Watch Your Head

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom.

J. G. Ballard
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Hello Stuart
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If this was a completely sane world Ballard's pronouncement would be appropriate. But since when has there ever been a completely sane world? It seems to me the current world is crazier than it's ever been. Cruel dictatorships here, religious fanatics running things over there and terrorists in the other place. How does the human race survive?

Now, in my country, we have a group of total mad men and women in the United States Congress.

When I was younger I admit to a lot of insanity. I did crazy things. I took foolish risks. I supported groups and activities that made no sense. I fought irrationally just to win an argument. I overlooked many facts of life that were right in front of me. I was jealous, suspicious and non sparing in my harsh criticism of others. I gradually grew up, became more of an adult and saw the moronic error of my ways. Now I am not completely sane. No one is. But I recognize that reason is the only freedom in a completely insane world. Surely the members of Congress have grown up to the same understanding and rely upon reason, logic and clear thinking to conduct their business. Or do they?

Some of them are now dickering around with each other, trying to win arguments while, meanwhile, bills are written and waiting to be turned into legislation that would deprive Americans of the benefits that making living in this country worth it. There is argument about instantly erasing the federal debt which could be solved over the long run my good fiscal management, about which no one seems to know anything. And even as they argue they are refusing to go where the money is and get it. Some of those madmen still believe the Medieval idea that the wealthy are somehow superior human beings. We can't even say that these lunatics walk among us because they don't, and that's part of the problem.

There is no doubt an endemic of madness has taken over Washington. One wealthy senior was heard saying that if he were taxed he would only have $200.000 left to feed his family. One of the candidates for President said he would overturn the Supreme Court, another has suggested to put the poor students to work cleaning the schools and pay them to teach them the work ethic and the value of a dollar, instead of putting the rich kids to work to teach them the value of the wealth their parents have. And about the Occupy Wall Street protesters it was said they should take a bath and find a job. There is no excuse for that low level of ignorance, particularly among men who presume they are qualified to be President of the United States. President of the rich, President of the Middle Class, President of the poor, President of the native Americans and President of the immigrants.

About the Occupiers another senior member of Congress asked "What do they want?" I reply if you don't know what they want then you have no business being in a position where you even have the right to ask that question.

The angels with the vials of the seven last plagues has poured one of them
on the heads of Americans and only the rational, clear thinking, sane ones have the freedom to resist it.
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DB - The Vagabond
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