some stuff gets ignored

I subscribe /follow various blogs -- some are listed on My Blog List. Just because they are there does not mean I agree with what is said. I read them (or skim them) to get a feel for what's going on -- just like most folks, I guess.

There are others. One is "Social Rupture -- http://socialrupture.blogspot.com/ -- which keeps track of social protests, and crimes against property (mostly).

Just the way they look at these acts, the way they see them as protests against the current society, is an interesting counter balance to the words of our political leaders. At times it almost seems as if a whole lot of folks are fiddlin' away at a furious pace while the fabric of our society is ripped apart.

If you listen to the tone, the discontent, coming from both left and right -- the angry "lefties", and the angry "Tea Party" folks -- it seems as if they are all angry about similar things -- they just direct that anger against different objects/people.

All along, there is this rage from below (or folks who see themselves as "below").

Even the recent murders of policemen, as horrible as they are, seem to target our newly "militarized" policemen as agents of repression -- even if the ideas are cloudy, and almost unformed (no, it would not be "better" if they were "formed").

There's an anger about the inequality, the lack of mobility, lack of opportunity. Different folks have different culprits -- it's the "corporations", the "government", those "gays", the "immigrants", it's a case of "different strokes for different folks".

At the same time -- it seems to be the same anger. All but those on top feel betrayed. With the economic downturn even many who smugly saw themselves as "winners" (remember, in the eyes of many, society is composed of "winners" and "losers" -- all discrete "individuals", subject to nothing but their "will") are now forced to admit they are little better than "losers" (esp. if they have been out of work for a year or more).

The "philosophy" of extreme "rugged individualism" only works when things are going well. When the middle class is dissolving, when folks have trouble keeping a roof over their heads -- no matter what they do -- the ideas of a social network, the "fabric of society", a "safety net" for all begins to look a little better.

I do understand that people still think THEY are "worthy", YOU* are just lazy, or a "welfare cheat" -- but even those ideas tend to soften when folks do not see things getting better.

Our greedy corporate leaders had better straighten out the current mess (if they are willing) or some of the folks on left and right might just get together -- esp. if they stop long enough to pick one culprit.

The wealthy have been waging class warfare against those of us less "worthy" forever. We have been weaned on the idea that we might just be able to join those on top, and wage class warfare ourselves, also forever.

During bad times we tend to be a bit more cynical -- esp. when we see the newly affluent have much of their affluence (it's not "wealth") stripped away. When their personal safety net dissolves, is shown to be nothing but smoke and mirrors, most folks just buckle down and work harder. In the past, that was usually enough to keep things going.

I remember the 80's and all the Yuppies who worked 60, 70 and more hours a week so they could "retire by 40, 45, and do what I REALLY want to do". During those supposed "golden years of Reagan" we had recessions, a huge stock market crash, and a huge real estate "readjustment".

After the dust cleared, those "I'm going to retire by 45" Yuppies were damn near wiped out -- many are still working.

Back then I would say that becoming a "shrink" was part of a growth industry, especially after folks realized they had been screwed (again). I was only partially right -- we "solved" those problems with tranquilizers. Perhaps thats one reason we use more of them than the rest of the world - combined.

It also might explain the popularity of all the "prosperity gospels". I am afraid that even all the "positive thinking" crap will not be enough to keep down the rage if our "leaders" do not wise up.

In our past, we have always found a leader who was smart enough to understand that the truly wealthy had to give up a little (actually a VERY little) to keep what they had, to stay in charge. That seems to be what FDR did.

Today we are "The Richest Nation In The World" (trademarked), but our healthcare sucks, we have a minimal "safety net", we no longer bother to educate our children, literacy rates are falling, child mortality rates are not up to par, our infrastructure is falling apart, and our water is getting worse.

All the while inequality is growing. People who have always seen themselves as middle class no longer are.

We really NEED change. We NEED "Change You Can Believe In" -- we are NOT getting it. Nor are we getting any sort of positive leadership.

When it comes to current policy, the Obama administration seems to be adrift -- with political expediency trumping any and all ideals. It's as if they do not even pay lip service to those ideals -- except in an occasional speech. Even then, there are no calls for unity, no calls for service, perhaps even some restraint from both left and right -- it's as if this administration is just too "cool" to bother.

Bush and Co. were too arrogant. Obama Inc. is just too cool. For many of us, the result is the same.