David Simon on the Two Americas

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

"Goddamn this socialist president. Does he think I'm going to pay to keep other people healthy? It's socialism, motherfucker."

-- from David Simon's essay 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'

Simon is the creator of "The Wire", and I thought many here would like his essay, which essentially lays out the liberal/progressive perspective on the rising inequality in America.

Comments

[404.livejournal.com]

Why is Obama blue? Why does the elephant look like Steve Zissou?

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

Artistic vision?

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

Naw, he doesn't have a glock.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

lol

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I believe the attempt was to invoke:

[404.livejournal.com]

What has Obama done to convince anyone other than the most hardcore Obamaphile that he is anything near Captain Planet?

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

He showed us that a black man can become president of the United States.
We take it for granted now.
But, when you think about it, it is kind of miraculous.

[404.livejournal.com]

That's not Captain Planet. A half-black man riding the popular discontent of the party in power, giving people platitudes that he would be different, yet being just as a corporatist as his predecessor. He might as well look like Hoggish Greedly.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure Obama has declared publicly that he, himself, should be taxed more.
That's not exactly Hoggish Greedly.

[404.livejournal.com]

Sure, giving his base empty platitudes to get their votes, and then ignoring them. Sounds like something Hoggish would do.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

It's hilarious that you incapable of seeing the difference between an empty platitude, and something that the GOP won't let happen. (e.g. closing gitmo, buffet rule)

Unless you have evidence that his wanting to raise taxes on the richest americans (including himself) is something he doesn't *really* want to do, you shouldn't open your mouth and state lies.

So lie less, and use facts more, mmmkay? Thanks for playing/

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

When did I say I agreed with the comic? I was merely educating you as to something that, to me, was obvious, but to you, was hard to understand.

Maybe when you learn more, we can have adult conversations about topics instead of your hollow sniping at the other side.

[404.livejournal.com]

It's a dumb allusion, but by all means, keep digging.

[brother-dour.livejournal.com]

Capitalism makes a lousy social contract? This is a shocking suggestion to no one but the 1%.

Then again, when all you have is a hammer...

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

Simon does recognize the power and value of capitalism
as an economic engine, but, yeah, capitalism unmediated
by democracy can be a cruel despot.

[brother-dour.livejournal.com]

I was thinking, "You know...if I were a stinking rich person who has already made the mistake of equating money with virtue, and my whole life revolves around wealth and the accumulation thereof, then it's no wonder I think money can solve all the world's problems"

Thus the hammer comment.

[musicpsych.livejournal.com]

Why did you take that quote out of context?

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

How do you mean?