By Beauty Damned

The Bubble Bursts

I have so much to say. So much, all bundled up inside of me, waiting to come out. Actually, rather than bundled, it's more like strewn around in a ramshackle fashion and I just need the energy to gather it all together and put it out by the door. I can't even discuss politics these days without getting severely anxious.

The Bush administration is fanning out the arms of its private little club, filling important government seats and offices with buddies, regardless of whether or not they're qualified (and they're clearly NOT). It's the worst kind of nepotism. Karen Hughes as undersecretary of State; John Bolton as Ambassador to the U.N. (regardless of his public statements in the past discounting the U.N.s significance and the effectiveness of U.N. diplomacy); Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank...

Then there is the social security issue which makes me so angry that I find it hard to even address it without wanting to tear my hair out at the very idea that anyone could support something that is going to be detrimental to the financial security of millions of Americans. Since when is every young American an expert Wall Street investor capable of bringing in a steady, dependable, longterm income which will guarantee their ability to stay afloat later in life? With (Bush friendly) companies like WorldCom, Tyco and Enron biting the dust due to fraud, how are we supposed to trust that our money is safe on Wall Street? And how are we suppose to be convinced that gambling in a highstakes arena like the stock market is the best way to ensure financial security for ourselves and our families? The entire thing infuriates me beyond rational belief. Especially knowing that the proposal to privatize is one more way for Bush to throw our money into the pockets of his already filthy rich constituents at the expense of average Americans. Just as the war has been.

Then there is the recent bankruptcy bill that passed, making way for creditors to maintain the upper hand, rich people to save their assets from bankruptcy, and the poor to flounder and suffocate beneath the weight of their debt. Oh yes, and the fact that the "democrats" who are supposed to be protecting the interests of those poor people went ahead and voted yes to the bill, proving once again how spineless and utterly useless they are and confirming to me that the republicans have really gained every bit of footing that they need to destroy the fucking world under their rule.

All this on top of the endless quest to oppress and discriminate against gays and lesbians, to censor every last person who would think to protest, to blur the lines between church and state, to pursue environmental destruction and extinction of humane practices... it's exhausting to think about and ultimately more depressing than anything I can imagine. I abhor what our world and our country is becoming under the iron fist of conservatism.