Where the fuck are we?
13 2013-01-01 by [deleted]
as I sit here I struggle to understand where we are as a society. on one hand, the false consumerism has brainwashed me into believing that 'we've never had it better,' and on the other that this standard of living rests on the backs of what are essentially slave laborers in the colonies and tentacles of modern capitalism. is cronyism really capitalism though?
I feel the pain of all those suffering under the boot of our collective prison, and can't help but think that this is just the way things are, and that human nature dictates that this is the best we can come up with. as we entered the new year last night, I caught myself wondering why the word happy gets thrown (under the bus) in front of it. is it happy because we get some new shiny toys to distract us from the existential crisis I'm positive we all face day in and day out? is it happy because as a culture we have to lull ourselves into submission and take what scraps we can get/are given? or is it 'happy' because that is what the propaganda machine has told us to be..
sitting idly waiting for doom makes me feel like an outcast in a world that revolves around the carousel of happy feelings. depressed? prozac. anxious? take some xanax. it's the constant avoidance and distraction of reality that has been our downfall, and on the slope down I can't help but wonder what all these people are going to do when shit really goes down.
and there I reach another conflict: when is shit really going to go down? is it when confidence is lost in the dollar? is it when there isn't enough food or oil to meet demand, and things shift out of necessity rather than the implosion I feel in my soul to be inevitable? shouldn't more people have noticed by now that the house of cards on which we sit is certainly going to fold? and then I'm reminded of how blind and ignorant people en masse truly are. the blatant racism, the classism, the fear of the unknown.
I feel mentally prepared, but so unsure of anything anymore. I try to keep in mind that what can be attributed to stupidity doesn't necessitate malice (Hanlon's Razor, for those interested), but with these earth shattering scandals breaking and receiving absolutely nothing in terms of media coverage (LIBOR to name one, though here I don't really feel I need to go into the details since I am among friends) can it really just be stupidity anymore?
I refuse to just accept that this is just the way shit is, and that the illusions we keep ourselves in are there for our own good. I guess in time we will see. thanks for reading my thoughts, if you got this far.
29 comments
11 Mikey129 2013-01-01
On a rock hurling through space.
2 iscool 2013-01-01
Best perspective
0 hb_alien 2013-01-01
*hurtling
2 [deleted] 2013-01-01
I dont know about you, but today, im hurling.
2 hb_alien 2013-01-01
lol, i feel you. hurting and hurling this morning.
7 SonOfMan11 2013-01-01
unfortunately, i believe the answers to these questions are all 'yes.' there is otherwise very little to be happy about as an american. on a personal and spiritual front, sound morals, self-respect and respect and empathy for others are going out the window. our families are falling apart due to substance abuse, infidelity and lazy parenting.
on a financial front, the cost of pursuing a real dream as a business owner are astronomical with health care costs essentially forcing many intelligent people into wage slavery with benefits, and those who do work for wages find their hard work being taxed at every corner. shit, you can't even sit still for 5 minutes in this bitch without having to pay someone for the right to exist! i mean, why the fuck should i have to pay the city to own my own car or house if it's "mine."
we can't be happy here because the boot is on our skull. the american dream = the biggest ponzi scheme of all time. from municipality to state to feds to the central bank that's been draining the equity and wealth out of our fine land from its very inception. it's hard to be happy in circumstances like these unless you ignore the harsh reality of life in america.
2 OddJob_77 2013-01-01
Why do Americans only think about and speak about America? This is happening everywhere on earth. I'm in Canada and feel exactly the same as the OP and you SonOfMan. We face the same issues here, as do most citizens in most countries around the world. Borders need to stop existing as this corruption and propaganda campaign is global. All of us need to rise up, together as human beings...as earthlings. Until we ALL open our eyes and stand firm against TPTB and take back our freedom and our planet, nothing will change.
1 SonOfMan11 2013-01-01
agreed that the problem isn't limited to america. america, however, is a substantial exporter of the products and ideas that has lead to what i believe is a collective morality devoid of all substance, self-respect and genuine love among our fellow man. i guess i only speak about america because it's local and i see a lot of our habits and influences in the world as problematic.
-9 hb_alien 2013-01-01
People have been saying the exact same thing for the past two hundred years. I can make a good argument for America being at it's "moral" high point right now.
I agree with you that property taxes on your primary residence are bullshit, but do you really not understand why you pay a car tax? Would you rather pay a toll at every other corner?
7 SonOfMan11 2013-01-01
I would think my state and federal income taxes could cover road maintenance costs. But we have to give 3 billion to Israel.
5 atm0sphere 2013-01-01
not even that, it's that the town supervisors cousin ALWAYS seems to get the damn contract @ 350% cost.
but yeah, that too. more than 3 billion.
-5 hb_alien 2013-01-01
That wouldn't be fair to people who don't own cars.
Really? You had to bring Israel into this?
6 SonOfMan11 2013-01-01
They don't use/benefit from roads?
Really? You had to bring non car-owners into this?
-4 hb_alien 2013-01-01
... lol. Yea, I actually did have to.
4 boristhespider2 2013-01-01
I think sonofman is right. Even if you don't own a car the infrastructure provided is the fundamental channel through which other services are provided. You don't have to be driving to benefit.
2 hb_alien 2013-01-01
I guess that's a fair point.
2 Superconducter 2013-01-01
Roads are generally paid for from gasoline taxes.
1 hb_alien 2013-01-01
In my state funding comes from VLFs as well.
3 notmymoney 2013-01-01
You are onto something about covering Up pain. I believe pain and struggle force a man to evolve, on many levels, and invent/reinvent. Maybe that is the biggest conspiracy of all.
2 sushisection 2013-01-01
You gotta admit though, it's better to live here than Africa
2 hanahou 2013-01-01
There will always be opposition. It's how you deal with it that defines your happiness.
0 [deleted] 2013-01-01
Jesus is the only one who can save us now. After the world gets more fucked up.
-19 pepsitastesbetter 2013-01-01
Put down the bong and get a job you loser.
8 atm0sphere 2013-01-01
you know what's funny about that?
I've held the same (good) job for several years and recently did in fact put down the bong, and the bottle, and everything else, and these thoughts are still there.
I'd advise you to try and use that little noggin of yours before you post next time. :\
2 SonOfMan11 2013-01-01
Good for you man. I hope 2013 brings you more health happiness and prosperity!
2 Crimson_D82 2013-01-01
Cannabis is good for you, it has healthy effects on the body.
http://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/15swmn/i_know_people_blow_this_off_as_a_myth_but_i/
0 pepsitastesbetter 2013-01-01
You haven't considered that you're brain damaged? If your mind is so diseased that you have lost touch with reality, then it's not the world that is faulty, it's you and your sick little mind.
1 atm0sphere 2013-01-01
You really sound like a special snowflake :) I think it's you with the diseased mind.. Maybe you should try and get laid soon or something, and relax.. It sounds like it's been lonely for you.
1 pepsitastesbetter 2013-01-01
Waaaah... you retard. People laugh at loons like you.