The Age of the Quick Fix

[Remington]

The Age of the Quick Fix


You hear it on the evening news. You read it in the newspapers. You see it on Facebook, or on Twitter. Things are Bad, they say. Bad with a capital B. The economy is collapsing, the war in Iran is hopelessly bogged down, and national debt is at an all-time high.

That's when they make the pitch. They've gotten you sufficiently depressed, you're thinking that Someone should do Something, and that's when they start the sales pitch. Things are Bad, they say... but don't worry. Don't worry, they say, because [Insert Name Here] is coming to the rescue! It could be Jesus they're selling, or Obama. Might as well be motherfucking Superman. But whoever it is doesn't really matter, because the concept is the same:  trust him, he'll get us out of this mess. Don't bother trying to fix it yourself, you could get hurt. Just sit back, watch TV, and let your saviour of choice fix all your problems.

Election time rolls around again, and everyone suffers voter amnesia for the 42nd time in a row. The new candidate has a bright smile, and he tells everyone that he will fix what the other guy broke. They believe him. They believe him, every single time.


And does he do anything? Fuck no.


GODDAMNIT, PEOPLE!  A brain-dead monkey with Alzheimer's could have figured it out by now! Can you honestly not see the pattern? You elect a guy, he steals everything that isn't nailed down (and some things that are), and promptly resigns in shame. But not real shame of course, just the badly faked kind as he tries to cover up his little self-satisfied grin. You know, the kind that means he now owns his own tropical island in the Caribbean. So okay, that guy was bad. But this new guy... he looks honest. And he tells me that he'll fix everything...

C'MERE, SPAG! ARE YOU HONESTLY THAT STUPID? ...Never mind, silly question.

The thing is, this desire for a quick fix isn't just limited to politics. Everyone wants the quick fix, regardless of whether or not it solves the problem. Easy and sloppily is preferred over slowly and carefully. People will accept damn near any solution, so long as it lets them to sit on their fat asses and watch American Idol for just a little while longer. How do you pull yourself out of this mess? It's as simple as a thought, and as difficult as a lifetime. I'm here to tell you that there is only one person in the world that can fix your problems, only one person who can truly save you.


No, it's not Superman.


It's you. Only you can fix your own problems, only you can save yourself. Enlightenment is a Do It Yourself kind of thing, not to mention a Work in Progress. If you want something done right, don't trust a man with an expensive suit and a cheap smile. Do it yourself. The "brand-name heroes" of today are like the brand-name products of today; shiny on the outside, but they break when put to the test. Think for yourself, and become your own hero.



...Or not. If all of this self-determination and thinking for yourself seems too hard, you could always go back to watching television. I think Futurama's on.

[Remington]

screw you.

futurama is more culturally relevant and satirical than you will ever be. 

[Captain Utopia]

The desire for the quick fix is the fuel of progress.

Guns are the "quick fix" to pointy sticks. Rubbing sticks were the "quick fix" to waiting for lightning to come along and set some shit on fire. Matches were the "quick fix" to that.

So maybe Obama is a fraud. Maybe Obama is genuine but ultimately ineffective. Maybe he will get some shit done. But occasionally we do elect people who fit the latter category. If you compare it to an institutional quagmire like the US congress and indeed many governments which are also systematically opposed to the concept of "quick fix", then the rewards of progress are worth the occasional, or frequent, charlatan.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The desire for the quick fix is the fuel of progress.

Guns are the "quick fix" to pointy sticks. Rubbing sticks were the "quick fix" to waiting for lightning to come along and set some shit on fire. Matches were the "quick fix" to that.

So maybe Obama is a fraud. Maybe Obama is genuine but ultimately ineffective. Maybe he will get some shit done. But occasionally we do elect people who fit the latter category. If you compare it to an institutional quagmire like the US congress and indeed many governments which are also systematically opposed to the concept of "quick fix", then the rewards of progress are worth the occasional, or frequent, charlatan.

[Cramulus]

The Age of the Quick Fix

I like it

[Kai]

It's you. Only you can fix your own problems, only you can save yourself. Enlightenment is a Do It Yourself kind of thing, not to mention a Work in Progress. If you want something done right, don't trust a man with an expensive suit and a cheap smile. Do it yourself. The "brand-name heroes" of today are like the brand-name products of today; shiny on the outside, but they break when put to the test. Think for yourself, and become your own hero.

Of course.

This is paralyzing for most people.

[Golden Applesauce]

Sir Remington, you are absolutely correct.  Now I just need to get off my ass and solve the banking crisis.

My resources are an internet connection, more computing power than I really need, a small bookcase of comics and textbooks, access to professors well versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and religion, a loose social network who's only redeeming quality is that they don't drink to excess as much as everyone else on this damn campus, a drawer full of cutlery, and some bottles of juice.

It's GO TIME!  Now, where do I start?

[Remington]

Sir Remington, you are absolutely correct.  Now I just need to get off my ass and solve the banking crisis.

My resources are an internet connection, more computing power than I really need, a small bookcase of comics and textbooks, access to professors well versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and religion, a loose social network who's only redeeming quality is that they don't drink to excess as much as everyone else on this damn campus, a drawer full of cutlery, and some bottles of juice.

It's GO TIME!  Now, where do I start?

It's really quite simple, GA.

1. Internet Connection
2. Comics and Textbooks
3. Cutlery
4. ???
5. (Sustainable) profit


On a more serious note, getting off the ass comes first. Bigger stuff comes after that. We have to address the root problem before we attempt to cure the symptoms, and I believe societal laziness in general is a root cause of many problems. For change to be genuine, it has to start with us: trying to change bigger issues first or trying to institute top-down change is like trying to build a pyramid upside down.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

"The quick fix" and "The Easy Answer" are at the root of "outrage conservativism".

[Captain Utopia]

On a more serious note, getting off the ass comes first. Bigger stuff comes after that. We have to address the root problem before we attempt to cure the symptoms, and I believe societal laziness in general is a root cause of many problems. For change to be genuine, it has to start with us: trying to change bigger issues first or trying to institute top-down change is like trying to build a pyramid upside down.

Stop blaming other people in the "we" and "us". YOU get off your ass, and come back with a compelling reason as to why we should join you.

That's the shit that no-one says, but on some level we must think it, else we'd all be off our asses already, leading by example.

I liked your writing btw, so please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you are missing the mark a little - e.g. if it's near-impossible to get people to anything more than sign an on-line petition, or hit a Facebook "Support Darfur" button, then why not work with that? By increasing our channels of communication with each other, we at last have a more level playing field in the battlefield of ideology. My involvement in projects such as metagovernment is along those lines of thought.

[Captain Utopia]

"The quick fix" and "The Easy Answer" are at the root of "outrage conservativism".

Are they not at the root of many liberal fallacies too?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

"The quick fix" and "The Easy Answer" are at the root of "outrage conservativism".

Are they not at the root of many liberal fallacies too?

Naw.  Liberals tend to assume that things are more complicated than they really are.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Sir Remington, you are absolutely correct.  Now I just need to get off my ass and solve the banking crisis.

My resources are an internet connection, more computing power than I really need, a small bookcase of comics and textbooks, access to professors well versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and religion, a loose social network who's only redeeming quality is that they don't drink to excess as much as everyone else on this damn campus, a drawer full of cutlery, and some bottles of juice.

It's GO TIME!  Now, where do I start?

It's really quite simple, GA.

1. Internet Connection
2. Comics and Textbooks
3. Cutlery
4. ???
5. (Sustainable) profit


On a more serious note, getting off the ass comes first. Bigger stuff comes after that. We have to address the root problem before we attempt to cure the symptoms, and I believe societal laziness in general is a root cause of many problems. For change to be genuine, it has to start with us: trying to change bigger issues first or trying to institute top-down change is like trying to build a pyramid upside down.

I don't want to cure the issues.  I like my chaos.

[Payne]

Sir Remington, you are absolutely correct.  Now I just need to get off my ass and solve the banking crisis.

My resources are an internet connection, more computing power than I really need, a small bookcase of comics and textbooks, access to professors well versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and religion, a loose social network who's only redeeming quality is that they don't drink to excess as much as everyone else on this damn campus, a drawer full of cutlery, and some bottles of juice.

It's GO TIME!  Now, where do I start?

It's really quite simple, GA.

1. Internet Connection
2. Comics and Textbooks
3. Cutlery
4. ???
5. (Sustainable) profit


On a more serious note, getting off the ass comes first. Bigger stuff comes after that. We have to address the root problem before we attempt to cure the symptoms, and I believe societal laziness in general is a root cause of many problems. For change to be genuine, it has to start with us: trying to change bigger issues first or trying to institute top-down change is like trying to build a pyramid upside down.

I don't want to cure the issues.  I like my chaos.

He only wants all your stuff Roger. All your stuff and all your things, doodads, knick-knacks, paraphernalia and kitsch.

SHOOT HIM WHILE YOU STILL HAVE BULLETS. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Sir Remington, you are absolutely correct.  Now I just need to get off my ass and solve the banking crisis.

My resources are an internet connection, more computing power than I really need, a small bookcase of comics and textbooks, access to professors well versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and religion, a loose social network who's only redeeming quality is that they don't drink to excess as much as everyone else on this damn campus, a drawer full of cutlery, and some bottles of juice.

It's GO TIME!  Now, where do I start?

It's really quite simple, GA.

1. Internet Connection
2. Comics and Textbooks
3. Cutlery
4. ???
5. (Sustainable) profit


On a more serious note, getting off the ass comes first. Bigger stuff comes after that. We have to address the root problem before we attempt to cure the symptoms, and I believe societal laziness in general is a root cause of many problems. For change to be genuine, it has to start with us: trying to change bigger issues first or trying to institute top-down change is like trying to build a pyramid upside down.

I don't want to cure the issues.  I like my chaos.

He only wants all your stuff Roger. All your stuff and all your things, doodads, knick-knacks, paraphernalia and kitsch.

SHOOT HIM WHILE YOU STILL HAVE BULLETS. 

I will always have bullets.