Once again I'm confronted by the false choices of abject poverty. I'm grasping at nearby detritus to build a lifeboat. Sure, its mainly my own fault. I had the temerity to not learn the finer points of my craft from the 'trade school' i attended. And I'm an idle dreamer as well. I went to 'trade school' to be a commercial driver. I use citation marks because that school doesn't make any profit from the students. They get industry subsidies. I got a valid CDL but the "finer points" involve backing trailers into slots in the real world. (Versus between lines on the pavement.) I had three incidents. None were serious, but now no company will even test me because of insurance rules. So I'm delivering pizza and living in a motel, because its too cold to live in my car anymore.
Being poor is not that bad so long as you don't mind STAYING poor. All the money you make is spent to stay alive. You can't get a bank account because you have no stable address, you have no stable address because you have no bank account. Because you have no place to save what little dollar and change might be left falls out of your pocket for some 'wasteful trinket'. You can't get a decent job for the same reason. My situation was very similar to this in Texas. Coincidentally, ACORN started their canvas operation about that time. The ad said; "Tired of Reaganomics and want to do something about it?" I spent the next ten years canvassing for various justice, peace & environmental groups. Canvassing is OJT on human nature. One never convinces anyone of anything. Although you can occasionally have meaningful dialog what you're mainly doing is convincing those who already agree to do something about it. (Apologies to Robt Greenwald.)
Then the curiosity (dreamer) entered. I started reading about the Farmer Populists and The Grange movement. And reading Noam Chomsky, Saul Alinski, (sp?) Mother Jones, Howard Zinn, Big Bob Hayward, &ct... Desperation like I've outlined here is an integral part of the capitalist model. The great huge mass of humanity have no interest in acquiring large piles of things. They'd rather have enough food, adequate shelter, and something interesting to DO with their time. (Finding that 'something interesting', then finding more of it, may well be the "pursuit" of happiness.) Now, when the 40 hour week and the single income household are unrecognizable, where are the tirades against wage slavery? Where are the 'Eat the Rich' barn burners? I've continued reading. And ya know what? DailyKos got NUTHIN on the IWW! Eugene Debs got a million votes for President while he was inside a prison cell dammit! The Democratic Party would've been a footnote to the Civil War but for co-opting and diluting the issues of the REAL populists. And they're doing it again. All this compromise is killing us, sometimes literally.
ENOUGH! :argh!: I say forget 'impeach Bush/Cheney' I say impeach Reid/Polosi
Impeach 'em all, dammit.
And welcome to capitalism and the land of the "free".
Interesting stuff.
As for where it all went, I think there was some momentum being built up in the anti-globalization movement. As retarded as certain segments (and indeed the label) were, they were growing in popularity and forcing these issues on the table.
Then, as they say, 9/11 happened and "everything changed". Security was the big issue and the state managed to redefine itself as defending the population against terrorists. A few people got scared and dropped out. Some more had a closer look at their allies and decided perhaps it would be best to do their own thing. And a few more got the crap beaten out of them by newly empowered security forces.
That's my theory anyway. Because those in power managed to frame the debate in terms where they can always win (or at least spin it that way), compromise becomes the only option for the cowardly politician.
Quote from: Cain on November 12, 2007, 05:23:43 AM
Interesting stuff.
As for where it all went, I think there was some momentum being built up in the anti-globalization movement. As retarded as certain segments (and indeed the label) were, they were growing in popularity and forcing these issues on the table.
Then, as they say, 9/11 happened and "everything changed". Security was the big issue and the state managed to redefine itself as defending the population against terrorists. A few people got scared and dropped out. Some more had a closer look at their allies and decided perhaps it would be best to do their own thing. And a few more got the crap beaten out of them by newly empowered security forces.
That's my theory anyway. Because those in power managed to frame the debate in terms where they can always win (or at least spin it that way), compromise becomes the only option for the cowardly politician.
Welcome to the post-American century. Nothing stops The Machine™.
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
Spoken like a true fucking prodigy
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
:potd:
That about sums up my philosophy.
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 05:19:03 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Highs and trips, to my knowledge, don't come with commercial breaks. That's all I can think of.
Quote from: Cainad on November 18, 2007, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 05:19:03 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Highs and trips, to my knowledge, don't come with commercial breaks. That's all I can think of.
Commercial breaks ain't the problem with teevee. Teevee is the problem with teevee. Creates a substitute for LIVING. Same thing with drugs & alcohol. Once in a while doesn't hurt ya none...but when you view the state of being all fucked up as being superior to regular living, then you've bought the Conspiracy line, and turned yourself into the sort of drone The Man likes to see.
Congratulations.
And by living, we mean throwing shit, like monkeys were meant to do.
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_Wannabe on November 18, 2007, 09:26:25 PM
And by living, we mean throwing shit, like monkeys were meant to do.
Speak for yourself.
By living, *I* mean "STOMPING THE TERRA AND HAVING A GOOD FUCKING TIME, USUALLY AT THE EXPENSE OF STUPID PEOPLE".
Yeah, thats the bit thats up for negotiation, depending on the person in question.
In my case, its quiet, nice drinks in relaxed company, plotting and the occasional piece of fun with a fundie of some description (because there are so many going around nowadays).
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 09:20:33 PM
Quote from: Cainad on November 18, 2007, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 05:19:03 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Highs and trips, to my knowledge, don't come with commercial breaks. That's all I can think of.
Commercial breaks ain't the problem with teevee. Teevee is the problem with teevee. Creates a substitute for LIVING. Same thing with drugs & alcohol. Once in a while doesn't hurt ya none...but when you view the state of being all fucked up as being superior to regular living, then you've bought the Conspiracy line, and turned yourself into the sort of drone The Man likes to see.
Congratulations.
I used to get high on life, but then I got tolerant and now I get high
because of life.
And spending your days high doesn't seem to get in the way of me living and doing shit, whether I like it or not it seems.
And if I've bought into the conspiracy by being drug fucked as often as I can be, then I say it's the best deal "Bob" has ever sold me.
Quote from: Lysergic link=topic=14314.msg456612#msg456612
I used to get high on life, but then I got tolerant and now I get highi]because[/i] of life.
Heh.
D.A.R.E. to keep your potheads off slogans.
Sorry life whupped ya.
HEY GUYS ISNT IT WEIRD HOW LIKE... ANYTHING EXISTS AT ALL? I MEAN.. WHY? IT'S LIKE.. WEIRD. IS IT CARDBOARD?
WHAT'S FASCISM?
Quote from: Cain on November 18, 2007, 09:45:35 PM
Yeah, thats the bit thats up for negotiation, depending on the person in question.
In my case, its quiet, nice drinks in relaxed company, plotting and the occasional piece of fun with a fundie of some description (because there are so many going around nowadays).
And this is why drugs seem better to me than television, movies etc. With television, one sits passively and receives the information/entertainment. Usually, even if there are people in the room, they're all watching the tv and not interacting with each other. With pot, I can be camping and talking friends around a campfire, I can be playing games, hiking, doing art projects, working on vehicles... I learned to completely rebuild the engine in a Chevy van while sharing joints with someone willing to teach me. Today, one of my close friends held a ritual 'snowflake' party where about 25 of us show up every year, after the first snow and spend hours cutting out snowflakes that will fill his ceiling until the last snow has fallen. We all enjoyed it and spent a lot of time together with some of our friends who we hadn't seen in a couple months, because of work etc. That we did well stoned and wouldn't have enjoyed half as much if we'd been glued to a television instead.
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 19, 2007, 02:56:55 AM
And this is why drugs seem better to me than television, movies etc.
In related news, syphilis is better than gonorrhea.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 02:58:41 AM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 19, 2007, 02:56:55 AM
And this is why drugs seem better to me than television, movies etc.
In related news, syphilis is better than gonorrhea.
Well since you're rating things, how about "intellectually lazy" vs. "intellectually dishonest"?
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 19, 2007, 03:31:50 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 02:58:41 AM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 19, 2007, 02:56:55 AM
And this is why drugs seem better to me than television, movies etc.
In related news, syphilis is better than gonorrhea.
Well since you're rating things, how about "intellectually lazy" vs. "intellectually dishonest"?
Hmmm. You calling me either, both, or neither, Ratatosk?
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 02:39:35 AM
Quote from: Lysergic link=topic=14314.msg456612#msg456612
I used to get high on life, but then I got tolerant and now I get highi]because[/i] of life.
Heh.
D.A.R.E. to keep your potheads off slogans.
Sorry life whupped ya.
*shrug* If it weren't for the copious amounts of drugs I take, I'd very likely kill a motherfucker, which is why I can see why you'd like to see me get along without them.
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:38:58 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 02:39:35 AM
Quote from: Lysergic link=topic=14314.msg456612#msg456612
I used to get high on life, but then I got tolerant and now I get highi]because[/i] of life.
Heh.
D.A.R.E. to keep your potheads off slogans.
Sorry life whupped ya.
*shrug* If it weren't for the copious amounts of drugs I take, I'd very likely kill a motherfucker, which is why I can see why you'd like to see me get along without them.
I've been killing a motherfucker for YEARS, and it's never done ME any harm.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 03:44:21 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:38:58 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 02:39:35 AM
Quote from: Lysergic link=topic=14314.msg456612#msg456612
I used to get high on life, but then I got tolerant and now I get highi]because[/i] of life.
Heh.
D.A.R.E. to keep your potheads off slogans.
Sorry life whupped ya.
*shrug* If it weren't for the copious amounts of drugs I take, I'd very likely kill a motherfucker, which is why I can see why you'd like to see me get along without them.
I've been killing a motherfucker for YEARS, and it's never done ME any harm.
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:53:05 AM
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
You don't meet Bubba as long as you don't kill a motherfucker
all at once.
You rot your brain. I'm gonna get me some PAYBACK.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 03:55:13 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:53:05 AM
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
You don't meet Bubba as long as you don't kill a motherfucker all at once.
You rot your brain. I'm gonna get me some PAYBACK.
Yes Sir.
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:03:13 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 03:55:13 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:53:05 AM
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
You don't meet Bubba as long as you don't kill a motherfucker all at once.
You rot your brain. I'm gonna get me some PAYBACK.
Yes Sir.
Damn straight, Sausage-Boi.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 04:04:33 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:03:13 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 03:55:13 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:53:05 AM
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
You don't meet Bubba as long as you don't kill a motherfucker all at once.
You rot your brain. I'm gonna get me some PAYBACK.
Yes Sir.
Damn straight, Sausage-Boi.
Was that an insinuation that I suck cock?
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:18:24 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 04:04:33 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:03:13 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 03:55:13 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 03:53:05 AM
Yeah, I'd rather be killing myself with psychotropic toxins and deal with it then kill other people and deal with Bubba.
You don't meet Bubba as long as you don't kill a motherfucker all at once.
You rot your brain. I'm gonna get me some PAYBACK.
Yes Sir.
Damn straight, Sausage-Boi.
Was that an insinuation that I suck cock?
No, if I wanted to insinuate that, I would have called you "cocksucker".
I called you "sausage-boi", because...well, what is a sausage? It's some smoked meat wrapped in skin that just sort of sits there.
Touche, that would be an appropriate insult if I were your typical laze around doing nothing stoner.
But, alas, I actually have a work ethic and I travel around a lot.
Cock-sucker would be more appropriate to what I am.
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:25:21 AM
Touche, that would be an appropriate insult if I were your typical laze around doing nothing stoner.
But, alas, I actually have a work ethic and I travel around a lot.
Cock-sucker would be more appropriate to what I am.
So you do suck cocks?
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 19, 2007, 04:26:53 AM
Quote from: Lysergic on November 19, 2007, 04:25:21 AM
Touche, that would be an appropriate insult if I were your typical laze around doing nothing stoner.
But, alas, I actually have a work ethic and I travel around a lot.
Cock-sucker would be more appropriate to what I am.
So you do suck cocks?
That's need to know basis information.
And what, exactly, is wrong with being a cocksucker?
Quote from: LMNO on November 19, 2007, 02:21:13 PM
And what, exactly, is wrong with being a cocksucker?
Depends. Are you union?
You bet, Local 69.
What? I'm sure you saw that one a mile off.
I actually am union.
I really kind of want to go to a meeting and sit in the back and then every time they bring up ANYTHING, just yell at the top of my lungs, "STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!"
Become a writer.
Ah, the joys of our union D-Cup ... :sigh:
If you bothered to go to a meeting that wasn't one of the contract votes or elections, you'd probably be one of at most a dozen people there. Our union exists to arbitrate disciplinary actions (something that really doesn't happen much from what I've seen and discussed with people) and negotiate our CBA every three years. Since the CBA we got last summer was such a success, NATURALLY the only outcome was a total shift in officers after the most hate-filled campaign I've seen in the years I've worked here.
:argh!:
The only real options are to ignore anything non-CBA related or try to take the union over. Taking it over, while it would seem lulz-worthy in potential, would just be a massive time-sink and headache due to the vast majority of the union members being short-sighted, selfish bastards when it comes to anything related to the CBA. All the meetings I've been to had FAR more in common with a City Council meeting than a union membership meeting (both my parents are long-time union reps and officers so I've been exposed to such things since I was a wee lad) - nothing gets done, and everyone wastes everyone else's time saying all that nothing. I'm still amazed the bargaining team was able to do what it accomplished all things considered. Naturally all those people (save I think one) were ousted after the CBA was ratified. :roll:
Okay, I'll stop now. Sorry about the venting :oops:
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 09:20:33 PM
Quote from: Cainad on November 18, 2007, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 05:19:03 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Highs and trips, to my knowledge, don't come with commercial breaks. That's all I can think of.
Commercial breaks ain't the problem with teevee. Teevee is the problem with teevee. Creates a substitute for LIVING. Same thing with drugs & alcohol. Once in a while doesn't hurt ya none...but when you view the state of being all fucked up as being superior to regular living, then you've bought the Conspiracy line, and turned yourself into the sort of drone The Man likes to see.
Congratulations.
This is so very true.
I love my booze, and pot, and mushrooms, and LSD, but when you use it to replace instead of enhance, then what are you doing?
Really doing?
I think I need to cut back. Which is funny, because I'm drunk.
Quote from: Doktor Loki on November 21, 2007, 05:09:42 AM
This is so very true.
I love my booze, and pot, and mushrooms, and LSD, but when you use it to replace instead of enhance, then what are you doing?
Really doing?
I think I need to cut back. Which is funny, because I'm drunk.
Heh I've had that thought, usually related to my hangover the next day. So now I just try to keep it to a below-hangover level, and I feel pretty happy about that.
Of course, on Thursday I'm going to be devoid of any responsibility for anyone or anything, and I'm going to be off at a friend's house drinking hot spiced wine and eating a retarded amount of dessert, but not so much as to blow my chances of getting laid.
Don;t get hangovers unless I get retarded drunk, to the point of the alcohol levels being uncomfortable.
Thats one of the problems with many Americans my age (19.) No idea how to handle their liquor. They drink until they are falling over drunk, and then complain about puking.
Fucking Americans arent Irish enough.
Quote from: Doktor Loki on November 21, 2007, 05:54:09 AM
Don;t get hangovers unless I get retarded drunk, to the point of the alcohol levels being uncomfortable.
Thats one of the problems with many Americans my age (19.) No idea how to handle their liquor. They drink until they are falling over drunk, and then complain about puking.
Fucking Americans arent Irish enough.
Troof. Irish BRAG about puking.
Then they drop their pance and roll around in the puke.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 21, 2007, 05:54:56 AM
Quote from: Doktor Loki on November 21, 2007, 05:54:09 AM
Don;t get hangovers unless I get retarded drunk, to the point of the alcohol levels being uncomfortable.
Thats one of the problems with many Americans my age (19.) No idea how to handle their liquor. They drink until they are falling over drunk, and then complain about puking.
Fucking Americans arent Irish enough.
Troof. Irish BRAG about puking.
Then they drop their pance and roll around in the puke.
The ones that throw up.
They all do.
If they say they don't remember: Those filthy bog-trotters are inveterate liars.
it is because the throat is only a half-duplex pipe: the ones that are not throwing up are not doing so because they're busy pouring stuff in.
Quote from: Doktor Loki on November 21, 2007, 05:09:42 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 09:20:33 PM
Quote from: Cainad on November 18, 2007, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on November 18, 2007, 05:19:03 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on November 14, 2007, 07:58:10 PM
Quote from: SillyCybin on November 14, 2007, 07:49:22 PM
Lemme get this straight - you stayed sober? and for something as trivial as a reason?
WAYSA???
yep, sometimes it seems like the options are "Be sober and miserable at the mess we have in the world" or "Be stoned, drunk and tripping ... the world won't be any better but you'll be stoned, drunk and tripping...."
LOL
And why not spend the 75 or so years you have on this planet in a chemically-induced haze? That's different from spending it in front of the teevee.
Somehow.
Highs and trips, to my knowledge, don't come with commercial breaks. That's all I can think of.
Commercial breaks ain't the problem with teevee. Teevee is the problem with teevee. Creates a substitute for LIVING. Same thing with drugs & alcohol. Once in a while doesn't hurt ya none...but when you view the state of being all fucked up as being superior to regular living, then you've bought the Conspiracy line, and turned yourself into the sort of drone The Man likes to see.
Congratulations.
This is so very true.
I love my booze, and pot, and mushrooms, and LSD, but when you use it to replace instead of enhance, then what are you doing?
Really doing?
I think I need to cut back. Which is funny, because I'm drunk.
Very true TROOF :)