TakeYourMedicine

I have been a Democrat since I was kicked out of the Teen Age Republicans for asking too many questions, this in 1962. That old bullshit about the Republicans being the party of Lincoln during the time of the civil rights movement solidified my decision. During the last election I supported Howard Dean for his opposition to the invasion of Iraq, his bluntness/candor, his showing up on time. I was delighted when he became chair of the party. I still am, though I haven't heard much about him lately.

But now I find myself feeling that a viable third party is a must. Several days ago I received one (of many) Democratic party emails trumpeting the need for reform. I replied with the email below, only to learn that it was undeliverable despite the lack of a do not reply notice on the original email.

I'm so pissed that I think I'll stick it in here:

I agree that it's time for reform. It's also time for Democratic leaders to
get back in touch with the people they represent.

I went crazy during the last election at all the campaign points our party failed to make. You need to sweep out some of your wonks and recruit from the rank and file. It's clear from the Democratic complicity in the current political farces that party leaders lack the courage to speak out AT THE TIME OF THE ONGOING OUTRAGES: eavesropping on citizens, waging unnecesary wars, failing to uphold environmental agreements, and on. Democrats have become too reactive, and no one can detect a clear vision coming from the top.

I am retired and can't sent the kind of money that I used to. Try donating on a pension of $700 a month!

It's okay, though. I know that my money wouldn't fix anything.

In despair,
Blablabla


Fuck the pundits!

...We're only unemployed.

Another wave of news today from American auto manufacturers... now Ford gets to cut 30,000 jobs with relative impunity. Young Scion Bill Ford hits his mark to make the announcement and sound concerned about those who will have to live out his decision. On come the market analysts in the wake of the announcement to tell us what we already know: that Ford is top-heavy with executives; that the company ignored its competitors' shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles; that higher gas prices have effectively bombed the prospects for its product line.

Duh!

And CEOs still get huge salaries for all the crappy decisions they make.

One business writer described the management culture at Ford a snake pit: beset with the worst kind of back biting and sabotage. Analysts have told company officials that Ford needed to overhaul itself for years.

So now the company will start to innovate, or so it says. Of course, in order to do this, it has to terminate all the workers who have come to depend on its salaries and benefits.

Kiss that social contract goodbye.

The American people have long forgotten how unions came to be powerful. The lesson has been forgotten so entirely that unions have lost their power. Americans have an American Idol complex: maybe I can be the next CEO... I don't need to unite with other workers to get a fair shake. Through hard work (and dissing my co-workers) I can rise to the top. This is the age of the diva.

Can I go to Hollywood now? Please?

In the meantime GM's and Ford's top execs can go on, their lives essentially unchanged. Ford tells his employees, "We all have to change and we all have to sacrifice, but I believe this is the path to winning."

It would be great to see the suits making sacrifices, but to them it means throwing blue collars into the volcano.

Sacrifices. That's a good one.

You're still a virgin, aren't you?

Gotta have virgins.

Zadie, Zadie...

I've been off in another land, immersing myself in the writing of Zadie Smith.

Ellen and I sit on the couch, each with our Zadie: I can't put down White Teeth, and Ellen's mid On Beauty.

Zadie Smith slathers big ideas with great characters and loads of humor.

The original idea here at home was to swap Zadies when we finished, but as a part-time laborer, I have the edge. Happily, I can go on to The Autograph Man while I wait for Ellen to catch up.

All this woman's stars are out.

I'll be back in a couple of books.