This past week I learned that I only offer condemnation of our nation, rather than solutions. How do I know? Well, Roseanne Barr told me so. After seeing my article (the Thoroughness of a Good Whore: Buying into what's left of the American Dream), she commented on Twitter that she offers solutions, not only condemnations. In the interest of not upsetting Roseanne, I will begin writing of solutions, or I could whip up a palatable mix of condemnation to go with them.
I'm not an expert, but I do aim for a certain level of professionalism in my writing.
Johnny Argent, Roseanne Barr's lover said I was preaching it righteous. Laying it down straight. He retweeted my article, Occupy Wall Street is Dangerous. I tend to think he's a very smart man. He's got long hair and looks like Sir Richard Branson, who once flew to the moon, took a piss, and then rocketed back home. I like Argent, we could easily be good friends.
As I write this, I'm trying hard to avoid condemning things: the current American political situation, the coming austerity measures like those going on in Europe, the Occupy uprisings, the fact that Homeland Security is now turning its twitching, bloodshot eyes toward social media networks, and the fact that 46 million Americans live in poverty, and 50 million don't have health insurance. Just shit like that. I'm staying away from condemnation, because frankly, I don't have any solutions.
See Occupy Los Angeles swarms city call, the march
When I hear the word solution, I think of eye drops, specifically, and in general I imagine the interactions between molecules and ions. Are they energetically favored or not, I don't know, but interactions just the same. I think of even distribution of molecules. Perhaps Roseanne's an amateur chemist. In that case, she would know more about solutions than I. But let me say, without condemning:
The wealth in our society is not like a solution. It's a mixture, unevenly distributed. I can imagine a dollar bill like a molecule floating within that system we call American society (assuming society exists). I can imagine a solution where the molecules, when stirred and shaken, evenly distribute and create a satisfying balance. Like sugar in water.
I don't have to imagine what an unevenly distributed mixture would look like. I can see it everywhere I go. A thin layer of oil on water. One percent oil, ninety-nine percent water. You can shake and stir and raise a ruckus, but you can't get that oil to evenly distribute throughout. This is not a solution, but a frustrating problem. Someone should condemn it.
More specifically, the American economy and financial prosperity of its citizens. The Rolls Royces and Ferraris on Sunset Blvd, blasting past homeless hillbillies and desperate hungry people. So desperate they would eat dead pigeons falling from the skies and landing in Larry King Square.
More specifically, the billions of bonus dollars on Wall Street, awarded to CEOs and hedge fund managers responsible for our financial crisis, bailed out by our taxpayer dollars, while our government works to defund Planned Parenthood, lay off teachers and firefighters, cut education, slash Medicare, and scale back on nutrition programs for kids.
What can we do? We could get an untainted third party, like a responsible entity with a steady hand, to carefully scrape and gather that one percent that greedily supports and suspends itself atop the ninety-nine, and cast it out to burn up in the pounding sun. Cut it off from the greater system it has tainted and polluted. Then you might be closer to a harmonious solution, rather than a chaotic mixture.
Published by Adam Michael Luebke
Adam Michael Luebke is writing a novel titled Parade of Bums, and working on a collection of short fiction stories. He is obsessed with opium, guttural sounds, progressive occultism, and Rudolf Steiner. Mr.... View profile
- Occupy Wall StreetOccupy Wall Street needs a define goal to avoid being steered by any political party and to achieve progress.
- Some Suggested Demands for the Occupy Wall Street Protest Based on the American Sc...The Occupy Wall Street protest has been criticized for not having specific demands. Here are some suggestions based on the American School of economics.
Who Are Occupy Wall Street? A Boots on the Ground ViewAs an activist living in Albany, I wanted to get the real story of what Occupy Wall Street is about. So I took a train to Manhattan and spent two days as a participant. This is...
Two Main Problems with Occupy Wall StreetThere are two main problems with the Occupy Wall Street movement who are currently taking up space in downtown Manhattan.- What Do the Occupy Wall Street Protesters Want?The "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations have gone on for several weeks and become a national phenomenon. What do they really want?
- President Obama Chastizes Wall Street Bankers for Accepting $18 Billion in Bonuse...
- Obama Upset with Wall Street Executive Bonuses
- Downtown Orlando: Wall Street Plaza is the Place to Be!
- Virginia Senator Jim Webb Nails the Most Excessive Wall Street CEO Salaries
- Roseanne Barr Decries the New World Order in a Bizarre YouTube Video
- Occupy Wall Street Movement Gains Steam in the Wake of Weekend Arrests
- How Do You Feel About the Occupy Wall Street Movement?




9 Comments
Post a CommentI hear you, bro. It's a matter of scale sometimes, I'm afraid, though the thing is easier put in black and white term that distorts what the problem really is. :o( Good thing you got a tweet from the Roseane, tho. That's way wild! :oD
We can always count on you for insight, humor, and a healthy dose of bitters. Hope you keep on posting on AC.
Very powerful commentary, Adam! I hope you continue writing on this site!
I posted this on my blog at http://william-heise.com/2011/11/02/response-to-adam-luebke/ for those of you who want to read a copy of my comment with my references.
-----
I have been thinking that the Occupy Wall Streeters are risking the pool of money that supports the system they are trying to save, since the 1% pay 40% of the taxes in this country. I told one of my friends my fear that unless we get buy-in from those who have money they will simply take their money and leave, as they have already done with jobs in a post-Cold War world in which (for the first time in history) we live in a world in which producers of value have choices of where they want to do business. He said (and I quote) "Let 'em go."
I don't think that's a reasonable solution, as it would destroy the longed-for solution. In order to avoid that, you have to take their money before casting them on the sands. That would require an executive order, since you and I both know that the Congress will pass a Constitut
Ditto MIke and Malina. :)
Ditto MIke and Malina. :0
Not sure you want to consider any advice from someone who got booed out of Jack Murphy Stadium for shrieking the national anthem and scratched her crotch after doing so. http://youtu.be/ls1YVhcLD2c
Then again, what could it hurt? She couldn't be any worse than most of those who hold positions of power in this country.
Interesing Adam and I think Mike might have something!
This problem will not dissolve, no matter how many 1%-ers wish it would! I think the acid is being applied to the base, and the salt will re-form from the reaction!