A Snapshot In America

[_earthshine_]

I thought i'd take a unique opportunity to report to you live and direct from the warfront. No, i don't mean the war in Iraq -- or Iran -- or whichever oil-rich country the powers-that-be are trying to subtly re-industrialize this week. I mean the real war, the one we're fighting here at home, the war against the socio-economic demons we

Comments

[scottij]

Good luck! Thanks for the very interesting writeup.

[_earthshine_]

Thanks, Scott. It all worked out... at least for now. We'll see what happens when next i try to access the automated system next week...

[dannimal]

Standing in line marking time--
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes
Just for fun he says "Get a job"

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
But don't you believe them

[_earthshine_]

... from the rockets' red glare
down to brother can you spare
another war
another wasteland
another lost generation ...

[mrgeddylee]

If you'd just get hip to the digital age, you'd have your entire music collection on the laptop and wouldn't need any filthy cafe music.

Best luck with the bureaucracy, bro.

[_earthshine_]

I have more than enough music on my iTunes to tide me through many a time, but i didn't mind it. I was mostly trying to ignore it so i could work.

The bureaucracy is it's usual self, but i'm honestly impressed by the people they've got at the front lines. The UIA staff seems worn out, but also pretty compassionate, afaict. They really seem to be trying their best.

current times

[anonymous]

if nothing else, maybe the current times will move people to move government to step up to the plate for the people or turn in their bats.
maybe, we will be allowed to once again become the democracy we were, and not the aristocracy/dynasty we are fast becoming.
caroline WHO?

Re: current times

[_earthshine_]

I hope so. As much as i'm tempted to believe in the free-market mentality of financial conservativism, i keep coming back to the truth that the ability for anyone to "succeed" and "excel" in society -- even when playing by fair rules -- is dependent upon that society being there in a structured form. In this way, the government's role to protect personal liberty and enforce some standard of order is intrinsically linked to all matters of interpersonal exchange, and there can never truly be a "free market" without there also being anarchy, which, for many reasons, is not something i'm interested in exploring.

Re: current times

[jesus_jeff]

the free-market mentality of financial conservativism...

Haven't the last few months taught us anything? Free-market means free to make insane profits and protected by the people when everything goes belly-up. Private profits, socialized losses. The tragedy of the commons.

Re: current times

[_earthshine_]

Private profits, socialized losses.

Wow... that's a mouthful right there.

Hooray for the best of both worlds, then!!

[madkingludwig]

I did have one of these thoughts: I was listening to NPR on my morning commute, Allah be praised that I have one, and they were going over the struggles of the UIA in Michigan. Just to test it, they tried to call MARVIN seven times and couldn't get through. They interviewed someone who said the problem was they the UIA is "understaffed."
I thought of all the people waiting out their doors and in their offices who are looking for jobs.
I am sure a few of them have something in Social Work, assuming that is even a requirement.

[_earthshine_]

I did think that was pretty funny myself. When i heard that UIA was bringing on more folks this month, i did have to wonder: did they consider just whipping people off the lines and interviewing them on the spot??