A society founded on the idea of freedom and equality looked pretty good on paper.  I mean, leaving behind all that despotic, feudal, class-limiting existence for the promise of social equality, opportunity and the hopefulness of a brighter future…no brainer, right?  But you can’t fuck with Mother or Human Nature and, sadly, the experiment and the promise has failed.  The Great Democracy has become nothing more than a version of the historical redundancy of all powerful nations, wherein wealth begets power, the sustenance of which requires keeping the masses less rich, (much less), and nearly powerless.  The “GAP”, (which any train conductor will remind you to keep your eye on), is widening at such an alarming rate that soon, people on the “wrong” side will have no hope or expectation of ever getting across.  We have a comically ineffective government, unable or unwilling to live up to its lofty, fore-fatherly guidelines, a weary and increasingly less educated electorate, emotionally manipulated by partisan advertising and sloganeering, and an ever more terrifying world where militaristic, lethal force has moved dangerously up the ladder, (way up), from being the last resort.  Our every movement is tracked, monitored and collected, then evaluated, parsed and blatantly regurgitated to coax, cajole and convince us to buy, use, participate and vote for products, services and candidates best matching our profiles.  We send too many people to prison, (the most, by far, of any country), and too many people out to live on the streets, (grapes of what?).  We have empirical data to guide us to a healthier diet, a more sustainable ecology, safer, more efficient transportation, and more complete and universal education, but we’ve chosen mediocrity over excellence at every turn.  Aren’t you ashamed at how poorly veterans are treated?  Doesn’t it bother you that we don’t have the smartest kids in the world…and we’re not doing anything about it?  Doesn’t it piss you off that your taxes provide pot-holed roads, crumbling bridges, a nearly obsolete power and water grid, that previously alluded to sub-par public education, inadequate health care and a fundamentally nonexistent plan for retirement?

Sorry…I’m getting a colonoscopy this week and the thought of having one more thing shoved up my ass…well, you know.