An Inhuman Condition

Sucking air through the cigarette faster than bullets through a gun barrel, his lungs fill like bellows of desperation. Each breath numbs the restless anxiety burning inside him. Carcinogenic fumes smother the flames as the embers of despair flicker one final flare. He douses the ash with spirits and the corners of his mouth peak to form a nervous smile. His quiet worries cry out in manic jest all the while dancing an awkward social two-step.

While trying to stay current with economic news, I’ve noticed a trend where people looking for some sort of silver lining say things like, “at least the financial crisis is bringing corporate corruption to the attention of the American people.” The attitude seems to be that average folks don’t tend to pay attention to economic news and are therefore blind to the sort of corruption that led to this recession.

Bullshit.

I’m pretty sure that a whole lot of folks were quite aware of how far the capital cock was wedged up their ass long before IndyMac fell down. I think most people aren’t aware of the specifics, but if you can feel yourself getting fucked hard by these greedy twats, do you really want to turn around and see how deep it’s in? Eh?

I think people know and they write it off. I think when things are normal, the last thing one wants to do is watch daily updates that remind one that poor people keep getting poorer and those with money see it multiply. That trend did not start with Bush. It didn’t start with the housing boom. It didn’t start with the stock boom. The disappearing wealth of labor is inherent in the capitalist system itself.

So sure, there are people who were entirely ignorant of the specifics before it became a media issue, but they knew things weren’t right. I will also concede that there could exist such a person that lived their Big-Mac-Wal-Mart-Jerry-Springer-SUV-Anna-Nicole-Smith-desk-job-government-benefit-Paris-Hilton-buffet-slanket lifestyle without being aware that anything was unnatural, but I doubt that person is the majority. Sometimes being numb and willingly dumb is preferable to paying attention because awareness breeds depression.