The holidays and their attendant enforced cheer are over, and I couldn't be more glad. The season has always exhausted me, mostly on an emotional level. I have executed my duties as a gift consultant, envelope licker, glad-hander, gift wrapper, and chauffer with what I sincerely hope was appropriate good cheer.
I have watched CSPAN, CNN, MSNBC, and even the network "news" programs, leaning forward in my chair, hands wringing in frustration, teeth grinding, seemingly detached from my will. The message of the hour seems to be that we are all about to, individually and collectively, experience our own Tom Joad moment. Things on the economic front, to paraphrase ex-Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, are "less than good." It appears we are in for a financial pranging. Oh, the folks responsible for this disaster will weather the storm fairly well; they have made no signal that they are going to give up their government pensions or perks for the good of the country. As is their wont, they have cast their jaundiced gaze on the most needy and helpless among us- those on Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. And what do we do about their mendacity and mediocrity? Absolutely nothing. In Italy the citizenry would probably call a general strike or string them up by the heels. Not here-all our leaders need do to keep our panties sticky is appeal to our "patriotism" and call on us to sacrifice. Sacrifice what? A few inches off the diagonal measure of our next flat screen TV purchase, made in China, and sold to us by a society that would by now have had our entire executive and legislature hanged for their failure and sloth?
Bafongool!
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