his living room wall. He really doesn’t need me to watch out for him. He’s more likely to accidentally blow my head off, if I approach too close.

Americans love to believe they’re being neighborly, when all they’re achieving is the satiation of their overly-swollen egos. Take the case of the young lady shot in a Pittsburgh gymnasium recently.^[1]

She had no health insurance because she couldn’t afford it. Consequently, by the time the local hospital had repaired her wounds she was tens of thousands of dollars in debt to them. Still, the locals all rallied round. They organized a car wash for the weekend and made $500, which was magnanimously presented to her, accompanied by their self-satisfied smirks. And, they got themselves on TV for being “good neighbors”.

Well done, guys! Only another fifty car wash weekends and she can pay off the hospital bill.

This is what Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn meant when he stated at one town hall meeting recently, “……what’s missing in this [healthcare reform] debate is us as neighbors, helping people who need our help.” ^[2]

The statement got him a round of applause from the floor, proof if it were needed that the many Americans supporting the doctrine have never spent so much as a single minute attempting to think through the implications of Coburn’s irresponsible remarks. All that concerns them is that the rhetoric should make them feel good. Such comments assuage the ego, but are of no practical value whatever to society.

And that’s all Americans want – to feel good about themselves. It’s what they’ve been taught for generations.

The real truth is their country is rotten to the core. It’s riddled with avarice, selfishness, and a malicious contempt for others. If it were not, healthcare wouldn’t be an issue today. Instead, a welfare system would have been constructed years ago, of which this nation could be proud.

I wonder what sanctimonious gem will assail the ears of my friend, as he drives his school bus tomorrow?

^{[1] “Three shot dead by US gym gunman” BBC, August 5th 2009}

^{[2] “I’m Just Nipping Across The Road To Take Out My Neighbor’s Appendix” Sparrow Chat, August 25th 2009}

Filed under: Brainwashing