Somebody buy this guy a vowel of something. Find him a clue SOMEWHERE!
I was his last untainted supporter. Now he's pissed ME off.
Recharging debate, Obama expands offshore drilling
AP –
WASHINGTON – Shaking up years of energy policy and his own environmental backers, President Barack Obama threw open a huge swath of East Coast waters and other protected areas in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to drilling Wednesday, widening the politically explosive hunt for more homegrown oil and gas.
Let's go over this again:
Off-shore drilling will not contribute more than a fraction of a drop in a bucket toward energy independence. It's like drilling in ANWR.
What we need is a well publicized and comprehensive energy conservation program. Cut down on some of the miles. Turn off some of the fucking lights that blaze all night long.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The true meaning of teabagging
Rolling up highway 95 this afternoon I saw a banner in the back of someone's car (an old lady driving) that said just about everything there is to say about the whole "teabagger" phenomenon. . .
Patriotic Americans' United
Lets take back the plantation
At least some of them are honest about how they feel about things.
Let's face it, it aint about over spending, socialism, Obama supposedly being Islamic or not born in America. . . it's only about Obama being black.
When you look out upon a group of teabaggers, know that you are looking out upon that fraction of Americans who still hold on to archaic, morally wrong, reprehensible and just down right dirty filthy ideas about race in America.
(oh, and as for the grammar of the banner. . . that's the way it was printed and well, what would you expect)
Patriotic Americans' United
Lets take back the plantation
At least some of them are honest about how they feel about things.
Let's face it, it aint about over spending, socialism, Obama supposedly being Islamic or not born in America. . . it's only about Obama being black.
When you look out upon a group of teabaggers, know that you are looking out upon that fraction of Americans who still hold on to archaic, morally wrong, reprehensible and just down right dirty filthy ideas about race in America.
(oh, and as for the grammar of the banner. . . that's the way it was printed and well, what would you expect)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Right wing hypocrisy and generally absurd behaviors
Senate Republican holds up jobless benefits
AP
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., heads for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in AP – Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., heads for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, march 9, …
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer – Thu Mar 25, 6:58 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Once again, a stubborn Senate Republican is blocking speedy passage of a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits, saying its $9 billion cost should not be added to the national debt.
This time it's Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who's insisting that the measure be "paid for" so as not to add to the nation's $12.7 trillion debt.
"What we are doing is stealing future opportunity from our children," Coburn said Thursday.
Say what? Back in the '00s when the republican president and his legislative henchmen were running up the national debt by invading Afghanistan and Iraq for seemingly no reason whatsoever, the democrat were concerned about the mounting debt. Afterall, they had just busted their ass for 8 years under Billy Jeff trying to get the Reagan/Bush excess spending under control and did so admirably by having the national budget balanced by the time Billy Jeff left office.
when the republican came along and once again went hog wild at the public spending trough, I didn't see any of these war crazed comrades brinking an eye at the trillions of dollars in debt being racked up for the war against Muslims.
In response the absolute shambles of an economy the republicans left us, the dems have had to pump a trillion plus into the economy to keep it afloat. . . did anyone notice the Dow Jones Industrial Average going over 10,900 today?
All of a sudden the 'spend, spend, spend without paying' republicans have become fiscal conservatives and are using a banner of fiscal conservatism to fan the flames of hate and devisiveness in our country.
What motivates those who buy into this ridiculous line of rhetoric?
AP
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., heads for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in AP – Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., heads for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, march 9, …
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer – Thu Mar 25, 6:58 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Once again, a stubborn Senate Republican is blocking speedy passage of a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits, saying its $9 billion cost should not be added to the national debt.
This time it's Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who's insisting that the measure be "paid for" so as not to add to the nation's $12.7 trillion debt.
"What we are doing is stealing future opportunity from our children," Coburn said Thursday.
Say what? Back in the '00s when the republican president and his legislative henchmen were running up the national debt by invading Afghanistan and Iraq for seemingly no reason whatsoever, the democrat were concerned about the mounting debt. Afterall, they had just busted their ass for 8 years under Billy Jeff trying to get the Reagan/Bush excess spending under control and did so admirably by having the national budget balanced by the time Billy Jeff left office.
when the republican came along and once again went hog wild at the public spending trough, I didn't see any of these war crazed comrades brinking an eye at the trillions of dollars in debt being racked up for the war against Muslims.
In response the absolute shambles of an economy the republicans left us, the dems have had to pump a trillion plus into the economy to keep it afloat. . . did anyone notice the Dow Jones Industrial Average going over 10,900 today?
All of a sudden the 'spend, spend, spend without paying' republicans have become fiscal conservatives and are using a banner of fiscal conservatism to fan the flames of hate and devisiveness in our country.
What motivates those who buy into this ridiculous line of rhetoric?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
An open letter to teabaggers
Dear Teabagger,
Hello, I'd like to introduce myself to you. I am a patriotic American. My family has been in this country for hundreds of years. We have always been working class people who worked very hard all our lives. I was raised in a working class environment, struggled to get an education and got a fairly good job working for a major corporation. I have raised a family and worked hard to take good care of my children and put them all through college. I believe I raised them with good "moral fiber" and ethical standards. It was always important for me to teach them to do what was right for themselves, their family and their country. They have thrived.
I have never served in the military, but my father and his father did in both world wars. One of my g'fathers served in the Revolutionary War as a captain in a Conn. regiment. A second cousin has his sword. Another fought in the Civil War. A g'g'g uncle was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness. I was always raised to respect those who served in the military and I always have. Many of my friends served in Viet Nam and I've always honored their service.
I have never stolen from anyone or gotten anything I didn't work for. With my own two hands I built the house that I raised my children in.
Can you relate to my experience and background?
I am a typical All-American person. I am also a liberal who supports President Obama and believe he is overall doing the right thing for our country.
See, I am not your enemy. I am an American citizen who wants nothing but the best for our country. Yes, "OUR" country. I was raised to believe in many of the ideals of conservative America. I was also raised to believe that people on the left and people on the right could work together for the common good and that declaring war against any sector of America was treason.
So please, think about these things next time you hear one of your fellow teabaggers saying things that make it sound like those who disagree with your views are somehow the enemy. I am not your enemy, I am a fellow American who only wants our country to survive and prosper, but I fear that if we keep on spreading the hate filled rhetoric that is being put forth by the leaders of your movement, we may not survive.
Oh, and I know there is hate filled rhetoric coming from the left also. I have no more tolerance for it than I do for that from the right.
OK? That's my reality. I hope you will consider my words and think about why you feel so full of rage when you think about the views of people like me.
Regards,
Sagacious Hillbilly
Hello, I'd like to introduce myself to you. I am a patriotic American. My family has been in this country for hundreds of years. We have always been working class people who worked very hard all our lives. I was raised in a working class environment, struggled to get an education and got a fairly good job working for a major corporation. I have raised a family and worked hard to take good care of my children and put them all through college. I believe I raised them with good "moral fiber" and ethical standards. It was always important for me to teach them to do what was right for themselves, their family and their country. They have thrived.
I have never served in the military, but my father and his father did in both world wars. One of my g'fathers served in the Revolutionary War as a captain in a Conn. regiment. A second cousin has his sword. Another fought in the Civil War. A g'g'g uncle was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness. I was always raised to respect those who served in the military and I always have. Many of my friends served in Viet Nam and I've always honored their service.
I have never stolen from anyone or gotten anything I didn't work for. With my own two hands I built the house that I raised my children in.
Can you relate to my experience and background?
I am a typical All-American person. I am also a liberal who supports President Obama and believe he is overall doing the right thing for our country.
See, I am not your enemy. I am an American citizen who wants nothing but the best for our country. Yes, "OUR" country. I was raised to believe in many of the ideals of conservative America. I was also raised to believe that people on the left and people on the right could work together for the common good and that declaring war against any sector of America was treason.
So please, think about these things next time you hear one of your fellow teabaggers saying things that make it sound like those who disagree with your views are somehow the enemy. I am not your enemy, I am a fellow American who only wants our country to survive and prosper, but I fear that if we keep on spreading the hate filled rhetoric that is being put forth by the leaders of your movement, we may not survive.
Oh, and I know there is hate filled rhetoric coming from the left also. I have no more tolerance for it than I do for that from the right.
OK? That's my reality. I hope you will consider my words and think about why you feel so full of rage when you think about the views of people like me.
Regards,
Sagacious Hillbilly
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are some of the richest corporations in America. . . not as rich as the oil companies, but close.
See, they operate on a model that always guarantees them positive cash flow. If payouts begin to rise, they simply raise rates. They can also put a harder press on their clients. My health insurance company regularly denies coverage of a medical expense that I know damned well is covered in my policy. When that happens I have to get on the pbone argue with some corporate lackey for five minutes, get transfered to a "supervisor" who then says "oh my, I wonder why they didn't pay that! I will make sure your provider is payed ASAP. Thanks you for calling Mr. Hillbilly"
You gotta wonder how many people just go ahead and pay the bill without arguing. How many millions of dollars does that translate into for the insurance company?
That's just one tactic they use to fuck their customers.
But lets really take a look at who they're insuring. When you think about it, insurance companies only insure low risk healthy people. They insure folks who work and have jobs that pay enough that they can afford health insurance. In other words, the most healthy people in America. They don't insure the elderly population, the federal gov't cover all of them. They don't insure the disabled, the federal gov't covers them too. Unemployed, those on SSI? Yup, federal gov't's got them covered. People with "pre-existing conditions? Insurance companies won't touch them. High risk occupations. . . you pay high risk premiums.
So WTF is with the insurance companies? They get the cream of the crop and we the tax payers cover everyone else while the insurance companies suck us dry for our own insurance premiums.
Think about that and then the next time you hear some slack jawed, ignorant right wing brainless moron begin to defend insurance companies and make it sound like they are American heroic institutions, point out to them some of these facts.
See, they operate on a model that always guarantees them positive cash flow. If payouts begin to rise, they simply raise rates. They can also put a harder press on their clients. My health insurance company regularly denies coverage of a medical expense that I know damned well is covered in my policy. When that happens I have to get on the pbone argue with some corporate lackey for five minutes, get transfered to a "supervisor" who then says "oh my, I wonder why they didn't pay that! I will make sure your provider is payed ASAP. Thanks you for calling Mr. Hillbilly"
You gotta wonder how many people just go ahead and pay the bill without arguing. How many millions of dollars does that translate into for the insurance company?
That's just one tactic they use to fuck their customers.
But lets really take a look at who they're insuring. When you think about it, insurance companies only insure low risk healthy people. They insure folks who work and have jobs that pay enough that they can afford health insurance. In other words, the most healthy people in America. They don't insure the elderly population, the federal gov't cover all of them. They don't insure the disabled, the federal gov't covers them too. Unemployed, those on SSI? Yup, federal gov't's got them covered. People with "pre-existing conditions? Insurance companies won't touch them. High risk occupations. . . you pay high risk premiums.
So WTF is with the insurance companies? They get the cream of the crop and we the tax payers cover everyone else while the insurance companies suck us dry for our own insurance premiums.
Think about that and then the next time you hear some slack jawed, ignorant right wing brainless moron begin to defend insurance companies and make it sound like they are American heroic institutions, point out to them some of these facts.
The slack jawed right
http://news.yahoo.com/s/dailybeast/20100323/ts_dailybeast/7269_scarynewgoppoll
There's nothing that needs to be added here.
Scary New GOP Poll
NEW YORK – On the heels of health care, a new Harris poll reveals Republican attitudes about Obama: Two-thirds think he's a socialist, 57 percent a Muslim—and 24 percent say "he may be the Antichrist."
To anyone who thinks the end of the health-care vote means a return to civility, wake up.
Obama Derangement Syndrome—pathological hatred of the president posing as patriotism—has infected the Republican Party. Here's new data to prove it:
67 percent of Republicans (and 40 percent of Americans overall) believe that Obama is a socialist.
The belief that Obama is a “domestic enemy” is widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come.
57 percent of Republicans (32 percent overall) believe that Obama is a Muslim 45 percent of Republicans (25 percent overall) agree with the Birthers in their belief that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president" 38 percent of Republicans (20 percent overall) say that Obama is "doing many of the things that Hitler did" Scariest of all, 24 percent of Republicans (14 percent overall) say that Obama "may be the Antichrist." These numbers all come from a brand-new Louis Harris poll, inspired in part by my new book Wingnuts. It demonstrates the cost of the campaign of fear and hate that has been pumped up in the service of hyper-partisanship over the past 15 months. We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing the United States in the process. What might be good for ratings is bad for the country.
The poll, which surveyed 2,230 people right at the height of the health-care reform debate, also clearly shows that education is a barrier to extremism. Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped. It's a reminder of what the 19th-century educator Horace Mann once too-loftily said: "Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge."
There's nothing that needs to be added here.
Scary New GOP Poll
NEW YORK – On the heels of health care, a new Harris poll reveals Republican attitudes about Obama: Two-thirds think he's a socialist, 57 percent a Muslim—and 24 percent say "he may be the Antichrist."
To anyone who thinks the end of the health-care vote means a return to civility, wake up.
Obama Derangement Syndrome—pathological hatred of the president posing as patriotism—has infected the Republican Party. Here's new data to prove it:
67 percent of Republicans (and 40 percent of Americans overall) believe that Obama is a socialist.
The belief that Obama is a “domestic enemy” is widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come.
57 percent of Republicans (32 percent overall) believe that Obama is a Muslim 45 percent of Republicans (25 percent overall) agree with the Birthers in their belief that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president" 38 percent of Republicans (20 percent overall) say that Obama is "doing many of the things that Hitler did" Scariest of all, 24 percent of Republicans (14 percent overall) say that Obama "may be the Antichrist." These numbers all come from a brand-new Louis Harris poll, inspired in part by my new book Wingnuts. It demonstrates the cost of the campaign of fear and hate that has been pumped up in the service of hyper-partisanship over the past 15 months. We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing the United States in the process. What might be good for ratings is bad for the country.
The poll, which surveyed 2,230 people right at the height of the health-care reform debate, also clearly shows that education is a barrier to extremism. Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped. It's a reminder of what the 19th-century educator Horace Mann once too-loftily said: "Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge."
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Victory at last. . . sorta.
Congress clears historic health care bill
AP – 9 mins ago
Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
Gee, nothing like this has happened since. . . well, the 60s? FDRs New Deal? This is nothing new, no matter what the right tries to say.
Hopefully this will open the door to some more comprehensive health care in the near future. Progressive legislation usually happen in closely placed steps.
I look for a backlash that will be loud, hateful, laced with racist undertones and perhaps violent. The current mood on the right is dangerous. . . especially to themselves.
AP – 9 mins ago
Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
Gee, nothing like this has happened since. . . well, the 60s? FDRs New Deal? This is nothing new, no matter what the right tries to say.
Hopefully this will open the door to some more comprehensive health care in the near future. Progressive legislation usually happen in closely placed steps.
I look for a backlash that will be loud, hateful, laced with racist undertones and perhaps violent. The current mood on the right is dangerous. . . especially to themselves.
I see your true colors, shining through. . .
And "more than a handful of house republicans" were urging them on.
The future looked so bright back in 1969. WTF happened?
This from the Washington Post. . .
'Tea party' takes health-care protest to the Hill
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said that racial epithets were hurled at them Saturday by angry protesters who had gathered at the Capitol to protest health-care legislation, and one congressman said he was spit upon. The most high-profile openly gay congressman, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), was heckled with anti-gay chants. . . .
"The congressman was walking into the Capitol to vote, when one protester spat on him. The congressman would like to thank the U.S. Capitol Police officer who quickly escorted the other Members and him into the Capitol, and defused the tense situation with professionalism and care," said Danny Rotert, a spokesman for Cleaver. . . .
And Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement, "On the one hand, I am saddened that America's debate on health care -- which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect -- has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility. But on the other, I know that every step toward a more just America has aroused similar hate in its own time; and I know that John Lewis, a hero of the civil rights movement, has learned to wear the worst slurs as a badge of honor."
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"This is not the first time the congressman has been called the "n" word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans," said Rotert, Cleaver's spokesman. "That being said, he is disappointed that in the 21st century our national discourse has devolved to the point of name-calling and spitting." . . .
Saturday evening, more than a handful of House Republicans held an impromptu rally on the Capitol steps. Using a megaphone, the lawmakers urged on the crowd. Shortly after 6 p.m., Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.) dared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to come out onto the House steps and address the more than 1,000 people who were gathered at the foot of the Capitol, prompting a loud and angry chant of "Nancy, Nancy, Nancy."
Oh, and apologies to Cyndi Lauper, whose song "True Colors" was a beautiful love song that I almost hated to use in this context.
The future looked so bright back in 1969. WTF happened?
This from the Washington Post. . .
'Tea party' takes health-care protest to the Hill
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said that racial epithets were hurled at them Saturday by angry protesters who had gathered at the Capitol to protest health-care legislation, and one congressman said he was spit upon. The most high-profile openly gay congressman, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), was heckled with anti-gay chants. . . .
"The congressman was walking into the Capitol to vote, when one protester spat on him. The congressman would like to thank the U.S. Capitol Police officer who quickly escorted the other Members and him into the Capitol, and defused the tense situation with professionalism and care," said Danny Rotert, a spokesman for Cleaver. . . .
And Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement, "On the one hand, I am saddened that America's debate on health care -- which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect -- has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility. But on the other, I know that every step toward a more just America has aroused similar hate in its own time; and I know that John Lewis, a hero of the civil rights movement, has learned to wear the worst slurs as a badge of honor."
ad_icon
"This is not the first time the congressman has been called the "n" word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans," said Rotert, Cleaver's spokesman. "That being said, he is disappointed that in the 21st century our national discourse has devolved to the point of name-calling and spitting." . . .
Saturday evening, more than a handful of House Republicans held an impromptu rally on the Capitol steps. Using a megaphone, the lawmakers urged on the crowd. Shortly after 6 p.m., Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.) dared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to come out onto the House steps and address the more than 1,000 people who were gathered at the foot of the Capitol, prompting a loud and angry chant of "Nancy, Nancy, Nancy."
Oh, and apologies to Cyndi Lauper, whose song "True Colors" was a beautiful love song that I almost hated to use in this context.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Something about Dennis. . .
That reminds of of a Bugs Bunny character.
Is it Marvin the Martian?
Or the Gremlin?
Reason #129 why it sucks to live in West Virginia
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/the-best-worst-and-deadliest-roads-in-america-the-rankings/article176005.html
One of America's top deadliest places to drive. Makes me so proud.
Also, we have interstates right now that are absurdly pot holed. I strayed into the middle part between the two lanes the other day and thought my truck was coming apart for the holes I slammed through. It bounced it around so bad I was glad I was being fairly attentive at the time. Had I been letting the vehicle drive itself like so many drivers do these days, I'd have been in trouble.
WHY ARE OUR ROADS LIKE THIS? Well, I'm glad you asked. I'm sure there are lots of reasons, but I that one of them is because of a practice I've seen over and over again this winter as I traveled the interstates at night through a whole lot of really bad weather.
Ya see, salt trucks get out on the hiway whenever it looks like snow, the first snow flake appears or the weather people warn of snow (sometimes they go into a hysterical frenzy around here when there are snow warning). Sometimes, on evening when it's be predicted to snow, they'll be lined up on certain exit ramps watching for the first snow flake.
These salt trucks spread mass quantities of salt all over the roads. The salt has qualities that cause it to deteriorate the hiway besides killing everything within 20' of the edge of the road. but this in and of itself is a minor problem. The biggest problem is that the salt truck drivers, for some reason have to run up and down the interstates with their plows dragging on the road surface no matter what the conditions. Guess what happens every time they hit a high or irregular spot in the blacktop. . . yea, they dig out a nice chunk of road surface. Add salt and water to the resulting hole and pretty soon you've got an even bigger hole.
I aint lying, we've got pot holes in our interstates that are huge. I wonder how many accidents there have been and how many vehicles have been damaged by these obstacle.
So be warned West Virginians: Be very careful driving on our interstates this time of year. It's dangerous for a lot of reasons.
One of America's top deadliest places to drive. Makes me so proud.
Also, we have interstates right now that are absurdly pot holed. I strayed into the middle part between the two lanes the other day and thought my truck was coming apart for the holes I slammed through. It bounced it around so bad I was glad I was being fairly attentive at the time. Had I been letting the vehicle drive itself like so many drivers do these days, I'd have been in trouble.
WHY ARE OUR ROADS LIKE THIS? Well, I'm glad you asked. I'm sure there are lots of reasons, but I that one of them is because of a practice I've seen over and over again this winter as I traveled the interstates at night through a whole lot of really bad weather.
Ya see, salt trucks get out on the hiway whenever it looks like snow, the first snow flake appears or the weather people warn of snow (sometimes they go into a hysterical frenzy around here when there are snow warning). Sometimes, on evening when it's be predicted to snow, they'll be lined up on certain exit ramps watching for the first snow flake.
These salt trucks spread mass quantities of salt all over the roads. The salt has qualities that cause it to deteriorate the hiway besides killing everything within 20' of the edge of the road. but this in and of itself is a minor problem. The biggest problem is that the salt truck drivers, for some reason have to run up and down the interstates with their plows dragging on the road surface no matter what the conditions. Guess what happens every time they hit a high or irregular spot in the blacktop. . . yea, they dig out a nice chunk of road surface. Add salt and water to the resulting hole and pretty soon you've got an even bigger hole.
I aint lying, we've got pot holes in our interstates that are huge. I wonder how many accidents there have been and how many vehicles have been damaged by these obstacle.
So be warned West Virginians: Be very careful driving on our interstates this time of year. It's dangerous for a lot of reasons.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Heritage
I was sittin here thinkin. Man, my old man was an angry SOB sometimes. Come to think of it, so was my grandfather. What I've heard of my Great Grandfather, he was a pretty nasty and mean SOB himself. Me? I'm just a kind mellow compassionate guy. . . riiiiight. My anger seethes just below the surface just waiting for the slightest provocation and justification to release itself all over you or anyone else that PISSES ME OFF. I see bloggers calling themselves "the angry this" or "the angry that" and I just laugh [except for you "Angry Black Lady"]. Most of you light weights wouldn't know anger if it bit you in the ass.
Anger is an old condition passed down through the generations. See, we tend to be crafty craftsmen in my family. We work hard, support our families by doing work that takes a certain degree of skills and talent. We also tend to be perfectionists that do a better than average job at the work we do. Too bad for us that such occupations don't pay a whole hell of a lot. Oh, we never starve or go hungry and we're never homeless in the worst of times, but we don't tend to accumulate much excess resources, and it's not always just because of pay scales. That's all well and good except the problem comes along when we step back and take a look at other people who are making a whole fucking bunch more money than we are. They don't seem to be any smarter and don't seem to work any harder. They seem to have all the human frailties that we have. So, WTF? The anger begins to grow. We begin to feel like the whole world is unfair. We blame all our problems on other people. . . usually the pricks who make more money than us, do less work and are trying to stick it to us day and night.
It's called a "working class chip." It weighs a couple tons. It oppresses us, it keeps us down and it turns us into angry pricks just like we accuse those rich fucks of being. I've got it, my father had it, his father had it, his father had it and I suspect it goes on a few generation back from there. If you could take the past six or seven generations of my fathers and line us all up, it would be hard to tell us apart.
Now, I consider myself lucky. I've done a lot of conscious work at getting over that anger and hateful attitude toward 'those who have.' My son has turned his working class chip back on itself. He was alway a brilliant academic and is now a bright young social activist who has dedicated his life to making life better for the working class ("kicking ass for the working class"). My equally intelligent daughter is likewise an advocate for those less fortunate than most. Education CAN be a beautiful thing.
Sadly, I look at others in my family and they are just as angry mean and nasty as past generations. As angry as I've been in my life, I consider myself VERY lucky to have had the ability to look within myself and uncover the demons and monsters that have pulled me around like a bull with a ring through his nose. I don't regularly succumb to those forces anymore and my life is much better because of it.
So, is my family any different from others? Probably not. If you're a guy who grows up to be a test pilot, you probably come from a long line of calm, meticulous, brave and academically sharp people. Look at and get to know a man and you could probably identify his ancestors in a crowd.
So back to this angry man who lives inside of me. So many times I told myself to just "get over it." So many people told me to just stop such bad behavior. How many times did people look at me and say "what the fuck is the matter with you?"
"Just get over it." Such simple words. Such an easy concept. So fucking difficult to do. In the end, very few people "just get over it." I wish I could "just get over it."
Do you have things that you should "just get over?" When was the last time you thought that someone ought to "just get over it." When was the last time you heard someone say "just get over it" or "they ought to just get over it?"
Words are so easy.
Anger is an old condition passed down through the generations. See, we tend to be crafty craftsmen in my family. We work hard, support our families by doing work that takes a certain degree of skills and talent. We also tend to be perfectionists that do a better than average job at the work we do. Too bad for us that such occupations don't pay a whole hell of a lot. Oh, we never starve or go hungry and we're never homeless in the worst of times, but we don't tend to accumulate much excess resources, and it's not always just because of pay scales. That's all well and good except the problem comes along when we step back and take a look at other people who are making a whole fucking bunch more money than we are. They don't seem to be any smarter and don't seem to work any harder. They seem to have all the human frailties that we have. So, WTF? The anger begins to grow. We begin to feel like the whole world is unfair. We blame all our problems on other people. . . usually the pricks who make more money than us, do less work and are trying to stick it to us day and night.
It's called a "working class chip." It weighs a couple tons. It oppresses us, it keeps us down and it turns us into angry pricks just like we accuse those rich fucks of being. I've got it, my father had it, his father had it, his father had it and I suspect it goes on a few generation back from there. If you could take the past six or seven generations of my fathers and line us all up, it would be hard to tell us apart.
Now, I consider myself lucky. I've done a lot of conscious work at getting over that anger and hateful attitude toward 'those who have.' My son has turned his working class chip back on itself. He was alway a brilliant academic and is now a bright young social activist who has dedicated his life to making life better for the working class ("kicking ass for the working class"). My equally intelligent daughter is likewise an advocate for those less fortunate than most. Education CAN be a beautiful thing.
Sadly, I look at others in my family and they are just as angry mean and nasty as past generations. As angry as I've been in my life, I consider myself VERY lucky to have had the ability to look within myself and uncover the demons and monsters that have pulled me around like a bull with a ring through his nose. I don't regularly succumb to those forces anymore and my life is much better because of it.
So, is my family any different from others? Probably not. If you're a guy who grows up to be a test pilot, you probably come from a long line of calm, meticulous, brave and academically sharp people. Look at and get to know a man and you could probably identify his ancestors in a crowd.
So back to this angry man who lives inside of me. So many times I told myself to just "get over it." So many people told me to just stop such bad behavior. How many times did people look at me and say "what the fuck is the matter with you?"
"Just get over it." Such simple words. Such an easy concept. So fucking difficult to do. In the end, very few people "just get over it." I wish I could "just get over it."
Do you have things that you should "just get over?" When was the last time you thought that someone ought to "just get over it." When was the last time you heard someone say "just get over it" or "they ought to just get over it?"
Words are so easy.
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