Revolution!

Here's what I just read-- The Lean Years -- and it makes me seething mad.

Look, I realize I moved and got an fm3 visa and my opinion of things back up there are pretty much on my sleeve. Maybe I forfeited my rights to yell from the palapa that shit needs to change- and for real this time. I read the news, mostly the leftist New York Times and see that Dems are bailing out of both houses and things are going to swing back to the Reps this next election cycle. It just is going to happen. So there will be more gridlock in the House and Senate and god only knows if this nuttiness about the Tea Partiers is going to take hold but when people are hungry and hurting they want to believe that someone is listening and that they'll do their best for them. What better than the total opposite of what didn't work the last time- even if they are batshit crazy? Why not?

The numbers for the bank bailout are only the slightest bit lower than what it would cost the government to help people's slipping mortgages. Something in the 725 billion range. But that is not going to happen. Why? Because no one wants to help their neighbor. Why should Joe Blow who didn't get in over his head help out those that did? Why, that is communism and socialism and THAT is NOT going to happen. Not while there are honest hardworking financial institutions to payoff.

And what about change? What about voting for the other guys? Nope. Because it doesn't make a damn bit of difference if there are Blue or Red representatives. When I am dealing with a child who wants to go outside and break glass in the street (hypothetical, really) I give them two options- neither of which are breaking bottles in the street. Do you see any similarity?

I loved believing in Obama. I felt remorse about leaving when I thought about the amazing things that were going to happen. Like new energy. Like health care. Like reduction of WAR. We grabbed Belen to watch on our computer like it was the dawning of a new era. Hmm.

I read a good bit about Chicago politics because my grandparents lived there, my mom grew up there. It is no place for someone who does not understand capital P politics. If you missed it- Political history of Chicago Mayor Daley is still the Mayor. Okay, you tell me that Obama came up through that without playing the game.

I am not railing against him, much. I hated me some GW Bush and Cheney spoke at my graduation so I understand that the offered alternative is worse. But that is what I am trying to say- when did it get to be okay to just get the less bad thing? Where's the Work Progress Administration? How come the fricking underpants bomber nets the Homeland Security billions more? What is the damn plan? I don't see any change. Lasting change. Education. Infrastructure. Energy.

We are just being offered a "choice" to keep us placated. There should be uprising. Or up-rooting. It is a big damn world and if I hadn't already jetted I would be thinking about somewhere else. Because I want someone to show me how 10 or 20 years from now is going to still be the American Century.

I guess that is okay, too. Number two or three in world power is pretty good.

But if my interpersonal relationships serve as any lesson for the future imagine this scenario... The guy in high school who was the most popular- the rich jock who got all the girls? You picturing him? He went on to college and got a business degree and still got all the girls? He got a good job and made a bunch of money and got used to living pretty large. Say he had a locker full of guns-n-ammo and was used to being the biggest baddest of all his friends. They all went to him and well, he's kinda like the Godfather but without the honor. Okay- you got the image? Now imagine he fell behind. He didn't take care of himself, he had too much debt, no planning for the future, no thought about the greater good. He gets lapped. He's flabby, he's overwhelmed with debt, he never trained for any new skills.

How is he going to feel when he's not the one who speaks loudest? The "last superpower" isn't going to be the most fun person at the party. Not gonna play too nice. Going to be pretty isolationist- but bitter. Mmm, that sounds fairly ugly.

Please show me I'm wrong.

I'll be the guy mumbling to himself in the lineup in front of the break at la lancha.