Randomness
While holding a report and shuffling the papers to make it look like he is reading them, Bush is thankfully distracted from bombing Iran by a report on the disparity that exists between the can rich and poor.
"The typical American spends an average of $65 on beverages for every dollar he or she earns back through redeemable deposits, and the rest of that money goes to the country's can and bottle barons," the report stated. "Americans who are at a foraging disadvantage due to over-employment and home ownership therefore have limited access to these discarded commodities, causing the market to unfairly favor those with an exclusively disposables income."
Perhaps more alarming, the report continued, the can monopoly enjoyed by the poorest 1 percent has been unintentionally buoyed by millions of environment-conscious Americans who leave plastic bags full of recycling in front of their homes, which are in turn preyed upon by enterprising collectors.
"These people were born into a lifestyle, often going back generations, where any can left on the street is seen as their birthright, whether they purchased it or not," Houston resident Dale Palmer said. "They have the knowledge and ability to get out there and scoop up all the good cans before anyone even knew they were there."
The vast disparity in can-wealth distribution is difficult to understand for many Americans. Most people, according to the report, cannot relate to the lifestyles of the super-poor, who never have to go to work, pay a mortgage, or struggle to find money for rent.
Perhaps more alarming, the report continued, the can monopoly enjoyed by the poorest 1 percent has been unintentionally buoyed by millions of environment-conscious Americans who leave plastic bags full of recycling in front of their homes, which are in turn preyed upon by enterprising collectors.
"These people were born into a lifestyle, often going back generations, where any can left on the street is seen as their birthright, whether they purchased it or not," Houston resident Dale Palmer said. "They have the knowledge and ability to get out there and scoop up all the good cans before anyone even knew they were there."
The vast disparity in can-wealth distribution is difficult to understand for many Americans. Most people, according to the report, cannot relate to the lifestyles of the super-poor, who never have to go to work, pay a mortgage, or struggle to find money for rent.
Meanwhile his cabinet is hard pressed to finalize the neo-con agenda before the end of the term.
posted by Mistake Master @ 11:04 AM
3 Comments:
"...anything labeled as Liberal is bad for America and anything labeled Conservative is considered good."
Are we living in the same country? I think it's quite the other way around: Conservative is 'bad', liberal is 'good'.
And if you really want a more 'representative form of government' as you say on your profile, then you should be voting paleoconservative.
anon, here is why I say "...anything labeled as liberal is bad for America..."
I get a bunch of e-mail from my uncle who lives in Florida. He's a really funny smart guy but he comes from a different time than I do. I send him stuff and he sends me things like this:
New preamble to the constitution
This is probably the best e-mail I've seen in a long, long time. The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA. This guy should run for President one day...
We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.'
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!
"Liberal" bed wetters? Really? I thought you saw through that. Let's take this point by point, if you don't mind. :)
Article I: who thinks this way? And does it possibly have anything to do with being bombarded with advertisements and other media glorifying materialism as the American way?
Article II: Agreed, but it isn't liberals who try to censor everything. Don't recall too many liberals in the Moral Majority, the Eagle Forum, or the PMRC.
Article III: Agreed, but again, frivolous lawsuits are generally not orchestrated by liberals, but by ambulance chasing attorneys who like to capitalize on the misery of others. They're not liberal. People who want to make a lot of money and don't care how or where it comes from are not liberals.
Article IV: Unfortunately, due to conservative efforts, the educational system in this country has been in decline since the 70's. You can't keep cutting money from public education and think it won't matter or be noticeable. And the vast majority can not afford a private education. Not to mention the unfortunate fact that anyone can have a kid, regardless of how uncaring and unsupportive they are to their kids. Should those kids be punished for being born to the wrong people? Besides, letting people starve in the streets will bring a whole new set of problems I don't think most in this country wishes to take on. But then again, maybe if we revised the welfare system to encourage people to get ahead rather than punishing them for doing so...
Ironically, of course, is that republicans who oppose welfare for the poor have no problem giving it to the rich, and borrowed money from China no less.
Article V: The myth of poor public healthcare has been greatly exaggerated by the right. The reality is that we have the means and the infrastructure to provide it, but choose not to. We give accused criminals the right to an attorney (something I truly believe in especially for a representative democracy,) but it is a privilege to see a doctor. And the reality is that public and private healthcare would operate side by side, like public and private schools. Public healthcare would not resduce the quality. Nobody goes into medicine to make money, but to heal people. The pay is just a perk for the years of hard work and dedication these professionals have given to their industry.
Article VI: Or if some of us would rather see you rehabilitated (if possible) and out becoming a productive member of society. After all, it's the least you can do after what you did.
Article VII: Agreed, but again rehab as a required part of the sentence so when they get released, they don't just go right back in, as over 90% do. They don't call it a revolving door system for nothing!
Article VIII: Unfortunately, our educational system has been in decline for some time. Those who go to public schools are at a disadvantage to those who go to private. Very few can afford private. I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm saying it probably won't which is why we need to get our priorities straight and invest in education again.
Article IX: Ironic that a republican would talk about someone else's confusion about the Bill of Rights since they have systematically dismantled them and the Constitution under this Administration, and the author of this new preamble supported every bit of it.
Article X: While I agree that English is the primary language, freedom means being able to speak whatever language you want. Thought I read something earlier about having no right to never be offended... Well, one more example of the do as I say, not as I do mentality of republicans.
Article XI: Actually, all this God stuff came about in the 50's during the red scare since the commies were also atheists. This country was founded by those wishing to escape religious persecution, not continue it. I wonder if Muslims living in this country in the post 9/11 era feel free and unencumbered to exercise their religion. I know that Jews and Catholics weren't particularly welcome until recently, and even then, it's debatable. Personally, I agree with Jesse Ventura who said, "Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for the weak-minded who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business." Freedom of religion also means freedom from other peoples' religions as explicitly outlined in the First Amendment when it says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."
To sum up, I believe that the more educated people this country produces, the more people will have good jobs, the fewer people that will be on welfare, the fewer people getting public healthcare, the fewer people who live in desperation doing desperate things that land them in jail, leading to the better this country will be.
Good to see you back again, and it's good to be back again. I had some things that required my undivided attention and absence from the blogosphere.
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