Strange Thoughts, It's Like .
I've reached a limit of sorts, kind of like when you eat too much at Thanksgiving and you feel like you're going to throw up. Or like when you're in rush hour traffic and you have to piss so bad you feel like you're going to blow but you're in the fast lane and no one will let you over. "You bastards, let me over!!"
Or maybe like when you read day after fucking day about an election that doesn't matter but actually matters but not in the way people might think while wars that are killing innocent children are being waged by the very government the election is all about. We're just electing more killers. Aren't we special.
A friend came over the other day, hadn't seen him for a month or so. He asked who I would vote for, Trump or Clinton. I laughed and said neither. He laughed and said, "I know! No one I talk to wants either one of them. No one!"
There are some, the most severely misinformed and conditioned, but the media makes it seem like it's more. It's like when Hillary "the murdering war criminal donchaknow you Daily Kos dupes" Clinton gives a speech to a couple hundred and the photogs make it look like a filled arena. No man, these are severe minorities supporting these two low lifes. The final vote tally might indicate more, but only because so many feel it is their sacred duty to vote for one of them, or they hate the other one so they must vote for that one. Hate, hate, hate man, it's in the air. United States style.
I think the hate for Trump is worse however, even though Clinton's record is clearly worse. Clinton's record is inexcusable. If a citizen's duty in a representative political system is to learn what the representatives are all about, where they stand on the issues, what actions they've taken in the past, etc., then anyone who does their due diligence on Clinton should come to the same conclusion - she belongs in prison alongside her husband. For these people to be walking around free let alone living a rich lifestyle and running for president tells how warped our society is. If someone votes for Clinton knowing of her war and international crimes, what can you say, they're excusing murder, mass murder. Crimes against Humanity. Ya, vote for that. Of course they won't want to think of it that way but that's what it is. We have to change the way we think about our government's actions and those that direct them. Murder is murder. Justice is justice.
But imagine if Trump wins, if he becomes president. Donald Trump is president! I don't know if I could call myself an American anymore. I'd say, "eh, I'm a Canadian eh. I'm just here visiting from Saskatchewan. Eh. You Americans are sure stupid fucks eh." It would be like, wow, Donald Trump is president of the United States. We had George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and now Donald Trump. Maybe they could add Donald to Mt. Rushmore.
If Clinton wins, it's the same damn thing. Maybe if she wins I'll say I'm from Australia. I'll have to work on the accent. A lot easier to say "Eh", then master an accent though. Maybe that's the reason to vote for Trump, so you don't have to learn an accent.
Anyway, it all seems so ridiculous when thought of in total. Like we can't see how shallow we're being under the circumstances.
Like we think we're smart but we can't see how stupid we are.
Comments
I'm proud
to be the most ignorant person in the world.
Stupid I isn't.
Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.
Ya, I can relate to that.
I here you
Its like an old saying I heard years ago, " What do you call ignorant people that only speak one language? Americans "
Of course I use the collective "we" to include all
Americans. "We Americans" are putting up with this bs, letting our government wage wars and kill people, destroy countries, implement policies for the rich and powerful, administer crooked elections. "We" let them do it, there's no excuse around it.
But of course many of us, many millions, aren't being stupid. We're not falling for the bs and we're trying to fight back in our own ways. These carnival sideshows are just distractions.
Not simply putting up with it
We aren't just putting up with it. We're paying for it, literally, through taxes.
I just filed my 2015 income tax return and sent a hefty check to the IRS, and it gave me a heavy and sad feeling to do so. Not just because of the financial hit, but because I was thinking, "This is my hard-earned money, my energy in the form of money, and what is it going toward?
Bombing innocent children in Aleppo, or torturing people in far-off lands, or paying some corrupt congressperson's salary for life, or some FDA bureaucrat to schmooze with Monsanto and big pharma, and who knows what else atrocities and criminal acts that I would never in a million years perpetrate against other human beings. And yet I am supporting it with my money. I work several months a year to make the money to pay for the perpetration of atrocities.
"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi
"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone
look on the bright side.
hardly a nickel of it is going to put food in the mouths of ungrateful undocumented brats whose parents sent them here from Honduras.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
Small data point:
I went down to dinner in the hotel "sports bar" tonight, as I usually do on a trip. A First Officer that I had flown with years ago recognized me, as well as a Flight attendant that sat next to me on the bus ride from the airport, and they came over to my table and sat down. She looked up at the TV and said, "0h good, the Clown Show isn't on." And he said, "yeah, I couldn't stand to watch those two losers...hey, look, the Cubs are on!"
Now I barely know either of these two people, and generally, politics is a bad choice for conversation at work (and almost always avoided), but all of a sudden, three random people were thrown together at a table, and all three were in agreement, on a touchy subject.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
cubs, schmubs
Patrik Laine (pronounced "Lah-ee-nee") scored a hat-trick in his 3rd NHL game, including the OT winner in a come-from-behind victory for the home-town winnipeg jets.
On Saturday, Wayne Gretzky is going to lace up the skates and hit the outdoor ice at the stadium in Winnipeg, for the Heritage Classic alumni game (Edmonton vs Winnipeg, a rivalry that dates back to the WHA).
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
I've been asking strangers
I get a chance to talk to if they like Clinton or Trump. First say I have no agenda, am merely curious. All have said they can't stand either, are horrified at such choices. No exceptions! I point out there are other candidates on ballot and hush.
Speaking of losers
The Cubs might actually end The curse of the billygoat this year, and while I have been a Cub fan since the infamous 1969 season I know what its like to support a losing team. If the Cubs win the World Series maybe the planets will align or some shit and it will be a new age without t rump or hrc. Nah, but we can still hope for that Meteorite to hit.
Hunaity depends on the Cubs
I get it. I hope the pressure doesn't get to them.
The Cubs Are Moving To Manilla!
Their new name will be The Manilla Folders.
--.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
Odds are 1 in 77 billion that Hillary stole the election
Reddit posted this article where it shows that Hillary did steal the election.
In states where they use paper ballots, Bernie won every time.
States that used machines and no paper ballots, Hillary won.
The article has great graphs showing how the exit polls didn't match up with the vote tally.
I'm hoping someone will do an essay on this so that more people will see it.
http://alexanderhiggins.com/stanford-berkley-study-1-77-billion-chance-h...
And in the lawsuit that some Bernie supporters brought against the DNC for rigging the election for Hillary the DNC admits that if the Bernie supporters knew that the DNC was doing everything in could to make sure that Hillary won, then people shouldn't have donated money to him.
It's going to take too long to verify the information that shows that the election was stolen before Hillary is sworn in as president.
I'm with you, al. I'm tired of reading about innocent people being killed in our wars of aggression because the corporations want the resources in other countries.
And if Hillary becomes president, the numbers are going to go up. Including US soldiers.
They are risking their lives because of the greed of the corporations.
I wish that they would realize it and quit in mass.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Anyone read this article about the Clinton foundation moving
$1.8 billion of their foundation money to a Qatar bank?
Podesta has ties to the Russian Mafiosi, but people are saying that it's Trump who is in Putin's pocket.
http://www.eutimes.net/2016/10/hillary-clintons-sudden-move-of-1-8-billi...
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
I feel and hear you, Al, I had moments in my former life
when I wanted to be Swedish girl in France, rather than a German one.... it's a long time.
So, I declare you now a Canadian, at least for now and for fun. Have a good Thursday.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Pessimistic
Never in my life have I felt so pessimistic about the future. The stark reality of the future we are facing is devastation and more devastation. The killing of innocent people to pad corporate coffers, the wanton and wholesale destruction of our environment, and the corruption of our government all seem too great for we the people to combat no matter what we may try to do.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
But the incremental progress we will make
over the next four years will amaze you.
Progress toward a crappy future, of course.
"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott
The complete inappropriateness of either of the main clowns
is why third parties have big chances this year.
Please vote third party and encourage everyone you know to do likewise. The two main clowns are hoping we will cave and make their claims of "they can't win" a self-fulfilling prophecy. Don't fall for it.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
People who hate Trump & Clinton but won't vote 3rd party,
what are they going to do on election day? Stay home?
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
Yes, I predict record low turn out....
I got my Michigan absentee ballot. It is the most boring waste of a tree ever. There are like six people on the ballot with names I recognize, and I hate all of them except one.
Vibrant democracy we are not. Democrats and the GOP make sure of that.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I am voting 3rd party, I have
I am voting 3rd party, I have to , I cannot sit this out, nor can I accept the Punch 'N' Judy show the MSM are foisting on us.
I cannot in all honesty let either one of those two get my vote, not with the records they each have as part of their "resume"
The world is watching this farce play out with baited breath, some find it funny if we get Trump, most are wishing we are smart and get Jill in office, they are more aware than most of the fooled who would support Hillary. Hillary is a known and scary commodity, like the fact that she has made threats, and she likes bombs, and we still happen to be the only nation on Earth to throw Nukes in anger at anyone.
Trump gets in the world may cringe, they may laugh.
Hillery gets in the fear times of the Cold War return as she may hurl Nukes just because....
Johnson gets in, again a joke as he has severely put his own foot in his mouth too many times.
Jill gets in, the world will sigh with relief and relax.
So long, and thanks for all the fish
"we can't see how stupid we are" - California e.g.
Thanks. Was skimming the local rag debate report and comments this morning when this caught my eye:
Ding ding ding! No one survives on $13 an hour in Sonoma County without subsidies. This is what full employment looks like, homelessness and despair for a big chunk of people just trying to claw some money out of the (Clinton-created free trade) Service economy. Preceding that quote was this from a disabled homeless veteran:
$4000 a month, no homes available in West County and she is blaming herself for "the barriers." Thanks airbnb. Fuck you gutless politicians! Democrats one and all! Meh.
Edit: Link to local rag. Chris Smith: Single mom who’s a vet, needs home for family
Peace
No one survives anywhere on $10 - 13
Demand for autos is slowing down. They want experience for $10-13. They refuse to train unless the taxpayers pay for it. The job market is a lie just like everything else.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
oh they lure you in and promise to train you to get you
in. Once you are in they change their mind and train nobody or so slow that you are trained in stuff that should take a couple of months it will take years. But they don't train you. And have excuses.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Don't get it, my son works for $13.00 an hour right now
with that he could never afford a rent for $ 1700.00. I just wonder how people make that math. There are no subsidized apt. around, just one complex and that feels like a prison inside. And he was told to be "lucky" to have gotten full hours. Thank you very much.
If you would make $18.00 an hour it starts to be possible to pay a rent of $1000.00 and have the other expenses like gasoline, electricity and internet access (which you can't suvive without it) and telephone. Barely. Of course no employe will keep a $18.00/hour worker, if he can replace him with a $ 12.00 hour worker. Fire and rehire a cheaper one. That's how cheap this country's employers really are. And of course, people have to "like" you, to get hired at all, when there are so many others to compete for those jobs. You have to be "liked" or have an uncle or somesuch, who manages to get you in.
Well, I think, you create your own mentally disturbed, angry people. The way workers are treated is so bad, some Veterans just say "and for this fuck I was sent to war to shoot brown people and protect some white asses, who live off their investments doing nothing"? (Yes, you create racist hate as well)
... and before the cold... the female Veteran said. Well, I have to tell you that argument that people want to be in a climate where they can't freeze to death, as much as I hate it, I have to accept as being reasonable. It's just amazing.
May be Hillary should inquire if Putin lets his military Veterans freeze to death. May be not ... oh horror. What would she say then?
https://www.euronews.com/live
"create your own mentally disturbed, angry people"
You are not the only one to think that, and thank you for having a compassionate clue. Thanks a lot. U.K. study says:
Mental Disorders Induced by Neoliberalism Are Crushing the Bodies and Minds of Millions
I didn't want to over quote. The source is this article I think: Neoliberalism is creating loneliness. That’s what’s wrenching society apart
Peace & Love
A study by National Low Income Housing Coalition
found that in only one state could a person earning less than $13 per hour be able to afford a modest two bedroom apartment. Modest meant that 60% of the available rentals were priced higher than the modest unit. Even finding a modest unit is difficult with more and more people forced into the rental market.
The average wage in the United States to rent a modest two bedroom apt. was $19.35 per hour which is considerably higher than the federal minimum wage. Even for a modest one bedroom unit, the average wage required to afford such a unit was $15.50 per hour.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Good rant.
"For these people to be walking around free let alone living a rich lifestyle and running for president tells how warped our society is"
I relate to this entire post.
I feel like we as a country are on our way to truly hit rock bottom. If Clinton wins, nothing will change for better. The wealth gap will grow larger, the MIC will flourish and our futures will be handed out to the privileged on Wall Street. The Democratic party will continue their love affair with Wall Street; we will have more neo Dems like Patrick Murphy and DWS who are only somewhat socially liberal but indistinguishable from Republicans fiscally.
The DNC will take the win as a mandate and continue unabated with their prostitution to Wall Street.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
The system is rigged
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/20/illusions-of-democracy-in-vegas/
+ The fury of the elites over the notion that the election might be rigged show how alienated they are from a country where nearly 60 percent of the electorate doesn’t bother to vote. Spend time in any bar (and even a few microbreweries) in America and you’ll hear people talking about how the System is rigged against them, from the economy to oil prices, from who goes to war to who pays taxes, from the officiating in the NBA to credit card rates, from insurance premiums to who goes to jail, and, yes, to politics from the school board to the president. The system is geared to serve the one-percent at the expense of everyone else. The people know the country doesn’t work for them and the elites are desperate to preserve the illusion as it all begins to crack apart.
+ It’s a wrap, another 90 minutes where the most pressing issues confronting Americans were deftly avoided. Nothing on climate change, nothing on poverty, nothing on ending the war in Afghanistan, nothing on banks, on housing, on education, on campaign finance, health care, racial injustice, killer cops or the war on drugs. Nothing comes from nothing, as Lear’s fool wisely observed.
+ So who won? The Cubs: 10-2. There’s something to cheer about.
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
We're looking into the abyss, Big Al. Again, Carlin sussed it.
George Carlin said he agreed that if you scratched a cynic just underneath you'd find a disappointed idealist, which he admitted he probably was. But he ultimately decided to remove himself from the Big Picture, which left him artistically free to eviscerate the charade and fraudulence in his own inimitable and sorely missed way. As he said about life here in the Greatest Country In The World(TM), "When you’re born into this world you’re given a ticket to the freak show. And when you’re born in America you get a front row seat." Boy has that statement ever been more prophetic than now? He just sat back, took notes and gave it back to us. The current disgrace would have been too obvious material for such an advanced and thoughtful person as he was, but I'd bet he would have found some really interesting angles and brought it out in a broader context of which he was always masterfully capable.
Some may see the views he finally settled on as fatalistic, but there's a lot of sober truth and I find myself in these days feeling much like him. Though I don't feel like I'm ready to completely give up.
Here's an excerpt of an interview explaining some of his views on politics:
It's fair to say the fatalism expressed at the end came from watching the country go from, a hopefulness tied to a socially conscious awakening during the 60's during his transition from mainstream comic to radical commentator, to a disdain for the ugly, vapid consumerism, selfishness, greed, suffocating conservatism and phony religious grandstanding that began in the 80's which hasn't abated. I'm not as fatalistic. But there's a lot of searing truth in there.
Either way, disagree or agree with him, I always find Carlin instructive, poignant and challenging, to say the least, and find probably 99% of the time he's right on about things.
I agree most of the time with you too, my man.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Carlin Lost the Dispassionate Observer Schtick Towards the End
of his career, and it was truly magical.
You could feel and hear the emotion in his rants. It was no longer artistic humor, it was gallows humor, and I was very happy to see it.
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
another great comment, thank you /nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
I think America is facing
some very rough weather ahead, no matter who wins this election. Our nation's karma has finally caught us by the tail, and we are all in for a wild ride. The approaching storm is bigger than anyone's individual politics. I do not believe there is any political "solution" to it, nor is there any way to avoid it.
The guilty and the innocent alike will be swept up together in the craziness to come. It's time to batten down the hatches and board up the windows. Hold fast to those you love, strengthen whatever it is you believe in... and hope that the roof stays on.
native
If Trump were President
Actually, I think Donald Trump as President would accurately reflect the farce our entire electoral process has become like nothing else could.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
You're right about that.
Clinton will in a different way. From Bush to Clinton to Bush to Clinton. What the hell.