"Why Are People Grudgeful?" .....
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Artist:
Really "It's A Curse".
Sometimes I feel like a "Paranoia Man In A Cheap Shit Room"
Why do I feel so disconnected from my countrymen?
Recently I spent time with a bunch of friends so old I forgot they were friends in the first place. The kids and I went to the summer get together of the 'Old Time Plow Boys Association'. Honestly it was a coven of gray hairs, my mom included (though she hides her gray well and is young in spirit). The reason I bring this up is because of the mindset many of these folks had. There was a consensus that government was out to grind them into the ground. Strip them of citizenship and make them subjects. How much of that feeling was based on racial prejudice, I don't know. A lot less then you think I'm sure, but how much was based on their love of America and the the fact there are people who are willing to exploit that feeling. That is what disturbs me. That's where they become grist for the mill. Bizarre really because many of them used to vote Democrat and now Pennsylvania is 180 degrees from the time I first stepped into the voting booth.
When pressed for proof supporting a particular idea they regurgitate the same facts given to them by their personal choice of media that informs and shapes their world view. I'm not saying they are simple or stupid, I think they are being railroaded by what they believe in.
I have no recollection of the political nature in the 60's. In the 70's high gas and inflation meant all of my vacations were close to home. That didn't really bother me much cause I like the East Coast.
In the 80's I was really interested in girls so the other affairs of man didn't phase me much. In the 90's I started to put my shit together and finally take an interest in how my government works. Granted the government paid me twice a month for a spell. They gave me health care and a gun in return I gave them the right to tell me what to do. After I fulfilled my contract with Department of Defense I became an American civilian again and in a strange twist of fate I never stopped letting the government tell me what to do. As a naturalized citizen of the US I signed on to this hitch till I die or renounce America as my home. It's a boon and a curse at the same time.
Am I sounding paranoid? I don't think so. Truth is I believe there is a liberal media and in the same breath I will say I believe there is a conservative media. I also think there is no more one media than there is of the other and what it boils down to is market. You have a radio station/TV network/newspaper/shortwave broadcast/blog and you will do what it takes to keep the eyeballs/ears/hearts/minds of your audience by any means necessary. That's capitalism is at it's finest. Free market and loaded for bear.
Anyway that enough of the ranting. Sit back and enjoy 'The Fall'. Hopefully there is some of the tunes left to listen to unmolested by my chatter.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (6)
So true my brother.
The thing that bothers me a lot is that people are debating political strategy more than issues. On both sides people get involved with an issue and live and die by the day to day back and forth. Making legislation is difficult, making sweeping legislation is even more difficult. Everyone asks for change, but then when it comes time to make changes they get a little skittish.
All I can say, is what I say often..follow the money. Who will benefit if the helthcare system stays as it is?
Infotainment is most definitely driving the debate. cool tune.
Unfortunately, my response to the nonsense has been to pull back. Yeah, I've got plenty enough going on to keep busy as it is, but I'm a little disappointed in my decision to be a less-informed citizen.
Regardless, you americans have something that Canadians sometimes envy, patriotism. 9/11 proved that in a crisis people come together. And the politics and the media are simply something every country in the world has to put up with. It's their nature, indeed their goal, to pick out the juiciest and most controversial side of every story. And politicians make for great fodder.
But tell me, when was the last time you ever heard a follow up or a story announcing the completion of something they started? Unless it's the demonstrations outside of the death house, possibly never.
And so we live. Each of us with our own set of beliefs, seeking empathy and others who are willing to give rather than take from us at every level.
The human condition.
@Cody - I totally agree with the strategy insight. It seems it's taking on the steam of a swift-boat. My question is 'Where are their Christian values now?' Where is the charity? Where is the compassion? We always hear the words but seldom see the actions. If your going to talk the talk pony up and walk the walk.
'Death panel' my ass. When are people going to wake up and realize 'they' have the power not the government?
I got a good gun debate brewing based on that very idea.
@Nicki - I am in the same boat but this is nothing new. Loud and obnoxious people have graced every municipal meeting since they first started to have them. Every borough and township has its share of cranks. Finally someone (The Club For Growth) has found a way to organize them. Follow the link and tell me they are capitalizing on the issue the same Sharpton does on race and the NRA does on gun rights.
@Cap - True John, so very true. The controversy keeps them in contributions to fight the good fight.
Candidates who say they aren't going to kowtow to special interests are lying. Especially when they get their money from them.
Listen to Cody's mantra, "Follow the money!"
Am I the only sane one in this country? That question is rhetorical of course.
It's weird that it's not enough anymore to have a difference of opinion with someone - it's gotta be personal. I've been having conversations all my life with people who disagree with me - many of them from within my family - on various political and social issues. It has been, for the most part, stimulating and fun. I've learned stuff. But nobody seems to think they need to learn anything anymore. But all this listen-to-me-and-my-anger crap is a farcical version of debate. It bypasses rational argument entirely. What person with a full working set of faculties could take birthers or death panels seriously? And yet this is a very real current in public opinion. And don't even get started on the fact that for the last eight years, all criticism of the presidency has been cast as inherently un-American ("Whatever you think of his policies, we're all bound to support him.) Now running down Obama seems to be, for some people, a requirement for citizenship. The problem with the organized right, and also the reason it seems so resilient, is its single-minded determination not to recognize the validity of any other point of view. By no means an original set of observations, but still....
Both sides have their people trying to stir up outrage, as if that's the only way people can be motivated. What people need to do is actually curb their outrage and think these thngs through.
Like fer instance, 2 MSNBC programs (Rachel and Keith) are concerned that there is money funding the organizing of town hall "patriots" coming from far right groups. They want to say astro turf...Not a grass roots movement..they want outrage. I like the Jon Stewart approach better...call the folks in the meetings Liberals..Their community has been organized, to address their issue, and their planned disruption of meetings has brought them attention (Code Pink anyone). Of course, their issue is not really health care.
At any rate all the hollering is a strategy! And the media (mostly) covers the back and forth between right and left and sez very little about helthcare.
Pretty soon when the time is right, the liberals will show the neo-liberals (formerly known as consevatives) how protest and community organizing are done..with 100's of thousands of Americans marching in the streets asking for attention to their issue...healthcare. Getting 100 folks to ACT UP (get it) at a town hall is one thing, but getting 100,000 to march is another.
And the beneficiary of all this water treading is the insurance industry..they like their plan.