Channeling George Carlin in these difficult times.
I'm feeling down in the dumps these days, and much of my mood is caused by following "the news." When I do this, I see that on the national level we are represented by a people functioning as psychopathic ignoramuses, with very few exceptions. That’s what our political system does to virtually every person who goes to Washington. We've designed an electoral system almost guaranteed to repulse any honest and decent human being. I don't like to think these thoughts, because letting these ideas soak into much will cause one to stop trying, and I truly despise the idea of not trying. As I battle my own dark thoughts about America and its political "leaders," I'm almost finished reading a 900-page collection of George Carlin's writings titled An Orgy of George. I’m thinking that it might be healthier to let Carlin articulate my dark thoughts so that I can move on to more positive ideas (Carlin can also be upbeat and playful--If you've enjoyed his stand-up routines, you'll enjoy much of this book). In other words, I have recently been engaging in a Carlin catharsis, and here are some of Carlin's thoughts that seem the most sardonically vivid to me in these difficult times (the following passages, tiny passages from a huge book, are quotes): If you want to know how fucked up the people in this country are, just look at television. Not the programs, not the news. The commercials. Just watch only the commercials for about a week, and you'll see how fucked up the people in this country really are. [Page 225] Think of how it all started: America was founded by slave owners who informed us, "All men are created equal." All "men," except Indians, niggers, and women. Remember, the Founders were a small group of unelected, white, male, land-holding slave owners who also, by the way, suggested their class be the only one allowed to vote. To my mind, that is what's known as being stunningly--and embarrassingly--full of shit. And everybody bought it. All Americans bought it. [Page 304] And those same Americans continue to show their ignorance with all this nonsense about wanting their politicians to be honest. What are these cretins thinking? Do they realize what they're wishing for? If honesty were suddenly introduced into American life, everything would collapse. It would destroy this country, because our system is based on an intricate and delicately balanced system of lies. [Page 304] When the United States is not invading some sovereign nation--or setting it on fire from the air, which is more fun for our simple-minded pilots-we're usually busy "declaring war" on something here at home. Anything we don't like about ourselves, we declare war on. We don't do anything about it, we just declare war. "Declaring war" is our only public metaphor for problem solving. We have a war on crime, a war on poverty, a war on hate, a war on litter, a war on cancer, a war on violence, and Ronald Reagan's ultimate joke, the war on drugs. More accurately, the war on the Constitution. [Page 386] [More . . . ]