Author Archives: W.Whitten

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About W.Whitten

Musician, Artist, Writer. "Think like I do, or better yet, think for yourself."

Who Passed the Gas?

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Ahhhh…… Here we go again. I have spent several days soaking up cable news and talk radio opinion much like a urinal cake soaks up unpleasant aromas. And just what topic could make me subject myself to such punishment, you ask? The IRS scandal? The NSA spying scandal? The blatant disregard of the Constitution that our (s)elected officials swore to uphold? The National Healthcare debacle? Booooring. That’s so last week. I have been watching, reading, and listening to the incessant beating of the war drums taking place in America by our Elites.  Who cares that almost all of us regular folks, that’s code for moron in Washington by the way,  want nothing to do with this. 

  Establishment types on both sides seem to be blaring the call to war  like those annoying weekly standard tests that mess up my CSI reruns.  How strange. I keep getting this weird feeling of deja vu….. I vaguely remember another middle eastern country with a “dictator” that was gassing his own people and threatening “instability in the region”. We needed to “form a coalition”, and “keep all options open” to stop the slaughter.
I don’t remember……. did that work out well? In the scheme of things, there was far more evidence of WMD use in Iraq than there is in Syria. The scary thing, actually it would be funny if not so frightening, is the same bobbleheads that predicted doom and failure in Iraq are calling for action in Syria. WTF? I thought the main source of trouble in the world was an Imperialist America that couldn’t mind it’s own business. In fact, I thought we elected the current political leadership based on an opposition to this kind of fiasco.
So here we are…. The president is on TV, red-faced and irritated with having to answer questions from a foreign press that isn’t in line for his autograph after his not-so-stellar golf round. I found it ironic, if not a little sad, that while meeting with the Swiss Prime Minister our Duffer in Chief decided to give a little lecture about military action in Syria. That’s class ladies and gentlemen, giving a war mongering temper tantrum while standing next to the leader of an officially neutral country.

I am appalled at the lack of outrage by our press, and also by the “Code Pink” groups of the world. We have ZERO evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons. You say, ” no way. man! The POTUS says we have intelligence that there are WMD’s!”…. Well, I can remember a different POTUS saying pretty much the same thing. So, that guy was wrong and needed to be condemned by history, but this guy is awesome, not to mention completely trustworthy, right? Good to know Obama is on track to earn the Nobel Peace Prize he received awhile back.
And where are the calls for caution in this rush to conflict? Nowhere, that’s where. You’ve good ‘ole John McShame calling for action. You would think a guy held in a cell for several years by an undeclared enemy would calm down a little bit before possibly sentencing scores of young Americans to the exact same fate. Speaker Boner now calls for the same. All that’s left is for that manliest of all senators, Lindsey Graham, to declare in a loud, lispy voice, ” Leths go to waaah!”. Watching these idiots let themselves be cornered by possibly the most incompetent executive to ever hold the office is mind blowing. Let me get this straight, the prez says “I’m making a red line you can’t cross!”, and when it’s allegedly crossed, suddenly it’s “our” red line, or Congress’ red line. I love how when Barry talks good news, it’s “me, me, me”, but when he steps in a pile its, “we, we, we”.

Here’s the real issue. We have been told for years that we cannot depend on nameless, vague “intelligence” that is used to commit our country to military action. Now, mired in serious scandal that at any other time in history, with any other party, would result in impeachment, our Administration finds it’s Grand Illusion. Or if you prefer, Grand Distraction. I want to see all the baby boomers, millennials, and peaceniks who have been squawking for so long, about so much, to stand up and say, “It was wrong for the previous administration to take us to war in another country, over incomplete information…..and it’s wrong now, regardless of politics”.

I won’t hold my breath……even though someone supposedly passed gas.

The New Rome is Burning, So Where’s My Fiddle?

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46 murders have taken place in Chicago so far this month ( thanks, redeyechicago ). Just a brief glance at the age, race, and circumstance show a less-than-shocking similarity. Victims range from being teenagers to young people in their twenties and thirties. Where is the Leader of the Free World? No comment? Last time I checked the guy who America elected to take more taxpayer funded vacations than anyone in history was from there. Or lived there. Or maybe went to college there. Or organized there. Well… I’m pretty sure he was there for awhile. Somebody had to vote “present” instead of yes or no at all those important Illinois state senate debates. Couldn’t all those victims have been his son? Or himself? Because, you know, if it wasn’t for the swanky, ritzy, private school-in-paradise experience that our Chief grew up with, any one of those victims coulda been him. Nothing says “from the Hood” like polo shirts, tennis clubs, fruity cocktails, and an educational resume that includes words like “academy”.

See, I don’t really care that much about the whole Zimmerman/Martin thing. All I know is that regardless of all the how and why of it, anyone who has ever been beat up understands. If you’ve never had another human being decide to sit on you and start your blood flowing with multiple blows to the face, shut up. Getting your ass kicked is a pretty scary experience, and if it’s never happened to you then you don’t know what you would do, or how you would react. Also, if your first reaction to some dumpy douchebag following you while you skulk around a neighborhood in the dark is to break their face open and then sit down to do some more, you’ve got some issues as well. So let’s move beyond the Nancy Grace hysterics, shall we?

My point is this : The world is on fire. And not just a little brush fire, either. More like a Germany-about-to-invade-Poland fire.
Like a break-out-the-marshmallows-cause-Hiroshima’s-on fire- fire. And where is the cool, calm and collected dude who’s claims to lower the seas and bring peace to the middle east? On vacation? Yakking it up at a $30,000 a plate fundraiser? Or on vacation. Again? Maybe this time the First Family will keep it to the mean streets of Martha’s Vineyard. ” Muffy, we’re all out of Pinot! The hyooomahniteee!”.

Egypt is a complete mess. But why, you ask? Didn’t we support the “Arab Spring”? By the way, that sounds like a really bad personal hygiene product. I’ve gotten a whiff of it and it really stinks. It smells like civil war in Syria, military coups in Egypt, expanding Iranian power, and the devolving of Turkey into an Islamic State.

Not to mention what’s happening here on the home front. Did you know that just a few short years ago there was 1 Trillion dollars in circulation, and today there is over 3? Can you wrap your brain around that? So, is your gas/groceries/rent/ more expensive, or is your hard-earned money worth a third of what it was? Guess what, it’s both…… and it hasn’t even hit us hard yet. Hey twenty-somethings, thanks to your power at the voting booth you now have to buy health insurance! Oh… you don’t need it or want it? Too freakin’ bad kiddos, cause you can either buy it or pay an ever-increasing fine! See, someone has to pay for the rest of our “free” healthcare, and it’s you. I got to spend all my money in my twenties on concert tickets and good times, because I was healthy and didn’t need or even think about insurance. On top of that, all those nifty ADHD and depression drugs you’ve been swallowing your whole life will follow you like a pickpocket in a foreign country. Good luck with that first serious job interview when your history of teary, sad, bed wetting that your folks got you medicated for shows up. Sweet!

But hey, don’t feel bad…. Jay-Z is doing a concert in the White House, LeBron’s getting warmed up on the private b-ball court, Bon Jovi’s bringing dinner, and Oprah is gonna say grace. Because that’s how all of us, including at-risk inner city kids, roll. I’m so glad we have a real outsider in charge, you know? At least he can relate. And hey, when the lights go out, don’t worry. We’ll keep warm by the light of the fire. Where’s my fiddle?

Go Ahead with Your Own Life, Leave Me Alone

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You know, I hate to sound like a jerk, but shut up ex-presidents and veeps. Shut up Congress. In fact, if you work for a creepy, bloated government agency, or a creepy, bloated network, just shut up. I don’t need alot of protection from people in other parts of the world that I will never meet. I need to be protected FROM YOU. Listening to all of these wise people tell me they need to shield me from everything that could possibly cause me harm, I now realize that I am a moron. Replace my knives and forks with soft rubber sporks, because I might stab myself in my tiny little brain.

I realize that many folks that I respect, who aren’t dummies or drinking any parties’ Kool-Aid, strongly disagree with my logic on this, but……No one has a right to throw my liberty in the dustbin to “keep me safe’. I don’t care if we’re talking about automobiles, airport security, electronic communication or phone calls. Let me ask you this…. can I read your mail, look at your text messages and cellphone pictures? Can I come in your house while you’re gone and go through your drawers? Can I search your car? How about your kids if you’ve got ’em…. can I look through their stuff? Your husbands? Wives? Well Why not?

I’m a nice guy. I’m reasonably intelligent and I have your best interests at heart, I promise. With all due respect to our police and military ( who do a very difficult, underpaid job ), they are just people. The Elites inside the Washington beltway, some of who have been there three or more decades, are just people too. Granted they are freakish in many ways, they are still just folks like you and me (with power and millions of dollars). So if you wouldn’t want me to be a Peeping Tom in your family’s home and life, why allow countless, nameless others to be?

While we’re at it, what is safe? You could, while reading this, choke on your coffee or have an embolism. Some jerk could run off the road in a Hummer and barrel through your crib, not only ruining your flat screen, but ruining you as well. With all the threats to our well-being, it’s a miracle any of us survive long enough to fill a diaper. I could put you in an air-filtered, armored box and deliver your checked and approved meals to you. I would listen to your calls, read your mail, and give you your medication. I’d even provide for your healthcare. You’d be pretty safe then, right? Hey…… wait a second. That’s prison. I haven’t met many people who have been and called it a safe place, liked it, or wanted to return.

The world I grew up in is unfortunately gone. That statement is made worse by the fact that I’m really not that old .To give you an idea, I will have to pay full price for coffee at MickeyDees for another twenty years. Some of that change is, of course, inevitable. Technology has altered every aspect of our lives at a much more rapid pace than I can believe, and the pitfalls are as numerous as the benefits. The argument I run into the most is the technology problem. I will sum it up like this…… if you post pictures of your junk on Facespace or Mybook, then you made a decision to do so. Having that photo archived by the federal government is not your decision. See, we make a choice to use technology such as Google or Yahoo. We DO NOT make the choice to have that information compiled by Uncle Sam.

Here’s the rub….we are guaranteed Freedom of Speech by the Constitution. That right is recognized by the document, but granted by the Creator. If you know that your speech is cataloged and used against you at a later date, depending on your political persuasion, I can absolutely say with certainty that you will watch what you say. That is a de-facto infringement on our freedom of speech. When you’re afraid that what you say will come back to bite you, then you just might not say it in the first place. So, if you want to submit your speech to the Feds to keep you safe, so be it, just don’t ask, or force, me to. In other words, go ahead with your own life, leave me alone. ( Thanks, Billy Joel )

I Don’t Need Your Civil War

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Okay, let me get this straight. On another continent, thousands of miles away, there is a country in the midst of an ongoing civil war. And we need to do something about it. Really? Why?

I love history. I am fascinated with the rise and fall of civilization throughout the ages, and also the way our knowledge of the events that have transpired seems to be ever-changing. This amateur hobby greatly affects my interpretation of current happenings. Rome often went to war…. but I can’t recall the instance where it went to war for nothing. It was for gain. Gain of precious metals, land for expansion, influence, captives, or even to increase your resume – sometimes all of these at the same time.

But why does our Republic go to war now? In fact, regardless of the sheepish bleating of the Michael Moores of the world, we haven’t gone to war for any good reason in over 60 years. And if you think our recent escapades in the middle east were for “Big Oil”, check the price of gas. I’m at the point where we should at least have cheap, plentiful fuel in exchange for the lives and limbs of American servicemen and women. At least history would record the reason for our decade-plus conflict as a practical one.

So here we are. Once again an American president is sitting next to a Soviet, oops… I mean Russian, leader, contemplating going to yet another proxy war with the land of the Tzars. If I remember correctly, we haven’t won one of those. I wish Rambo did exist, and with a tank-top and an M-60 machine gun he could single-handedly vanquish our foes without recieving more than a flesh wound, but he doesn’t. Vietnam sucked, and Korea was at best a stand-off. Maybe if we enslaved, oops…there I go again, I mean, conscripted millions to throw themselves against the Communist Hordes we would have had a better outcome.

When I look around me, I don’t see a populace ready to suit up and watch their buddies get turned into strawberry jam by an exploding IED. Not for some vague concept of policing the world or spreading “democracy” to people who wouldn’t recognize it, and if they did would reject it. The only people I do see ready to throw more Americans into the grinder are in D.C.. I’ve been watching McCain trundle in front of the cameras to tell me how important it is to not mind our own business. He’s fighting harder to get us into a third middle eastern conflict than he did to win the White House.

Oh, and I left out an important fact….. we’re freaking broke. America needs to be ordering off the Dollar Menu, not adding billions more to its bar tab. Here’s an idea…. let’s rebuild our own infrastructure before we blow up and rebuild someone else’s. Besides, we evidently are already going to send the “rebels” ( probably Al Qaeda-types ) some really sweet guns to use on us….oops, this is becoming a habit…. I mean on the bad guys. I seem to remember that every time we arm “freedom fighters”, they end up using those weapons to fight our freedom. Besides, maybe Egypt can send in all those brand new state-of-the-art fighter jets we sent them.

Truth is America cannot afford, in money, reputation, or willpower, to engage in another nation’s civil war. And judging by the look on Putin’s face while sitting next to our Fearless Leader, he knows it.

Father’s Day

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Father : (fa-th er) noun

1. a male parent
2. a father in law, stepfather, or adoptive father
3. a male who exercises paternal care over other persons;paternal protector or provider
4. any male ancestor – founder of a race, family or line
5. a person who has originated or established something

There’s a group of very important people in this society and culture that’s often overlooked. They are our Dads, and whatever the case may be, they profoundly affect our lives.

Growing up I was part of the stereotypical American family. I realize in looking back on it just how much we can take that for granted. So I would like to take a moment to acknowledge one of the most important people in my life, my father.

I’m sure that over the years I have caused much grief to my Dad, and I know that during most of that time I did so unapologetically. I took for granted that my dad had his own life and worries, hopes and dreams, and wishes for the future of my sister and I. I now know how difficult it must have been to deal with the many challenges I presented him with. Falsified and poorly forged report cards, stubbornness, and the inability to correctly load a dishwasher among them. I always wanted to ask for forgiveness later instead of permission beforehand, and I’m pretty sure that is the exact opposite of what he wanted. How he has any patience left in him for anything defies my explanation.

I have been blessed in that I could always count on my Dad. The example he set, and the things he taught me, made (and continue to make) me the man I am. I hope that I am successful in passing some of those things on. Not the least of which is that whatever you do, do it the best that you can. Because success isn’t measured in the money you make, but the impression you leave on those around you.

So to all that fit into the definition, whatever category, whatever circumstance, here’s to you. And to the best teacher, best friend, and best man at my wedding….. Thanks, Dad.

Orwell’s Grave is Smoking ‘Cause He’s Spinning So Fast in It

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Here’s what I’m trying to wrap my brain around…..
In perusing the cable news world of talking-bobbleheads this morning, I have come to a somewhat shocking discovery. I say somewhat for this reason : I’m not surprised. Really I’m not shocked at all. I’m actually a little sad. Wanna know why?

I have seen the Right and the Left all over the news in the last 48 hours, both doing the same thing. You see, they finally found something to agree on. And the winner is……. screwing people like you and me. Whether it’s the IRS, or Benghazi, or to me the most troubling development, the NSA data collection bomb, all of our not-so-honorable, not-so-civic-minded “leaders” are in concurrence. We have no rights. If the need to tax, protect, medicate, or just make any decision affecting your life arises, we are not in charge. Now, I know that I travel in circles where lots of peeps will disagree with what I’m about to say. I don’t care…. because for now I have the right to say almost anything I want ( unless it’s hateful, potentially racist, potentially anti-LGBT, or just non-PC ). If you didn’t notice, I said “almost”, because our freedom has already been diminished.

I would rather the occasional really bad thing to happen if it means I am free. If you, on the other hand, are too stupid to manage your life’s decisions, no matter what they are, I really don’t care. You should not have the right to impede my freedom because you can’t handle yours. Enter our idiotic political class… ready to wipe your little bottom, read your ridiculous emails, prescribe your medication, tell you where to squat and push.

This should scare you. Why would anyone assume that the people we elect should build big bureaucracies filled with people we don’t elect, to spy on our every move? In fact, right now these very keystrokes are being logged and recorded into a massive file with the rest of my info. Our government is now the biggest, creepiest, dirtiest stalker ever. Worthy of a “Who the Bleep did I Marry?” on the Discovery Channel.

Maybe you are a democrat or republican that says, “hey, if we’re not doing anything bad we have nothing to be afraid of, right? I mean, if it makes us safe it’s ok, right?” Well, in fact, it’s not. That kind of thinking denotes the success of the Department of Education over the past 50 years. And with all due respect, that kind of thinking makes you an idiot.

To put it perspective, in the last 24 hours I have seen Barack Obama and Karl Rove say the exact same thing. Something to the effect of, ” Hey we live in a dangerous world and we need to yada, yada, yada.” Well it’s always been a dangerous world. In fact, it’s a much safer world than ever. Your great grandpa faced more danger standing on the south side of a half-ton farm animal tied to a plow. Like every day. Or maybe that cut or toothache would lead to your slow, painful death. Let that sink in for a moment.

If all of this data collecting and snooping on us is so helpful, how come we couldn’t catch the 2 Boston guys, Speedbump and his little bro? They were on Facebook, they wrote emails, they even travelled overseas to visit other bad guys. So if our government is spying on us to keep us safe, why didn’t it? I’ll tell you why. Because our omnipotent government isn’t at war with those freaks. They know the risk from them is relatively small in the scheme of things. They are at war WITH US. With your God-given freedom. With your right to speak freely. With your personal liberty. With your right to own property. With the very idea that “we the people” hold the tail of the tiger. Because the tiger is our government, and it’s tired of being caged by our rights and constitution. The tiger thinks it’s about time to be loose in the streets to devour whatever it wants.

And if you don’t get it, or don’t care, or think it’s ok in the name of safety, watch out. There’s a hungry tiger out there, and we’re whats for dinner.

The New World Order According to Geraldo

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I have to take a moment here to comment on the fiasco that is Geraldo Rivera’s world view. This morning, as I flip from one corporate news shill channel to the next, I came across The Geraldo.
I don’t know what was more offensive, his ridiculous mustache, or his opinion. To be honest, I have been a bit stymied over the last few weeks….. what at first I thought was manna from heaven – mainly the neverending scandal and illegality from the executive branch – has turned out to be like ordering 10 pounds of your favorite ice cream. Sure, it tastes good and all, but after a pound or two you never want to see it again.

You see, I have started several posts but been unable to finish them. They start out ok, but like a story from your Grandpa they peter out, branch off, and end up nowhere near where they should. Between the IRS ( just typing those 3 letters fills me with fear similar to that of a child afraid of the boogeyman ), the James Rosen incident, the A.P. scandal, the promotion of Susan Rice, the eavesdropping on millions of americans, and not to mention being Benghazi’d, I haven’t been able to focus in with my normal laser like precision. Perhaps that’s the strategy after all. Like the primates at the zoo, throw so much poop at the lookey-loo’s that they quit looking, or avoid the exhibit all together.

But back to the handlebar-faced champion of the Illegal Immigrant community (Si Si Puede!). I was actually interested to hear the opinion of The Geraldo when asked about the snooping of the NSA (wow, 3 more fear-inducing letters) on millions of us, and trust me, what we know is likely the tip o’ the turd. With a sincere face and truly intellectual expression, The Geraldo proceeded to inform me that, I’m paraphrasing here, ” Hey, a judge signed the order to do all this stuff, so there must have been probable cause somewhere to justify it”. I want you to take that in. The Geraldo couldn’t find the irony in that statement if it had been hidden in Al Capone’s Vault ( look it up if you don’t get the joke ).

The only reason I stopped chugging my joe to listen, was that The Geraldo may be many things, but he’s no dummy. Some things just make sense…. like hiring Michael Douglas to lick all your wedding invitations. There should be some things that we all agree on. One is that our government, regardless of which wing of the Illuminati are in charge of it, should not prosecute and ruin you for your associations. Another is that they shouldn’t be listening to your calls, tracking your dumb facebook comments, and reading your emails.

What struck me the most, was that I have heard about the abuses of evil government from the likes of The Geraldo my whole life. The McCarthy era – the House Un-American Activities inquisitions – Watergate – Iran/Contra – the first Iraq war – the second Irag war – 9/11 – can you smell what the Rock is cooking? Everything that these folks wanted to accuse the last guys in charge of doing in secret, these guys are doing in the open. In your face. You don’t like it? Here’s your audit. We have your name, we have your number. I guess now The Geraldo thinks that there must have been some WMD’s in Iraq after all, right?

We have reached a dangerous tipping point in this once great nation. Everything we have ALL been afraid of… is coming to pass, and the silence is deafening. So, I will hold out hope, against all odds, that the New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the Hollywood Elite start to wake from thier Ambien/Prozac stupor and scream against the tyranny of our giant federal government. Unless they all want to ring in the New World Order according to Geraldo.

I Been Benghazi’d!

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In honor of the most recent person to enter the coming presidential circus, I am re-posting this…..enjoy, as there will be more to follow.

“Pssst… Have you heard about Benghazi?”

And here’s America’s collective answer……. “YAWN”.

Okay, let’s start by laying it out in layman’s terms. Once there was an American consulate in a newly “liberated” Libya. And in this paradise there were four Americans……. Yada, yada, yada…. oh well, what difference does it make?

After all, that’s the oh-so-dramatic-I-promise-I’m-being-sincere-and-oh-yeah-I-sure-do-care Secretary of , what is it again, Social Justice? Something like that. You see, the Smartest Woman in The World doesn’t really seem so to me right now. In fact, though I have no sheepskin from a prestigious “Yooooonivahhhsiteee”, I can smell what comes out of the southbound end of a northbound cow. And holy ummm….you know, I smell alot of that right now. I’ve been ‘shroomin before too, so I’m familiar with the smell.

Let’s try a little bit of story time. Let’s say, horror of horrors, that your -insert loved one’s name and title here- is kidnapped, assaulted, beaten and murdered. (I know, I usually keep it light hearted, but this is unfortunately necessary for my purposes) and you- upon hearing this startling revelation- are sitting in the police station with the Chief of Detectives. With a straight face, and with pre-rehearsed indignant fist pounding, the Chief proceeds to look you and your remaining un-murdered loved ones in the eye and say……. wait for it…… “It could been a serial killer, it coulda been a guy on the street, it coulda been anything. But c’mon…. what difference does it make? At this point they’re dead, and that’s that”.

Or if you are blindly partisan, or like the puzzle at Cracker Barrel says, just-plain-igno-ray-moose, let’s put it into a historical perspective. Picture in your mind Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the great progressive experimentalist, rising to the floor of the senate and bellowing, ” Today, December 7th, 1941 is a day that will live in infamy….because some guys out for a walk, or some guys upset with a movie,or maybe some guys with a plane, or you know, whatever…. hey, what difference does it make at this point? They’re already dead, right? Who cares?”

See, I don’t care if the last bunch of guys running things were corrupt or stupid or whatever, agree or disagree. Fact is, there’s a bunch of folks running things now….. and I KNOW that they’re corrupt and stupid or whatever. And I hope that’s what it is, because the alternative is worse. The alternative is what a too-great percentage of Americans and voting Illegal Aliens are doing at this very moment….. A great big , contagious, ‘Yawwwn”. At least until Entertainment Tonight comes on, that is.

Because, loyal reader, It makes a difference why some things happen. It makes a difference who commits a crime. It makes a difference who you’re at war with. And if you don’t think so, you’ve been Benghazi’d.

Fo the Hate of Money – part 2

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Where was I? Ahh, yes…. performing a rhetorical exercise with The Batman.

When it comes to that college thing, now it’s a whole new ball game. Not only is it expected you go, it’s expected that you finish in order to earn more than the poor guy waiting for the 2 minute warning on your french fries. ( and no offense, guy…I’ve been there ) Beep! Your future is cooked!

Let’s not even get into how many people I know, and even respect, that spent 5 years in school to end up with a _____-studies degree. Or an Arts degree, or a Sociology degree. Ask some of the people you know what their degree is in, odds are there is a 50/50 shot it has nothing to do with what they are actually doing. The degree has become a formality. Like an ugly erotic dancer, sure…. they are there, but nobody looks at them.

Add to this the generation after mine, the flip flop generation. They received trophies for tee ball. They all finished first. Heck, they even got rid of A’s and F’s. Imagine the surprise of these kids walking off the graduation stage…. full of vim and vigour, ready to “be the change you’ve been waiting for”. Now if they’re lucky they constructing sandwiches at Subway, saying… “Here’s the change you’ve been waiting for”.

There are now countless young folks out there with worthless degrees… all expecting an awesome job, instant respect, and a huge automatic salary. It’s bad enough there are millions like me…. now there are millions like them, too.

So back to my math problem. There are a vast number of people, regardless of faith, political belief, gender, sexual persuasion and race, all wondering what happened. All the things that were supposed to be done were done. All the blanks checked. But jobs and money, even a plan for the future, are as elusive as the mysterious Sasquatch. But not for the New Elites – same as the Old Elites – working for the same machinery that foreclosed your home, denied you a loan, sued you for your debt, and then threw you out like a Big Gulp at a Bloomberg rally. All while the very ones who used the old system to be successful insist that we change to a new one.

That’s why there are millions looking at the “1%”… because it’s true, many of them don’t work any harder than you do. They are no smarter, no more courageous, than you or I. Increasingly they are the new Aristocrats… born to wealth and entitled to opportunity.
The path to prosperity has been made much more narrow. The only problem is that those progressives in media, politics, and universities, are the very ones who made it so. In the name of fairness and a free lunch we have all been denied our birthright as Americans. To succeed or fail, as many times as we can stand it, in order to make our own path.

The problem is not that we have been duped by the Old System, we have become dupes for the New One.

For the Hate of Money

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You know, a lot of things have changed.

Let’s look at a couple of things having to do with money. Or wealth. Or greenbacks, cheddar, benjamins, loot, dough, bills, smackeroos, etc..

I have been pondering the whole 99% thing. Or the whole 1% thing. I can partly explain why there is a 99%, and why they are so pissed off. You see, by all measurable standards, I am definitely in the 99%. And I’m in the 99% of that percent, and then the 99% of that percent. If you can find x in that equation, I’d like to go over the nature of our Universe with you. But that’s another story, uhh….I mean blog post.

I am part of a very unique generation. I was told, my whole young American life, how things worked. I would grow up, find a skill or trade, ply that skill or trade for someone or someone’s company for 25 years or so….. and viola! Retirement! Pension! Gold Watch! Golf Clubs and Grandkids, baby. I hear the weather’s nice in Florida.

At the same time, my quest for a comfortable later (or latter if you prefer) life would be aided by a couple of safe, “you can count on it!” bets. As I reaped the rewards of plying my skill or trade, I would save a little… maybe my employer would even add to it…and put it in the bank. No matter what, after some time, that saved stack o’ cheddar would multiply. On top of that, I would finance a home or property. Without fail that investment would surely gain in value, assuring that I would not only own it free and clear upon retiring, but it would also become a source of income, safety, and security during my Golden Years. A place for grandkids to complain “Smells like Old People”.

As a side note, competition was encouraged, and the neccesity of a college degree was not a foregone conclusion. Sure, you could go to college, graduate, and wear a tie. Or you could learn a skill, develop a talent, and not go to college. You might indeed earn less, but you would be able to construct a respectable life and a career.

There’s only one big problem with that. It turned out to be Bunk, Hokum, Smoke and Mirrors, Clinton Testimony…. you know, grade-A Bullsqueeze. It may have worked that way for my parents generation, and the one before that and before that, but no longer.

Now I know how all those dudes felt ages ago when they were told the stars weren’t just holes poked in the veil of the sky. “Huh? Wha? How could it be?”

You see, I live in a world where your house is NEVER worth more than it cost. Your money doesn’t accrue interest, in fact it is worth less every day. I also found out, through a friend in the Human Resources business, that it is frowned upon to have the same job for the same employer for a long period of time. Evidently not being able to stay in one place, or doing the employment pee-pee dance, is a plus. You also need to be able to view yourself as the be all-end all- most valuable asset in the world. It’s not just me, me, me, on Facebook, it’s at work also. Holy What the Cluck Batman?!

To be Continued……..