Jupiter

Whole Foods has been around for a while, (if you want to find out how long…drop John Mackey an email, he’ll be more than happy to respond.) here in Southern California, you’re not a proper Liberal if you don’t shop at Whole Foods. I’m not kidding. Go to your local Whole Foods and just look around you. You have the richest jet-setter to your poorest hippe-wannabe, buying outrageously expensive food that you can get cheaper elsewhere. Yes I know, how do we know it’s organic, we’ll you don’t know what your buying is truly organic. When companies like Dole, are lobbying for the government to lower their parameters for can be considered “organic”, one has to really question what you’re spending your hard earned cash on.

So when a blow hard like Mackey who showed some testicular fortitude and actually attached his name to the proposal the insurance companies drafted form him, you have to wonder what the hell is he (Mackey) thinking.

What he is thinking is: I’ve got the whole foods market covered. If you notice, we build Whole Foods stores in the most affluent and gentrified neighborhoods, I don’t give a shit about healthcare reform; I’ve got all the money I’ll need. I’ve got some Republican dollars; most importantly I’ve got Liberal dollars ha ha. They think they’re saving the world shopping at Whole Foods, nah; they’re putting a new pool in my house…which was built with immigrant labor. I feed them left over Mac & cheese. So fuck you, you’re still gonna shop at my stores and half of you won’t blink an eye, because we have you so well trained.

He’s right you know. I for one will be boycotting Whole Foods, and it will easy too, I’ll actually be saving money by not shopping there. Win-win for me!

What will you do?

AP

                   The elections are near, less than a week away, and one can feel the excitement and the anxiety. It’s palpable especially here in Southern California, if it wasn’t for the rising unemployment, high gas prices (although recently it’s been down to 2.90) and overall disaffection for the current administration, judging by all the Obama posters and stickers, one would think the election was already over, the winner it would seem obvious. However anyone who has rudimentary 5^th grade knowledge of U.S. history knows that this country was founded less on happy idealistic principals, of an honest exchange of religious ideas and rooted in more in commerce and new market mentality. A brief history lesson…..

The Spanish were here first and they understood right away what had to be done. Raze the population, handcuff the indigenous population with religion/fear and come away rich, entitled and with the help of the Catholic Church, completely guilt free. Honestly I can’t say I blame them, the deal does sound pretty sweet to ignore. The English and French had a go at it too, they ventured into the America’s, and pissed around a bit, however their real challenge lay in Africa. I don’t know just how rich and entitled they came away from there, but somehow I don’t think it was quite as lucrative as the Spanish Conquest. As a conqueror myself, I can tell you that the one thing to always get in the way of a proper sacking of a region, is the local population. The Spanish had uprisings throughout Latin America, The Brits had the movie Shaka Zulu, and the French, well moving on.

Enter the early American Pioneers

Thus an uneasy truce was to be established, with the new settlers and the new and strange surroundings. So it was pledged, let us live together, let us tame the land, escape religious persecution and if things get too weird or too hot, and if we can’t break the back of the local Indigenous population, we can always import the labor. (Uprisings after all are dangerous and expensive) From where many asked, well from Africa of course, the Dutch have been doing it for ages.  Why shouldn’t we as well? Besides Africans don’t seem to mind, in fact some tribes have agreements with the Dutch East India Company. This of course is nonsense. This does make a small albeit somewhat relevant point, Capitalism no matter the age or lack of resources, will find a way to survive and thrive, almost like a virus if left unchecked. The anticipation of potential gains can corrupt any moral fabric or religious mindset. This was as was the case for many developing countries of the time, the normal way to do business. Slowly but surely and after several revolts in colonial territories, starting with Denmark in 1792, Europe began abolishing the slave trade. Can you guess what country founded in the freedoms of man; was the last country to abolish slavery? Yes you guessed it; the 13^th amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, on Dec 6 1865 was passed finally ending slavery. Keep in mind that we were in the ass end of the Civil War. But the fun for blacks held in bondage, this was just the begining, while the rest of the world evolved to some degree.

It’s been 43 years since President Lyndon Johnson, successfully negotiated the civil rights bill into law. When I say negotiated, I mean just that, he cajoled, manipulated, and threatened everyone who wasn’t supporting the bill. Bear in mind that a lot of the votes needed to pass this bill was being rejected not just by Republicans, but mainly Southern Democrats. Yes Democrats, the heroes, the vanguards in this time of change. Yes we are all better for it. I’m not afraid to say it, but I wonder if Jack Kennedy had the political muscle to have accomplished this monumental achievement. Of course with LBJ in his corner, the point is a non issue, although one has to wonder if LBJ would have been properly motivated enough to get the votes needed. As President he could make promises, pardon a few things and would have yielded enough power to come down on those who defied him. As V.P. he may or may not have, again moot point.

The Point: America was so openly racist in that era, that Europeans call everything prior to 1965 as America’s Apartied. It was and in many ways it continues to be. The difference now is many people who secretly feel the nasty itch to discriminate, now keep it to themselves. Whereas in the mid 1950’s you might have had a congressman who shared your view, and he would do anything to uphold that peculiar tradition, just ask Gov. George Wallace. A big football fan, he later asked for forgiveness. The thought of rooting for a darky was too much, but football takes precedence over most things. So he relented.

I would almost prefer the open-ness that whites had from 1865-1965, this way at least we could get an accurate poll count as to who is voting for whom? The white old guy or the fresh faced black guy. I know many will argue that things have changed, in fact changed so much, that there is a black guy sitting on the Supreme Court (pubis not included) and now the Democratic party of the U.S. has selected Sen. Barack Obama as nominee for President of the U.S. I agree some bizarre things have happened as of late, but I also remember Hurricane Katrina, and the aftermath of that mess. The issue of race was never in doubt, as American’s not in Baghdad or Kabul, were dying in American streets in a major American city. Where was FEMA (ass scratching) Red Cross (gambling) The Bush Administration (asleep/hammered behind the wheel)? A chocolate city indeed, the fact that Mayor Ray Nagin got so much heat for saying “This is a chocolate city” made me laugh and want to slot myself. Because it was and treated as such, FEMA trailer anyone? Keep in mind Hurricane Katrina happened not in 1868 or 1953 this happened on OUR watch 2005. The calls of racism were way too obvious and rampant, so what did the government do? What it does best and arguably the best move…..it relied on the generosity of the American people. Besides we fight the wars that make other men rich, why not act as janitor too. Not our finest hour. So the capos in the Bush organization did what they do best, escalated their efforts in Iraq. People with a semi firm grasp on American history, past the 10^th grade may see a familiar pattern here.

So now it is late October 2008, after eight grueling years for the Bush organization, and for those of us who actually take the time to read, it is time to turn the page on one of the most embarrassing, self destructive, corrupt, blood letting and shameless eras in American history (Actually I shouldn’t be too hasty there just might be an epilogue that could take another 4 years to read). Organized crime will look back on these eight years and study it as a grand masterpiece of manipulation and cosmic capital gains. The best part, no jail time for any of the heavy hitters and those that snitched are so discredited that no one cares….Brilliant!

So now it comes down to two men, no really gives a shit about the independents, they are the tiny mammals in the primordial soup of politics, trying to survive the age of dinosaurs. Soon little guys, but not right now. Sen. John McCain a war veteran who overcame obstacles, including but not limited to, 2000 Bush team, the Keating 5 scandal, The Vietcong, old age and Sarah “The Babe” Palin. On the other side we have Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who has overcome, skin color, absentee father, Harvard Law Review, smoking, Hillary and Bill Clinton, undecided idiots and his middle name. So who will win? I honestly don’t know, and that’s the point to this article. I thought for sure that John Kerry had it in the bag, but I underestimated the stupidity of the American voter. Sarah Palin said in a recent interview, that one of the biggest obstacles to her team was the Bush Syndicate. Now I know that many Republicans, especially younger Republicans are more than a little embarrassed with the current administration and have no problem with that statement. However there exists a 30-180 year old demographic who vote Republican sometimes twice in the same election, who may have issue with that statement. These same people refer to Nixon as simply misunderstood and LBJ as the only Democrat worth a damn. Is this an advantage or disadvantage for Obama? All I know is that right now, depending on the trends this could be one of the largest voter turnouts since……ever!

Now the real point (awfully long lead in) I have several Republican friends who vote are intelligent, articulate and genuinely nice people. They agree the last 8 years haven’t been spot on, however they will still vote McCain; he’s their guy after all. Until recently they loved the brilliance of his campaign, distance away from Bush, up the maverick attitude, include a hot babe and presto…President of the U.S. At the time (McCain campaign slight nose dive as of late, too many gaffes to name) I thought it would certainly appeal to younger voters, and the undecided. The thinking is, you still vote within the party lines and you wont feel too bad about it on Nov 5. He is still maverick enough not to be another Bush and maybe inject new blood into the antiquated Republican Party. After all didn’t McCain cross the aisle and joined Sen. Ted Kennedy to try and pass a comprehensive Immigration Bill that was ultimately defeated? It’s funny because we haven’t heard anything about immigration as of late.

Obama of course is for change, and that resonates with many, especially here in Southern California. In fact many here believe he can walk on water, they also think that on Nov 5 (I know the election is on the 4^th) he’ll magically appear on the mount of olives or the rose garden, and with his powers, change defaulted sub-prime mortgages, into stimulus checks for everyone. We’ll see, the economy is in the toilet, unemployment is rising, my SUV has no gas and im starting to wonder if Canada is as lame as they say. A President Obama will have many obstacles to overcome, not unlike President Jimmy Carter remember him? He was America’s ideal President; he fought corruption, did not court favors in congress and refused to play partisan politics. He was energy minded, honest, incorruptible and consequently a one term president.

Finally my point: My Republican friends told me right before I left Las Vegas; that no matter how many Obama signs, no matter the rallies and the promises by minorities to vote. At the end of the day, this country was not founded on all men created equal, and justice for all. This country was founded on the backs of slaves and the exploitation of indigenous populations. For all intents and purposes the real declaration of independence occurred in 1965, with the civil rights bill. Now a mere 43 years later, we are witnessing a monumental event in our history. Many say this isn’t about race, my Republican friends admit that if the Dems had chosen a white nominee, this election would be over. They choose not to underestimate the latent racism in this country. They must figure, like most others of their ilk, that no matter what, this country is not going to elect a black man for President. On Election Day, the undecided will vote not by the issues, but with their consciences.

For them they are not ready for change, they need another 43 years to think about it. To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised. Oct 27 the ATF busted a neo Nazi fringe group of good ole boys, planning to assassinate Sen. Obama, and then there was the false report that a young white girl working for the McCain campaign was attacked by a large black man, who assaulted her and then carved a B on her cheek. The McCain camp has not, as of press time released a statement. This election has everything to do with change and race. For a country established in the separation of church and state, fundamental Christians still impede scientific progress(stem cell research) equality (gay marriage) and maybe abortion. Can these fundamentalists turn the other cheek? I wonder and so do all the pundits; this is why no one can get a proper count on voting trends, of course only time will tell. My concern isn’t with the racists in this country, we know that if they could read they wouldn’t vote anyway, but there are many out there who can read and write. In fact we may work for them, or clean their houses, these are the one’s I’m cautious about. And never underestimate the craftiness of the Republican Party. Chris Rock made a joke, that Obama does not understand the game; he still thinks that getting the majority of the votes means anything. Good one, we all did in 2000. As much as I believe in the ideals, the written words of the Declaration of Independence, I still think this country is a few generations away from living up to the ideals of this country. As long as we have black Americans dying in the streets of major American cities while news helicopters hover above, the richest country in the world and its citizens have no health care and Latino’s who are striving for a good life, actually living the American dream are denied entrance and hunted like dogs in the desert, we still haven’t figured it out. If they hunted Bin Laden like they are hunting Jose and his 14 kids, they would have found him. Has anyone checked the local Home Depot’s, those are usually a hot bed of terrorist activity.Arrested development isn’t a good show cancelled to soon; it’s the state of this country. So on November 4^th what are you gonna do about it? I’m voting for the black guy, I don’t mind a little change……..

We just elected a black man as president of this United States tonight,
which is not only historic but refreshing and heartfelt when viewed
from where this country was only 40 years ago. We would all agree that
America is not perfect – no country is – but with New Hampshire being
as independent as it is (their next in line to vote – in 5 days), then
South Carolina (heavy black populous), then Nevada (undecided labor
groups leaning toward Obama), I don’t see how “President Obama” can be
avoided. And, if Edwards loses in his home state of South Carolina
(looking in the early polls like he will), and he drops out, his
support will then be pushed toward Obama. Edwards supporters not
liking the moderate, standard issue, big corporation backing, Clinton.

That said, there are good things to say about all of them, but some
have more bad things than the others … in my opinion. Point is, the
Democratic voters in Iowa tonight more than doubled the Republican
outing in a state which voted for Bush in 2004. If that is any
indication of how the nation feels (and we will find out soon, with
other states voting), then the Democratic nominee seems likely to take
the White House in 2008, this time, with more historic significance
than this country has ever witnessed.

Stay tuned. Vote.

AB

Actually, I only have one observation about Fox and the WWF, and that is that Fox is the WWF of the news industry. They look good, sound good too. They’re selling their game well by making all the right grunts, performing flips and full-nelsons, and even at times drawing blood! But in the end, after falling for it for some years, you finally grow up and realize that it’s all been staged. Only on this stage, you also realize that there are actual victims. These victims are you and we, the American people. The WWF sells entertainment. Fox sells entertainment too, and adds misinformation, fear and propaganda. Needless to say, sometimes more is not better.