Your front page headline, December 14: " DePetro protest expands ". I don't see Depetro setting a new , unacceptable low for reactionary talk radio in Rhode Island. If this campaign of dubious liberals and phony " friends of labor " Democrats succeeds in getting the daffy " Independent Man " fired , the capitalist owners of his radio station WPRO will replace him with Depetro-Light. It would make more sense for offended " progressive " listeners to demand more uninterrupted air-time not controlled by the right-wing talk show host. The Left seems to forget this truth: the ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling class. To be sure, American fascism could have fine manners and polite speech.
For years now " political correctness "- a diversion from the class war- has been putting a big chill on public debate. Isn't it important to know what very many people really think and feel about controversial issues ? Should not even genuine " hate " be allowed to vent ? It seems that even bourgeois democracy is fading in the lands of Western Civilization. Both the Left and the Right distrust the common people. Free minds do not fear ideas . Truth itself is revolutionary !
Monday, December 16, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
A haughty attitude toward low wage workers
I listened with disgust Thursday ( Nov. 5 ) as our Talk-Radio reactionaries commented on this nation wide protest against poverty wages in the fast food industry. These two bit, bought and sold celebrities never fail to show a haughty disdain for th
e struggles of ordinary working class people- not for the " good life " but for basic human dignity.
They all accept without question the ruling class lie of wealth creation. As if Mother Nature created plutocrats to lord over the common people. Real economic science deals with objectively measurable quantities like resources, technology and
labor time. It does not -in the spirit of superstition- recognize the Magic of the Rich & Famous. Even talent in all its forms can be reduced to training time and calories. The finest brain is powered by the energy equivalent of a dull light bulb.
In a socialist society any talent for exploitation and lying will be discouraged. To be sure !
e struggles of ordinary working class people- not for the " good life " but for basic human dignity.
They all accept without question the ruling class lie of wealth creation. As if Mother Nature created plutocrats to lord over the common people. Real economic science deals with objectively measurable quantities like resources, technology and
labor time. It does not -in the spirit of superstition- recognize the Magic of the Rich & Famous. Even talent in all its forms can be reduced to training time and calories. The finest brain is powered by the energy equivalent of a dull light bulb.
In a socialist society any talent for exploitation and lying will be discouraged. To be sure !
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Alas, Republicans do have a conscience !
Thomas B. Young III 's Nov. 5 letter - " Do Republicans have a conscience ? " - reminded me of the fiery liberal spirit showed way back in the tumultuous year 1968 by Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Robert F. Kennedy -soon to be assassinated. Kennedy's political conscience was shaped by traditional Catholic social philosophy and the existential humanism of the famous French writer, Albert Camus.
I agree with Mr. Young about the need for a progressive income tax. In general, we need a national debate on the roots of wealth in America. The capitalist profit system is ruining and corrupting the very soul of the country. A scientific understanding of mass social misery is precluded by the fatuous assumption that PRIVATE PROPERTY in all its insidious forms is sacrosanct. Many of the intellectual elite are already convinced that Karl Marx was right about the irrationality of the " free market " and the polarization of social classes.
By the way, Republicans do have a conscience. Recall Barry Goldwater's classic- " Conscience of a Conservative ". A conscience which can live with this relentless war on the poor and working class. Today even the middle class is frightfully insecure. Robert Kennedy had a favorite word for all this injustice : unacceptable.
I agree with Mr. Young about the need for a progressive income tax. In general, we need a national debate on the roots of wealth in America. The capitalist profit system is ruining and corrupting the very soul of the country. A scientific understanding of mass social misery is precluded by the fatuous assumption that PRIVATE PROPERTY in all its insidious forms is sacrosanct. Many of the intellectual elite are already convinced that Karl Marx was right about the irrationality of the " free market " and the polarization of social classes.
By the way, Republicans do have a conscience. Recall Barry Goldwater's classic- " Conscience of a Conservative ". A conscience which can live with this relentless war on the poor and working class. Today even the middle class is frightfully insecure. Robert Kennedy had a favorite word for all this injustice : unacceptable.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Wrong time to debate affirmative action
I'll bet many ordinary Americans would agree with me that
right now -in the midst of controversial and calamitous war - is the
wrong time for a vitriolic debate on the merits or foolishness of
affirmative action . In fact I lean toward a negative opinion of affirmative
action. But how many poor white kids -eager for an education - have been
hurt for life because some poor black kids -often unprepared - have
been pushed through OPEN DOORS of Academy ?
For me education -even an elite education - is just a
human right for ANY student who can benefit for it. I think Bill Gates
-a college drop out - made the point in a chapter of his book devoted
to the future of education that the computer revolution, the Internet
has made old fashioned Ivy League " education " an effete anachronism.
What is REALLY being pursued in affirmative action is SNOB VALUE, a
chance for the noble privilege of looking down on others of your social
background. Affirmative action is no threat to the social pyramid. It
just changes faces somewhere near the bottom of the structure.
Like West Point which cultivates a sinister military
elite, the Ivy League mass produces an elite for global capitalism.
Dying to make the world safe for SNOBBERY ? Where is
the elite institution with A MORE JUST WORLD as its agenda ?
A black boss, a woman boss, a homosexual boss is still
the boss - SAME AS THE OLD BOSS ! Nowhere does the BOTTOM LINE
change .
right now -in the midst of controversial and calamitous war - is the
wrong time for a vitriolic debate on the merits or foolishness of
affirmative action . In fact I lean toward a negative opinion of affirmative
action. But how many poor white kids -eager for an education - have been
hurt for life because some poor black kids -often unprepared - have
been pushed through OPEN DOORS of Academy ?
For me education -even an elite education - is just a
human right for ANY student who can benefit for it. I think Bill Gates
-a college drop out - made the point in a chapter of his book devoted
to the future of education that the computer revolution, the Internet
has made old fashioned Ivy League " education " an effete anachronism.
What is REALLY being pursued in affirmative action is SNOB VALUE, a
chance for the noble privilege of looking down on others of your social
background. Affirmative action is no threat to the social pyramid. It
just changes faces somewhere near the bottom of the structure.
Like West Point which cultivates a sinister military
elite, the Ivy League mass produces an elite for global capitalism.
Dying to make the world safe for SNOBBERY ? Where is
the elite institution with A MORE JUST WORLD as its agenda ?
A black boss, a woman boss, a homosexual boss is still
the boss - SAME AS THE OLD BOSS ! Nowhere does the BOTTOM LINE
change .
Sunday, March 31, 2013
MEN in LADIES ROOM at public library ?
I guess I'm old fashioned in even questioning this unisex use
of Providence Public Library restrooms -distinctly labeled MEN...
WOMEN. I observed two males being given keys to WOMEN restrooms because
the MEN rooms were all occupied. I had just returned a key to a WOMEN
restroom when I suddenly realized that I was not, after all, FEMALE
and I did not want to cause a scandal ( being seen entering a WOMEN
room might get a decent guy tagged as a pervert -especially nowadays !)
When I questioned a male employee about this unisex use
of library restrooms, he snarled at me. Then I went to get my coat
in the periodical room where three kids were at a READING table playing
cards.
On the way out a derelict friend of mine -known as Emo the Cat
Man- said that my mind must be degenerating for even thinking in such
narrow categories !
My sister , a day care school supervisor, must be even more
degenerate than me. She wondered why a LADIES ROOM in a local night club
had a condom dispensing machine . I guess she was not as liberated as
" Sally " .
How many female readers of this newspaper would use a
public library LADIES room more frequently used by homeless male
derelicts ?
It use to be a nice place to read and study -many years ago
-the Providence Public Library.
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