The title should be--Nobody Gives a Shit. Long time ago, I read how man left the cave also left his independence. Libertarians want to enjoy communal existence while maintaining the lack of regulation. Below the fold, I will rant and rave about some of the consequences of the resultant greed and smugness--it will be ugly--I hate writing and today's NYTimes article about how civil people are in Japan enraged me. NY Times
I'm 66 years old--proudly from Brooklyn--and loved the neighborhood. When I got within 2 blocks of my apartment, I was safe. Most of my neighbors were first and second generation Italians, and I was an "other." Yet, I knew if there was trouble, they'd defend me to the death--as I would them. We were family--all living under one roof--our block. We were out of the metaphorical cave--but created a shelter for our own.
Today's society is much more transitory--much more anonymous. Back then, if you screwed up, your family was ashamed to go out of the house. Arthur Miller wrote a great play--All My Sons--about a military supplier and the consequences of his cutting corners. Beyond family repercussions, he had neighborhood shame--very painful--hard to rationalize away. Today's CEOs live far away from their factories, get bonuses even after screw ups, and are alive and super wealthy in a gated community. No shame, just smug smiles--sneers--Cheney times a thousand.
The Times article linked above talks about civility in Japan--showing hot baths for the victims. I can only think about the hot water the US, under Bush, provided for the Katrina victims. How FOX news showed African Americans breaking into supermarkets to get potable water, and Caucasians doing the same thing were heroes providing for their families. If this were Japan, I assumed the government would have been there to supply food and water--and Blacks and Whites would also have been "civil."
Japan still thinks of itself as a community--a neighborhood--America thinks of people in need as leeches--scum to be eliminated. Libertarians sit atop the fray and blame victims--be they from Katrina or from segregated schools. When I was involved in my local school board, I learned that once their children graduate out of public schools, most people start to votr down school budgets. These same people then blast the quality of the education given in those schools--you know, the ones they moved near to benefit their own children. They kind of thinking would not have been tolerated on East 8th Street when I was growing up--if it was done, it would have been done in the privacy of the voting booth, not in a letter to the editor.
Our large size is now working against us. The actions of "leaders" no longer has resonance for his family--or his self image. Money is the new vehicle for pride. We go to 2 stupid wars because the chicken hawks have no fear it will hurt his loved ones--on hurt those foolish--mostly poor--enlisted personnel--the ones that don't live behind the gates in his development. Think of Bush joining the National Guard to avoid Vietnam--the rich can buy their way out of harms way--and that makes them smug--feel free to add an appropriate expletive here, my Brooklynese has taught me so many, I leave it to you to consider.
Treat people like shit, like problems, like wastes of money, and your forcing the outcomes you expect. Children in defective environments--become defective quite often. Disaster victims denied access to shelters and food--and care for their pets--act like cavemen--animal like--is that a surprise top you?
I could rant on--but doubt many will want to read on. Thanks for reading this, hopefully I've made you a little bit angrier this weekend--a little bit more community oriented. Out of the cave, people need structure--need regulation--need community. My guess is that's why people invented religion--to make many one. The melting pot was a grand illusion--No ---- need apply was the rule, not the exception. Hating immigrants is smug--disgusting. Prejudice against "them" is vile. Back to Brooklyn--I was a "them," I was protected. Jackie Robinson was in Brooklyn for a reason--he was one of "us."