It’s called the American Dream because “you have to be asleep to believe it.”
I’ve rarely agreed so many times in four short minutes.
George Carlin on those who really own America
- Post author:Erich Vieth
- Post published:September 5, 2007
- Post category:Campaign Finance Reform / Corruption / Education / Media / Politics
- Post comments:7 Comments
Erich Vieth
Erich Vieth is an attorney focusing on civil rights (including First Amendment), consumer law litigation and appellate practice. At this website often writes about censorship, corporate news media corruption and cognitive science. He is also a working musician, artist and a writer, having founded Dangerous Intersection in 2006. Erich lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his two daughters.
George Carlin has always managed to state the truth in an interesting and entertaining way. He missed one important facet in the clip. The "owners" want to keep Americans stupid, and self-involved so they will buy anything.
So we buy the Softdrinks.
We buy American branded cars made in Korea. Why? Buy American, keep those dollars at home.
We also buy Japanese branded cars made in America. Why? The Japaneses build better cars.
We buy the idea that by forcing performance standards on schools and teacher, will magically make the kids, who are mind-numbed from continually playing video-games, instantly into model students.
We buy the idea that expensive new prescription drugs, pushed through mass media ads, are safe and effective, even though these drugs are often rushed to market with only the bare minimum of testing required under a loophole in the laws.
We totally buy the idea that we are justified in the illegal invasion of Iraq, because we were attacked by a group following a Saudi prince.
We buy the idea that Capitalism is somehow democratic, while Consumerism is somehow Communistic.
We buy all these lies.
And we pay dearly.
I can't say I disagree with George, but his act is problematic in one way–that by any metric we care to use, he IS living the American Dream. He gets to say what he wants, when he wants, to an audience that is free (and able) to pay for the privilege of being told the things he wants to say, and he gets paid very, very well for it. It's difficult to buy all of what he says when quite clearly he represents, by his own life, an argument that it's not, well, that simple.
Awright, I'm dumping John Edwards and supporting George Carlin for President.
I am already supporting Ron Paul. He must be doing something right since he has the GOP scared to death. But, I could support Carlin for VP. He might even be better than Mike Gravel.
Carlin's video has been pulled because he came too close to naming the culprits. (But not close enough).
Herman, you are correct. I viewed this Carlin video last week, but you are correct that is is no longer available. I would really like to know the details of what happened. Is it a legit IP dispute, for example. Carlin's words were incredibly haunting. Near the end, he talks about how screwed we all are, but that it doesn't move us: "Nobody seems to notice; nobody seems to care." It dismays me that this video is no longer accessible. Does anyone else have any information?
Hey- I found another copy on YouTube, so you can watch the video again.