Crap is King***

If you’ve followed me for a while you might remember back during the Presidential election that I predicted that our Glorious Fourth Estate, the Mainstream Media (MSM for short) would “lay down like a worn out hooker” when it came to holding our politicians feet to the fire and doing their damn job.  Well, the MSM has gone far beyond that.  They’re actually now participating in the screwing and what’s worse, they seem to be enjoying it.

I’m talking about how they handled the effects of Sequestration–you the know the across the board cut in Federal spending to the tune of $85 billion that occurred because Congressional Republicans refused to have any constructive dialogue with the President about what should be cut.  They had a lot of political motivation to avoid the conversation about spending cuts.  First, they didn’t want to be seen a compromising with President Obama in any way (it’s been that way since before he even took office actually) in order to keep their base happy.  Second, they could continue to point to the deficit and debt (two different things BTW) blaming the Democrats and supposed uncontrolled spending while doing absolutely nothing to solve said problem.  Third, they could go home and honestly tell their constituents that they personally did not vote to take away the funding for their food stamps, HUD loans, etc, etc because those things went away precisely because no vote was taken.  Fourth, they could further gin up the base by focusing on “nontroversies”* with issues like Benghazi, the President’s nominees, sovereignty issues with VAWA, Obamacare birth control mandate, suspension of White House tours, First Family spending taxpayer money on dog walker, etc, etc, etc.

It all usually starts with one crazy ass quote from a Republican in Congress about a nontroversy (see “dog walker” quote above).  It’s like blood in the water.  The MSM zooms right in and it becomes a feeding frenzy.  So while the GOP and the MSM are engorging themselves on such easy pickings, the real world keeps on turning, real problems are happening, and the only people who know about it are the ones who are suffering from those problems (and some few of us who actually pay attention).  With the sequestration for instance there are a lot of things that will affect the daily lives of Americans.  Low income families will receive less child care subsidies.  This will mean that struggling parents will have to choose between working less or leaving their child at home alone.  Fewer seniors will have access to “Meals on Wheels” and more of them are likely to suffer from hunger as a result putting a greater strain on private charities who are already overwhelmed.  Federal workers will have smaller paychecks and they will spend less.  Less consumption means a slower growing economy.  Industries that depend on government contracts, like aerospace and ship builders, will let people go increasing unemployment rates and ensuring that some families will be plunged back into financial insecurity and all that entails.  States like Virginia and Maryland who depend on those industries will be hit much harder in comparison to other states.

Those don’t apply to you?  What about the waiting we tolerate in airports?  Nobody likes it but you’d better get used to it because there will be fewer air traffic controllers.  There will also be fewer flights which means the prices on the flights that remain will go up.  This means that the cost of doing business (much less personal travel) will go up.  Do you see what I’m saying?  Americans are just now starting to see the impact of the Sequestration.  Americans SHOULD have known ahead of time. Then they would have been able to put pressure on Congress to behave responsibly and make the right choices. But they didn’t because the MSM was too busy in the mutual masturbatory experiment that politics and journalism has become in this country to pay attention to the “real news”.  Don’t believe me? Look at the chart at the bottom of this post (via JM Ashby from http://thinkprogress.org/)

Now, add to that fact that Wall Street isn’t overly concerned with the effects of Sequestration.  And Wall Street includes the very powerful and few wealthy individuals and companies that own all of the media in the U.S. and are trying every day to acquire more of it.  Here’s one example:  The incredibly wealthy, very conservative plutocratic Koch brothers, of Tea Party fame, have been actively looking to purchase several major newspapers in the wake of Romney’s loss in the 2012 Presidential election.  The theory among conservatives is that their messaging and how they distributed that messaging didn’t work so if they can control the media, they’re more likely to get their message out to more people.  They can’t and won’t accept the fact that it wasn’t their messaging, it was their policies.  They think if they can somehow polish their turd policies enough, they can put them out there, all shiny and new seeming without any interference from, you know, the truth.  Even though the MSM is very little concerned with the truth as I’ve show time and time again.  No need to purchase them outright.  Just let them continue doing the increasingly shitty job they’ve been doing for years.

So here’s how it breaks down.  There is the “let them eat cake” attitude of the wealthy, particularly the ones who own the MSM.  There is the greed of the MSM who will do anything to get higher ratings than their competitors.  And there is the hunger for power of the GOP.  What it all adds up to is a big collective, “meh” about issues that REALLY matter to the American people.  If the monied classes had really been worried about Sequestration the MSM would surely have been trumpeting their fears so loudly the Krenim** out near the Andromeda nebula would have heard them and the DOW would have declined significantly.    There are theories as to why Wall Street is okay with Sequestration centering around the fact that economists don’t believe that it will derail our economic recovery.  And I agree, it won’t.  Because ultimately the U.S. economy is big enough and diverse enough to make it through this round of idiotic austerity.  Ultimately, it doesn’t matter to the rich either way.  They get richer no matter what happens to the rest of us.  This last Recession is the final proof of that.  But the economy WILL slow down.

However, “derailing” isn’t the same as “slowing down” to everyone.  The wealthy are up in the first class cars where they have plenty of room and can move from the passenger car to a dining car complete with a restaurant and bar.  They have comfy seats with plenty of food and drink, and several clean male and female lavatories with an attendant to provide a freshly laundered towel or breath mint or whateverthefuckelse they might have a fancy for.  If the train slows down they might be late to have supper at an exclusive restaurant, miss a meeting to buy yet another company, or give up their seats to the opening night of a musical.  The poor are crammed into uncomfortable, hot, smelly cars like cattle and aren’t allowed to move from car to car.  They only have what food and water they brought with them and barely enough of that for the normal length of the journey.  They have to share small cramped dirty  unisex bathrooms and there’s nobody to help them with anything but there is a conductor who comes by periodically to ensure that everyone has a ticket otherwise it’s “out you go”!   The slow down will cause the poor to miss that very important job interview, the doctor appointment at the free clinic, the next train that gets them home in time to pick up their kid from daycare before a $5 a minute late fee is imposed that they can’t pay for the daycare they can no longer afford because of reduced subsidies, etc, etc.    If the train slows down, the wealthy get to have another martini and are inconvenienced.  The poor go hungry,  their discomfort and stress increases, and it significantly impacts their lives.

It’s the MSM’s job to inform “the rest of us” about these kind of things.  They’ve stopped doing their job and are now participating in their own victimization, which in the end makes the American people the real victims.  Congratulations American MSM!  You’ve gone from being a tired hooker to become one of the perps in a “gangbang”.  You must feel so proud.   But hey, viewership is up, so huzzah!

MSM Coverage of Sequestration Effects v White House Tours

NOTES: 

*A controversy that does not exist until created for political gain. A contraction of non and controversy

**Obscure Star Trek Voyager reference, sorry couldn’t resist

***A kudos to anyone who can figure out the title reference

Penny wise, pound foolish

Our cash strapped schools are spending more money but not on books or improving facilities or paying teachers properly. No they are spending it on security because after the Newton shooting parents and administrators are worried.  Security companies and the gun industry, always happy to increase their profit margin, are thrilled.

Unfortunately, this is like putting a band-aid on arterial bleeding.  It will only stem the flow for a millisecond before the deluge continues and the patients dies.  So instead of dealing with the REAL societal, albeit difficult, issues of improving our mental health services, improving gun safety through rational and effective regulation, and targeted training programs we are just going to give a ton of money to the band-aid of more supposed “security” and more guns.

No wonder this country is in trouble.  We can only focus on any issue for about five minutes and we are a chicken shits when it comes to dealing with difficult societal issues.  We only make necessary changes when forced (e.g., Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation, Civil Rights movement, Suffragette Movement, etc, etc, etc).

Keeping a brother down

I just read something that is absolutely, positively enlightening about the 2nd Amendment. Did you know that when the Constitution was being drafted that the original wording was “Country” and not “State”? So it was  originally written to read like so:

A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free Country [emphasis mine], the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Is the change a big deal? Yes, because the use of “Country” would have opened the door for the Federal Government to call up the militia instead of the states. See all of the states/colonies had militia at that time–indeed some states, like Georgia, had laws that required white men of property or their white male employees to be a part of their state’s militia. However, the Southern Colonies used their militia or they formed smaller groups of soldiers to perform “slave patrol” duties. Again, state laws specified that the militia or “slave patrols” mission was to go around and inspect slave quarters, look for signs of insurrection, and publicly punish any slaves who appeared to be plotting rebellion, which back in those days could mean anything from taking up arms to just being “uppity”.

Why would they have done that? Because the number of slaves, in some areas, vastly outnumbered the white population and they were terrified of being overrun by slave uprisings.   And their fear was a real fact–something documented in the literature and political discussions of that era.  We saw similar fears expressed in South Africa during the era of Apartheid where there was a ratio of 6 blacks to every 1 white South African.   We don’t know the ratio in the U.S. of slave to owner in the pre-Civil War era because we didn’t keep track of the number of “slave owners” but we can do some estimates.  We do know that in two states, slaves outnumbered the white population:  South Carolina (57,000 more slaves) and Louisiana (21,000 more).  Historians estimate that 3/4 of the white population owned no slaves at all.  Taking the population numbers, subtracting 3/4 of the white people out and then comparing the slaves to owners, we’re talking a 5 to 1 ratio.   That’s a serious advantage in numbers, wouldn’t you say?  The owners had quite a lot to fear if you ask me.

All of this discussion and reasoning is well documented so we can be fairly clear on the Founding Father’s thoughts on the matter. What the historical documentation boils down to is this–the Southern Delegates insisted that by using the word “Country” in the 2nd Amendment, it would jeopardize the safety of their state’s population (the white population that is), their entire economy, and a good portion of their wealth.   So Madison changed the wording of the Second Amendment and put in State instead of Country. Ever since lobbying groups like the NRA have been sowing the lie that the purpose of the 2nd Amendment was about protecting the States from the Federal Government.  No, it turns out it was brown people–the one’s that weren’t even citizens.

We no longer have slavery and we certainly shouldn’t fear violent uprisings from our fellow citizens–we’ve evolved beyond it, at least I hope we have. But hearing all the paranoid and revolutionary talk from right-wing spokespersons, groups like the informal right-wing militias that sprouted up (so far as I know there aren’t any such things as a liberal militia in the U.S.) and individuals like this guy, I am not so sure. And it wouldn’t be ironic if we, meaning the average American, will end up needing guns to put down the paranoid gun nuts who turn traitor because we as a country had the gall to enact laws saying the average citizen doesn’t need assault weapons to kill Bambi or protect themselves in their home?  I mean government hating paranoid gun fetishists wouldn’t start an uprising or kill innocent Americans, would they?

What a gun fetishist attempt at an uprising looks like. The Alfred P. Murraw Building after the bombing, Oklahoma City, 1995

Oh, yeah, riiiiiiiiight……..

Foxes in the hen house

As I said last week, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is forcing his 3,000 volunteer “posse” members on school grounds at a variety of locations to provide “armed protection” to our children from possible mass murderers. I say forcing because he is on record as saying he will force the schools to accept his help.

It doesn’t matter whether they like it or don’t like it,” Arpaio said, regarding whether schools want armed guards. “I’m still going to do it. I can’t imagine criticism coming when they’re given free protection.

He can’t imagine criticism? Of course he can’t. He’s a narcissistic asshole who thinks even his bowel movements shine with the light of divine inspiration. Since he can’t imagine a criticism, let me point out a few REALLY obvious problems with this little scheme.

1. Posse members wear uniforms that look very much like official deputy uniforms so it is difficult to distinguish them from actual law enforcement officers.
2. Our kids don’t need that kind of protection, thank you very much. The odds of a mass murder happening are still very, very low (1 in 1 Million). They catch our attention, sure, and it hurts us all psychologically, and yes, something needs to be done about gun control. Particularly when you combine these rare but very public mass murders with the much more common gun deaths the U.S. experiences every year, all 30,000 of them. However, scientifically speaking, the odds that your child will be a victim of a mass murder are much lower than the odds of your child getting killed in a car crash (1 in 67) or getting cancer (1 in 330) or drowning (1 in 7,683).
3. By allowing the posse thugs to patrol our schools the odds that something bad could happen just got worse. Apparently posse members are poorly vetted.

Example A: Jake Cutler. This man tried to sexually assault his girlfriend while choking her. She fought back and he threatened to call the police himself. He said he “had a badge” and that the police would believe him and not her. Parents love violent sexual offenders being around their children while armed, don’t they?
Example B: Kevin Ray Campos. This guy got into a fight with bouncers outside a nightclub and verbally assaulted Scottsdale police officers. Parents love men who have little impulse control and a disrespect for authority hanging around their kids with loaded weapons, don’t they?
Example C: Doug Clark. This fellow is a real gem and he’s a constable too. Imagine our luck! He had rolled a county vehicle, driven over 90 mph in a 45 mph zone, used his siren when he was not on duty (this is a big NO-NO in law enforcement folks), and using red/blue emergency lights to slow traffic so he could find something in the road that his wife lost (again, an officer should NEVER do this). Oh, did I mention that he is accused of ramming his car into another driver and holding them at gunpoint while he was off duty? What was the other driver’s crime? The other driver had earlier backed into Clark’s car and left the scene. Now we’ve all experienced this at one time or another. But Clark’s response is way, way over the top. So a fender bender deserves a ramming and being threatened with a gun and being in fear of one’s life? Sounds like Mr. Clark needs a lessen in humility, not to mention proper law enforcement procedure AND impulse control therapy. Parent’s love men who think they are above the law patrolling elementary schools with deadly force, don’t they?

And this is only a tiny sample. The list of offenses is long–Drug possession, violent behavior in public, impersonating an officer, and even sex crimes against children….yes, even pedophiles, apparently can join Arpaio’s posse. That’s EXACTLY who we need watching our kids pretending to be gods with death on their hips. When confronted with the results of this investigation by CBS5, Arpaio’s response is that he trusts his posse and he needs them because of budgetary shortfalls.

What’s that, Joe? You say you’re short on manpower? Why is that? Could it be because you and the entire Republican party in Arizona refuse to tax the population properly and instead give massive tax breaks to businesses who in no way, shape or form need them and you pay yourself far too much money and line the pockets of your cronies with money and spend money on frivolous unnecessary things? I would gladly pay more in taxes to have vetted, trained deputies performing their duties than to allow violent, sexual predators performing a deputy’s job. And I sure as hell don’t want these freaks at my kid’s school with guns.  How about we reduce your salary and every yahoo in State Government, up to and including the Governor, and hire some more deputies?

So tell me again, how these posse members increase my child’s safety. We have rules and standards for the police for very good reason–so we don’t end up with a fascist government! You can’t just let anyone be a cop because it’s a tremendous amount of power. So, why the hell are we allowing crazy, irresponsible and criminal people to become “posse” members and giving them the power of life or death over our children?!

Furthermore, why, for the love of all that’s holy, is Sheriff Joe Arpaio still in office? What the hell is wrong with you Maricopa County voters? Seriously. What could possibly be worth putting up with this corrupt jerk and his dangerous foot soldiers  If something happens to one of the kids because of these volunteers, because apparently people like me can do nothing to stop this asshole and his fascist agenda, then I want to see Arpaio go to prison where some very large ugly man uses him in very bad, painful ways for the rest of his unnatural life.

If you live outside of Maricopa County just be thankful–oh, and maybe call the Department of Justice and ask them why the hell they dropped the ball on prosecuting Arpaio? Too bad they don’t allow booze at work because a shot of whiskey might help me forget that I still live in The Fourth Reich.

Best Analysis Ever

You know it’s a shame when a satirist does a better job at analyzing the issues around the gun control debate in this country than our vaunted journalists have done.  Jon Stewart once again schools us all in how to break down an argument and get to the core of what is really going on.   Below is some transcription of the most salient parts IMHO of the video, but if you prefer to watch it yourself, here’s a link to part 1 and to part 2 of his monologue.  Bold emphasis is mine and parts in brackets are my descriptions of video segments he runs during the monologue.

All of us, on any side of the debate, are anti-massacre. If some commonsense firearms regulations might cut the number of these killings, why not try?

Then he shows a video of former Gov. Jesse Ventura using drunk driving as an example, saying ‘do we go to the motor companies and say stop making these automobiles because people get drunk, drive and kill people?’  Jon responds:

No, but we do enact stricter blood alcohol limits, raise the drinking age, ramp up enforcement and penalties, charge bartenders who serve drunks, and launch huge public awareness campaigns to stigmatize the dangerous behavior in question and we do all these things because it might just help bring drunk driving rates down by, I don’t know, by two-thirds in a few decades.

Jon said the latter while displaying a chart showing the reduction in drunk driving from 1973 to 2007 by, surprise, two-thirds.  Then in response to Wayne LaPierre’s videotaped statement that ‘the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun’ Jon says:

So the school principal with a gun is going to stop a guy with an assault rifle and a bullet proof vest? You know I don’t think Principal Belding is as bad ass you think he might be. Here’s the problem, technology has democratized carnage. And it’s very weird to me that gun enthusiasts won’t even entertain…let me amend that, some gun enthusiasts won’t even entertain the idea of common sense law enforcement supported small bore, so to speak, moves to try and rein in this violence. What’s really going on here?

Next the plays a video of Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) saying we have a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms and responds:

Yeah, yeah, for a “well-regulated militia”, not a personal arsenal free for all. There’s all sorts of stuff you can’t have already: tanks, F-16 fighter jets, surface to air anything! When that Constitution was written people had muskets. So, okay, you can have all the muskets you want. You can even have assault muskets for all I care. Jazz it up with a bayonet. Go fucking nuts!

But why is it that there is no other issue in this country with as dire public safety consequences as this that we are unable to make even the most basic steps towards putting together a complex plan of action to slow this epidemic spread? What is really going on here?

Jon then shows a video of a variety people talking about how they fear the government will take away their guns.  He says:

Now we’re getting somewhere. So this isn’t really about the Constitution or efficacy of regulation or about intruder defense. It’s about how perilously close some people in this country feel they’re living to a tyrant’s rule.

The video continues with the same commenter and then of rightwing radio host Alex Jones citing examples in history of guns being taken away.  Jones BTW was out and out crazy in this video, you can see it here.  Jon reacts:

Holy Shit! No one is taking away ALL the guns. But now I get it. Now I see what’s happening. So this is what it is. They’re paranoid fear of a possible dystopic future prevents us from addressing our actual dystopic present. We can’t even begin to address 30,000 gun deaths that are actually, in reality happening in this country every year because a few of us must remain vigilant against the rise of the imaginary Hitler.

As I’ve said many, many times on this very blog.  The fringe paranoid element of gun owners is holding the rest of the country hostage and preventing us from even beginning the conversation about how to properly and effectively regulate guns in this country and people die every day as a result.  While it is infuriating that this fringe element thinks the imaginary potential for tyranny trumps the very real lives of gun violence victims, it’s pure madness that we as a country, all 99% of us in the middle, allow it to happen.

________________________

Note: Principal Belding, in case you don’t know, is a pop culture reference to an American TV character from the show “Saved by the Bell” on the air in the late 1980′s and early 90′s.