Unemployment, and so on

[kandrathe]

Many of my rants really depend on the mood I'm in. I can go over the top sometimes. Dont take everything I say to heart, lot of its just piss n' vinegar .

You do see the issue then with people taking you seriously? When would we know whether what you write is "true" or whimsy?

For me... Passion is placed in how well I research and rationalize my position, and not in how salty or inflammatory I can make the rhetoric. However passionate I might be for a topic, I understand that making unsubstantiated or false claims undermines the credibility of my position. Most of the people here, and gamers in general have an above average ability in critical thinking.

... One day we will be emancipated. Power to the people, peace to humanity.

I'm more in the camp of appreciating what I have. The minor issues that we experiencing are probably correctable in the system we have rather than upsetting the cart and introduce a potentially greater problem. Many great evils began with the best of intentions, and resulted in riots, forced marches, purges, gulags or guillotines.

About 6 months ago, here on the Lounge, I expressed a sense that the system is rigged, and that we are trapped "working for the man" with little reward and too much risk. I realize now that it is the same type of expression fueling the "Occupy" movement. But, I don't necessarily blame only Capitalism, or Wallstreet, or Corporations, or the government (although for me the government is the most corrupt). Each contribute to the whole of the problem, which is that most of us ordinary people are trapped in a economic pit where the sides are too steep for us too climb toward that dream of upward social mobility. I think this is the true American Dream, that we can use our talents and efforts to improve our lives and those of our children. Unlike the Marxian social utopia, I want things to be based more meritocratically. You don't get an equal share of the pie. everyone gets an equal place at the table, everyone gets enough to eat, and after that, you get the serving you deserve based on your value to the society.

American Exceptionalism was never about "we are better". As observed by people like Alexis De Tocqueville, it was more about our emergence and differences from Europe as a new democracy, with a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and more laissez-faire. Perhaps we've diverted too far away from those ideals to be thought of that way anymore.

Some 12,000 or so lobbyists in Washington are one of the connections between the "1%", and the system that keeps the "1%" in their gravy. Unlike the "occupy" movement though, I don't have the same issue with the "1%". I blame the elected representatives of the people for not representing the people, and being corrupted by their own selfishness and greed. I blame the electorate for not standing up for themselves better, and choosing candidates who will strike down the unfairness within the current system. If the Tea Party can do that, or the Occupy movement can do that, then I'm all for either of them.