Friday, July 04, 2008

Catching the Spirit of '76!

[Editor's warning: The following contains language not suitable for all readers, to include (per Dada) " small children and faux patriots who wear lapel flags during working hours on Wall Street or capitol hill in Washington, D.C." Apparently Dada celebrates this 4th of July with a patriotic fervor that's never been stronger. The result is a rant by one desperately in search of his former nation. Hence, it may contain vernacular in the rare Spirit of '76 (i.e., an occasional obscenity), of Revolution , that today's holiday used to represent. ~Editor Sam]


Happy Fourth of July to everyone! Will tonight be the traditional evening of fireworks set off in celebration of another national birthday? I'm concerned with a number of revelers who use this occasion, not as display of their patriotism, but instead to impart to progeny their latent desires for pyromania.

In looking online at rockets and Roman candles, I came across a nice explosive called the "Ultimate Fear." It's described in part as "nearly 120 Decibels of pure Testosterone!" So not only are the pyros igniting these ear crackers blind to the real patriotism the holiday was originally intended to represent, now they can become deaf to it as well!

Well, last night a friend, from the barricades downtown that Mrs. Dada frequents faithfully every Friday to demonstrate for peace, invited us to her home. It's a nice, traditional gathering the first Thursday of each month in the summers and serves a dual purpose -- party of like minds and, this election year, a strategy party for democrats in '08.

But no longer a card carrying member of the party, I could not, in clear conscience, go. I would have been an impostor in sheep's clothing!

Besides, being the third of July, I decided to hang here at the house with editor Sam in case there was an outbreak of patriot pyromania. (Actually, "patriots" my ass. If patriots, we'd be in the middle of the Revolution already. It's a total misnomer, yet pyromaniacs indeed!)

Surprisingly the neighborhood was totally silent all night! Not one explosion. "DO YOU SUPPOSE," I thought, "the Depression's finally come home to roost. People have no money to burn?!" Oh my god, how unAmerican would that be?

Although I just saw one of those Wall Street "suits" on TV before leaving for a long weekend in the Hamptons with his little American flag stuck up his *lapel* telling all of us there's no recession because the economy grew by 1% last quarter!

Tell that to the homeless from the housing bubble that's blown up in their faces, a banking industry on a precipice of total collapse, the airlines fighting to survive their crashes , thousands of dismissed auto workers and all others struggling with soaring food and fuel costs under a government hemorrhaging red ink while white-assed Wall Street suits assure us, blue in the face, this is not a recession!

Those *bleeping* assholes! I have a suggestion where they can cram that Pablum they continue to feed us, because I ain't swallowing their bullshit.

Which brings me back to an earlier point: Where's the freakin' Revolution? Huh? Where are all those fucking *patriots* scaring the hell and blowing the shit out of Nature out there tonight. What the fuck are they doing the other 364 days each year? As Thomas Jefferson pondered, "What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion?"

If those folks can't blow their wads on cherry bombs this year, if they're sitting at home on their asses wondering if the Suburban will make it all the way into work Monday, maybe they ought to be out in the streets tonight breaking shit and demonstrating the true spirit of Revolution, the true meaning of the holiday! Huh?

From Dada and Sam, my editor, "Happy Fourth of July everyone!"

12 comments:

enigma4ever said...

great post, I love the part about the Suburbans and pablum....Jefferson had it right, and you were right to post it.......I was so glad to see people giving Bush the shit he deserved at his own damn little photo op event....

Our neighborhood is full of empty houses ( foreclosed and abandoned...really sad)....and we have been having gun shot problems this summer...so every time a BANG goes off - poor Lilly dog goes and hides.....

I hope and the Editor and the Mrs have a good 4th....

Dada said...

Hi enigma. Thanks for coming by. You know, sadly, what you're experiencing there with empty houses and gun shots echoing through the air I think are symptoms that are going to vastly increase in the months ahead, EVERYWHERE.

I've noticed locally as well as nationally a growing desperation in the people who are being displaced in this society. Locally, robberies incredibly conceived, nationally, more and more ATM monies being stolen. Not by using someone's ATM numbers. No, by just stealing the whole damn machine and its contents.

We're in for some incredibly insane times I fear. Hang in there. Just knowing people like you and 6'6" (6'8" by now?) are out there will strengthen me each new day. We are not alone!

enigma4ever said...

Sigh....ah Dada...I think what you say is true..sadly...yes, I know it is true....We have a neighborhood of empty foreclosed houses...the Police have been driving through about the gunshots- they too are trying to figure it out...

My downtown apt. was foreclosed last January of 2007.....then I moved to this battered old neighborhood.....which at the time was full of working class folk, students and tons of nice people....but the Uhauls came and went and all winter...and here I sit...more than half of each block is emtpy now....really sad...

I miss the noise and kids playing.....and just having people round....

6-6 is so tall..and yes I have not measured him in many monthes- he indeed might be 6-8.....but he likes me calling him 6-6.....he is a good soul...and I am blessed that he has not drawn into some of the teen troubles here....I am lucky to have him....

And yes, I know that this next year could indeed be very rough...I think economically we are trouble...big trouble....and well, don't get me started on the war part...

sigh...

Now you and the Mrs and Beautiful dog......and stay cool down there....

D.K. Raed said...

gotta luv that Editor Sam -- always looking out for the sensibilities of small children and faux patriots!

where is *our* revolution? It's nowhere to be seen. All I see are the polar opposites of giddiness (no doubt from those who are profiting handsomely and shamelessly as the world crumbles) and numbness (those for whom the world is crumbling).

(sigh) all those foreclosures, Enigma ... you are in the forefront I'm afraid, leading the way the nation will follow.

Dada said...

Geez E4E, what you're seeing there is the early stages of a national trend I fear. For once vibrant neighborhoods to change so quickly, to become eerie shadows of their former selves is indeed unsettling.

I fear DK's right, you're seeing the devastation of the war on our economic homefront as a result of our follies on our foreign fronts.

Who knows how much $2-$3 trillion invested in renewable energy could have done to reduce our consumption of oil?

Insuring the future of the Empire by their chosen course has destroyed the Empire, of course. At least we live in an historical moment.

Any who are "lucky" enough to survive it, will get to scrabble through the ruins for any reusable shit we might find. And just imagine the stories you'll have to pass on!

enigma4ever said...

thanks Dada....I kind of expected the economy to sour as the war dragged on...but I did not expect my hood to empty in less than 12 monthes....I walked the hood with a city official and he had a clipboard with pages and pages of houses on it...I talked with him - he sends a lawn crew out and they do the lawns- I told him it will take more than that to look "lived in"....Esp. when Christmas wreathes are still hanging on doors...I suggested some timers for lights etc...I also asked if they were checking for pets left behind...( on the street behind I did report a house where a dog was left).I also suggested some seasonal wreathes for the doors.....He laughed....said I was good at the Faked lived in look..I told him I did stage managing on college...( Finally all these years later- those classes pay off)....He explained he does not mind squatters...but he is worried the Metal Men will come and strip the houses...

Here in Ohio 50% of houses bought since 2001 have gone into Foreclosure...( Country Wide was HUGE here)


the funny thing is in other countries in Europe- squatters are allowed as long as they keep places clean....and don't cause damage, they don't face charges....( Denmark and Holland)...

I know this is going to happen everywhere....I think it already is...and we are not supposed to not it...we are supposed to be "shopping" and Being patriotic....urgh....

Here is the the thing the HUGE ass Oil Companies made Billions during this war, even during Katrina...so if they had been paying a Percentage to Develope NEW Technologies and Car Plants - that would have led to jobs....and less fuel consumption......

okay I will hush.....

D.K. Raed said...

Why would you "hush" yourself, Enigma? This is beyond sad. So the foreclosed people have to pack up & move & find themselves a place to rent (because they were apparently unsuitable homebuyers). Now maybe it's just me, but I wonder how much less rent they are paying than what their mortgages were. Wouldn't the mortgage holders have been better off, perhaps reclaiming the deeds to the now unaffordable houses, and allowing the former "owners" to pay them rent? Because as it is, those homes aren't earning anyone any money. They're not selling, even on the auction block. So whoever has repossessed them has still not recouped their loan. In addition to all that is the growing problem of "foreclosure rage" wherein either the original ("unworthy") homebuyers strip everything including toilets out of the home they are being kicked out of, or they have "friends" who come back later and do it for the salvage value.

We've got a few of what are called "Trustee Sales" going on around us. Others are being marketed as "short sales" or "bank sales" or even "as is sales". It seems the R.E. market will do anything to avoid calling them "foreclosures" .... because that would indicate a depth to this problem that most people don't want to admit exists.

enigma4ever said...

See that is my thought too...exactly DK..I don't get it....and if the banks rented the houses they wouldn't be so at risk or metal raping and scavenging....on my street one landlord had Six Properties- he lost his six properties AND his own house...a year ago he was fine- I don't get it.....and get this ALL of his properties were emptied of RENTERS and he was not even allowed to rent.....here in Ohio there is a THREE day rule- the renters have three days to get out....I am seriously thinking of somehow trying to figure out how to get this law changed....

I will be honest..I wanted the stimulus check to set aside- just in case....

My Landlord is having money troubles, so I am trying to wait this out....( he has six properties- and we are the only side by side that is rented....both sides..). He had an appraiser come.....I worry, because I of course fixed up the whole house, the porches, even the backyard....it looks nice...shit...too nice....

Houses here are selling at rockbottem prices....under 100K for a sideby side (that is BOTH sides), 3-4 bedroom perside....a year ago these same structures were selling for 160-180....

Investors could definently make a killing here....

enigma4ever said...

sorry Dada...and thank you...see because everyone is moving away...here is the funny thing...there is no one to talk to about this....

( and it is my second time going through this since living here....winter 2007- my downtown loft building emptied as we realized that the Landlord was in money trouble...and I looked for a new place-during a blizzard and -20 degree weather...and found THIS place....and now here we go again...)

thank you for letting me vent...and talk about it..now it seems less nightmarish...merely just a state of life....

don't worry 6-6 and I Always always end up on our feet...

Dada said...

E4E: As D.K. says, no need to hush yourself. I find this thread very educational because 1.) it's one I'm not that aware of here in El Paso (that's not to say it may not be happening here, or maybe it isn't to the extent it is some other places, I don't know; or 2.) with the militarization of El Paso [The DOD is spending $2-3 billion on Ft. Bliss and we're gaining between 60,000 to 70,000 military, including their family members], we may be cushioned from what's happening in many places around the country.)


But your posts Enigma, may be the canary in the cave for all of the country eventually. So thank you for sharing this information.

BTW, D.K., I really like your idea about letting people who are losing their homes stay in those homes as tenants, not buyers. Of course, if they can't afford the mortgage, the rent would have to be lower, right? But houses sitting vacant is a huge loss for everyone.

Wow, I just went to post this and there was your latest comment I hadn't seen, Enigma. It had just been posted.

So the bottom's really falling out of the market there. I can really see why you'd be worried, having gone thru this once before. (I remember you trudging thru the snowy cold looking for new digs.)

Anyway, was about to hit the Publish button when I noticed ANOTHER post from you Enigma. WTG! Post as much as you'd like, as often as you'd like. This IS nightmarish.

enigma4ever said...

Dada, ( and DK too)...but mostly Dada..thank you for letting me vent about this...I have not talked about it...I have just been walking the dog and mentally noting the erosion of this hood week by week..so it was a huge relief to be able to talk about it...I don't know what will happen here or for all of us in the year to come...but to know that we can all talk to each other and about reality....it is nice...so I am grateful....

namaste....

Dada said...

enigma: you're welcome (but, really, no need to thank! Actually, "Thank you" for the glimpse of reality not everyone may be seeing just yet.)

I just stumbled across two parts of what is to be a four part series written by a Brit for the Telegraph
about the decline of America. (Actually, part I deals with military recruitment, which doesn't hold the interest for me at the moment that part II does.) While I haven't read any of it yet, part II's photos of places like parts of Detroit in utter decay look like some of the images out of the former USSR satellites after its break-up.

Very, VERY disturbing.