I usually use a lot of color in my photos, but I sometimes am interested in scenes with a narrower color palette. This is an evening view looking west into the Gulf of Mexico.
So, Tuesday was Dentist Day. I spent about 3 hours there, I had the last of my amalgam (read: mercury poison) fillings replaced with some modern stuff which, whatever it does to me, will not leach mercury. Also had a new set of Xrays, and a thorough cleaning (including some antibiotic thingies under the gum line for the long fight against perio disease). Expensive. Worth it? I guess. I like my dentist and his staff, and thus do not avoid them, which is good.
Bushie sez he wants to do an “economic stimulus package.” Translation: our over-indebted government (er, us taxpayers and our children, their children, their children, etc.) wants to borrow more money to hand out some chump change to individuals (whether or not they are taxpayers), so those receiving it will spend it to help the economy. Never mind the additional national debt, and the interest on it which will have to be repaid. In order to assuage the business sector (beloved of the Republicans), some tax cuts will be handed out (so the overspending by the government will be even more severe because it is agreeing to give up some revenue, more debt, more interest). I have watched a lot of TV news about this, both regular news and financial news, and perused the internet. I have seen not one mention by the “press” of the effect of government largesse on the national debt. It seems to me that if I’m head over heels in debt, I am not going to be stronger economically by borrowing money. Now, as long as I can find chumps to borrow money from (i.e. selling government bonds), I can have a party and spend, but the proverbial piper is still gonna want to be repaid, ain’t he?
So, folks, if you get the chump change the government wants to give you, be a good American and go spend it, but whatever you do, don’t just spend it to pay down debt, don’t spend it to reduce your mortgage, go to the store and buy stuff. I learned after 9/11 (Prez again) that shopping is the most patriotic of acts. Best thing to do is spend the money on completely useless crap which won’t last very long. Rest easy. The “trickle down” from the wealthy who are being given yet more tax breaks will doubtless provide you with much reward sometime between now and the end of time (why our government is a slave to Reagonomics–idiotic as it was/is–at this late date is a wonder, ain’t it?). It should be called “trickle up” economics.
I’ve been watching those ridiculous Cadillac TV spots. You know, the ones where the sexy lady says what’s important about a car is whether when you turn it on it turns you on. What?! WTF?! General Motors is really jumping on the bandwagon of modern thinking, arent’ they. This company loses billions, but still thinks all we really want out here in the provinces is a hot rod with lots of chrome. Never forget: It’s All About The Chrome. Oh, and, of course, in addition to having the Hot Rod, best to have a gargantuan SUV. If you get more than 10mpg, you are not a good American. Sheesh! You know, it must be me that’s crazy. Oh, I forgot, that Caddy Hot Rod (or, let’s face it, any one of a number of similarly idiotic cars) is shown, basically, street racing! So don’t just get a stoopid chromed-up gas hog, drive like a freaking maniac!
So, here’s how I sum up modern commercialism and modern government: bread and circuses, folks, bread and circuses. Now what happened to that country (Rome) where that “bread and circuses” thing became big?
The “dumbest guys in the room” are in charge folks, hunker down.
