Friday, December 23, 2005

Roger Toussaint: Working Class Hero

I don't care what the politically connected Billionaires and Millionaires have say about him (after they've voted themselves another big, fat fucking raise), New York Transit Union leader Roger Toussaint is a working-class hero. He took a stand against big money's incremental assualt on all working people - what has happened to the pension programs in this country is CRIMINAL.

Keep kicking that dog, hoss. Sooner or later you're going to lose a leg.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

You Know This Country's In Trouble When....

...citizens refuse to march for an end to outsourcing, refuse to march for better health care, refuse to march for an end to the super-secret ways and means of the current administration or the war it created out of whole cloth....

but have no problem traveling across state lines to protest the failure of an NFL coach.


We're doomed.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Organized Crime: Creditors Offer Break-Leg Rates to The Newly Bankrupt

Who needs a mafia when powerful credit card companies can offer break-leg credit rates to the newly bankrupt and do it all legally? Hell, these companies have their hands so far up your representatives ass they can make his/her lips move - and even make 'em sign legislation they didn't write and their constituents didn't ask for.

Just Say No to unfair credit rates.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

The Crushing Weight of Capitalism

If you ever wondered what capitalism looks like unbound by such pesky details as a Bill Of Rights or constitutional amendments, check out the latest goings on in China. You'll get a good idea of what Eminent Domain really means. The government doesn't just bash the heads of those pesky protesters, it shoots them like Koi in a barrel.

Right wingers drool over that kind of POWER. Don't think it can't happen here.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

X-Mas is killing Christ all over again

Shitbrick is convinced the secular world is deliberately trying to kill Christmas. I hear it every year about this time, but he's developing quite the persecution complex - which is quite silly for a white, Christian, Republican in the United States in 2005. He rages against the secular holiday cards he recieves in the mail.

"I HATE that saying!" he boomed.

"What?"

"Season's Greetings", he sneered. "When I get a card like that, I just throw it away," he added proudly.

He's fully prepared to boycott the Target department store this year because of their apparent cowardice in being sensitive to ALL of their patrons during the "holiday season" - not just the Christian ones.

"It's Merry Christmas" he demanded. "NOT Season's Greetings! or Happy Holidays!"

Now the local religious radio station has got him all excited about some people in some neighborhood in some city he'll never visit allegedly banning nativity scenes from the front lawns in their subdivisioin (if ever there were a planted story... Here's one so-called Christian reaction to such stories). Armed with that misinformation he planned on posting a six-foot PVC crucifix wrapped in Christmas lights on his front lawn to see if anybody dared to object. I doubt they would - at least not if they knew him. He's a large, extremely vociferous and well-armed Christian warrior on the front lines of the culture war. And I mean that literally; he and the menfolk from his church make regular visits to the firing range. Personally, I have a hard time imagining Christ armed with a Kimber, but the contradiction doesn't seem to be a problem for them.

Gun-toting Christians aren't the only hypocrites though. I think it's hypocritical of me, and most Americans, to celebrate a holiday that represents a religion we don't practice. I've celebrated a secular Christmas every year of my life, but I'm all for opting-out and leaving the whole thing to the real practitioners from now on. Let's face it, this is HAPPY HAPPY SHOPPING SEASON in America more than anything else - so let's call it that, or something else - because mall-hopping has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas, like everything else in America, has been bastardized by capitalism.

In my opinion, Christmas should involve the act of being Christ-like: serving the poor, the destitute, the hopeless, the marginalized, the ostracized, and anybody else having a hard go of it in this world - which includes prostitutes, and economic slaves, and gays, and lesbians and trannys and lepers and prisoners and even politicians. I'd be more attracted to Christianity if it's most visible practitioners showed a little more humility and were less apt to pick a fight with anybody who puts an X in the place of the word "Christ". There's a fine line between being a loud-mouthed, gun-toting Christian from the NRA who's ready to launch a boycott over the marketing practices of a department store, and those other religious extremists out there who are ready to make the department store and it's patrons disappear altogether.

Shitbrick often witnesses to me at work, during the quiet moments, like just when the day begins, or at the lunch while he clutches his bible in one hand and his fork in the other, and again just before we leave for the day. Good thing I'm not one of those irritable ACLU demons who might object to this kind of unsolicited indoctrination at his place of work. I don't really mind - or at least I don't openly object. The discussions are stimulating, but I think it drives him crazy that I'm not a Christian and that I won't join his church. To him, I think, it's like I don't recognize his RIGHTNESS. I recognize Jesus and his teachings, but I haven't accepted him as my personal savior. When I watch or read the world news lately I'm beginning to think humanity is unsalvageable.

But there's always hope. Shitbrick nixed the idea for a confrontational PVC cross in his lawn becuse he figured a crucifix was appropriate for easter (Jesus' death), but not for Christmas (Jesus' birth). Instead, he's working on a sign that says "Jesus Is The Reason". It's true. And It's always good idea to be reminded to put things in their proper context.

Confirmed again, no flu vaccine

My elderly father concurs with my findings. He was also unable to get a flue shot from his doctors over a week ago. He's 77 - if anyone is high risk it's him. SO WHAT GIVES MEDIA? Why are you telling everyone there is no shortage? Is this a national security issue? Don't want to create a panic?????