My October missive to be inflicted on the poor bastards on my Listserv.

The Mumble
©2008

Been a while, sorry bout that, you know how it goes.

Never can tell what will de-gruntle me.

To those who’ve managed to endure long enough to read what I’ve moaned about over time?
Thanks!

Being listened too is a reward in and of its own. Even if the audience is simi-captive. Over the years I’ve moaned and whined about a wide range of matters and events that gnawed at me. One of the few pleasures that come with a certain age is the right - some could even call it the Duty - of whining and moaning. Endlessly complaining about anything and everything. Anyone who’s suffered through one of my rambling mumbles is painfully aware I take every advantage of the privilege.

This time I have been considering a few things I’ve learned over the years.

The first isn’t an original gripe.

Being poor is a crime.

I can hear the outraged complaints from those who have a certain political and social outlook. “That’s not true! How can you say that!” To those who say this, sorry folks, them there’s the cold hard facts. In every respect except purely Legal, (In reality, even there it is. I’ll get to that later) it is a crime. Those above you on the socio-economic scale look down on you. Or much worse, pity you. And then, ‘want to help’. Often that ‘help’ comes with a condescending attitude, humiliating at best. Also, the poor have limited, if any access to resources that would allow them to climb the economic ladder. Internet access is a prime example of this. While computers have become exceedingly inexpensive, when you're struggling to keep food on the table while paying rent? Buying a computer and paying for web service is the last thing on your mind. And Lord help if you have a medical problem! And then there's the countless little things, well, some are not so little.

I'll put forward one example. Automobiles, from many viewpoints including Legal owning a car is a 'privilege' same for a driver's license. In reality it's an absolute necessity in modern America. What's one of the questions an Employer asks of a prospective employee.

"Do you have reliable transportation?",

The second, "Do you have a valid driver's license?"

I can assure you if the answer to either is 'No" you chances of being hired have dropped dramatically. Figure the cost of basic Insurance as a percentage of a minimum wage-earner's income. With the fact that Insurance Companies charge lower income people more for coverage. Which means at some point it's pay the higher premiums, pay the rent, keep the heat on, or eat. Now I agree that's a choice many people in this country don't have to make, but far too many do.

Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows.

I am well aware that there will always be a layered society, only in fiction is the future predicted differently. It is a simple matter of economic scales. The schlub working the production line has to produce x-number of widgets to pay his way. The person in charge of the line takes a percentage of each widget. Why else would they submit themselves to the stress and hard work of being in charge?

Overly simplified, of course, Macro -economics is not an exact science, no amount of protests by Economists can change that. Macro-economics is as complex as the weather. Not even the most advanced Super-Duper Computer can predict the weather reliably more than a few days in advance. Education helps alleviate poverty of course. So does general economic prosperity. But there will be the haves, and have nots, for as long as there are Humans. If we reduce everyone to the same level, then force them to stay there? Then the Species; Homo Sapiens, Sapiens is doomed to extinction. Forcing that type of social structure on us would end ambition, suppresses the innate desire to improve our collective lot. Without the rewards of individual effort, why bother.

The Second observation that harshes my mellow; TANJ. Those of you who read Science Fiction know that acronym for There Ain't No Justice

Justice is a rare commodity in the American Legal system. And it often is expensive when found. The more money you have, the more Justice you can get.

But, even then it is not always to be found in the Courtroom.

Again, I can hear the outraged cries. “That’s wrong! We have the best Legal system in the world!"

Debatable, you can work out among yourselves.

This is my mumble, I get to say what I think.

Courts have turned loose criminals that have committed crimes of such depravity they should have never again seen daylight as free men. Sadly, once freed, they often inflict horror upon the innocent, sometimes killing.

Overzealous Prosecutors have twisted fact, hidden evidence and flat-out lied to convict the innocent. Many of those convicted sat on Death row for years before being cleared. No few put to death before their cases can be examined. Though I support the Death Penalty, there must be solid proof before the ultimate punishment!

The Defense is just as bad. If the Truth is not to thier liking? It's discarded or twisted beyond recognition.

So, it’s not either side that holds a claim to all the suffering, and/or benefits from the semi-chaos our Legal System has become. While there are good people in the system, far too many of the other kind tread the Halls with them.

Over the years I’ve seen some of the most ludicrous decisions from the courts.

Famous example; Some woman in California awarded a ridiculous sum because she wasn’t smart enough to know coffee is served hot. She also wasn’t bright enough to know if you drive while drinking anything you’re very likely to spill it on yourself.

And we, the unwashed masses, are forced to pay for idiocy in higher product prices and elevating Insurance fees. (Ahhh, Insurance companies a subject I could write a very long Mumble about. I have about as much use for Insurance Companies as I do for Used Car Salesmen and the IRS)

Another thing .... Sometime in the last few decades the American Public has come to the conclusion they need to be wrapped in sanitized, organic, double-layered bubble wrap that completely protects them against the daily risks of life.

News flash! There ain’t no sech thing as total safety! A little common sense goes a damned long ways in keeping you from breaking a nail. If you pick up a hammer and use it, you’re going to whack your thumb at some time or another. If you learn to use the hammer properly, you won’t lose as many thumbnails.

And so on, and on.

And on.

Take some responsibility for your own safety dammit! If you want to ride a four-wheeler like a lunatic, go ahead, I won’t stop you. But, if you roll it over because you were driving to fast on a steep slope? Hey, don’t expect a lot of sympathy from me. Back when I was a pup, my Mom used a phrase a lot of us heard when we did something really stupid. “That’s what you get for doing that. Where’s your sense?”
I could add a lot more, but I think you get it.

Another theme that’s dissing my gruntle; What happened to Loyalty? Or Honor? Or keeping your word? Or..... oh hell add your own favorite.

The “Me” generation isn’t an age-group anymore. That mentality has spread throughout our Society. Rare today is an Employee that will go the extra length. Equally scarce is the Company that feels they have any obligation to their employees.

Many Corporations treat employees, literally, with disdain. A necessary evil. Viewing those who toil in the trenches as a ‘resource’. To be managed in the same manner as raw materials. Discarded to increase profits this quarter, negotiated with to strip them of whatever possible. Wages, benefits, anything they can to add more to the quarterly bottom line. Raising the Stock Dividends so Wall Street will increase the stock prices.

Labor has its own issues, driving such hard bargains they force factories, and all that goes with, offshore, or simply shut down. Plenty of blame to go around.

If you watch Traffic these days you can see a glaring example of how low we’ve fallen. Driving has become full time combat for far too many drivers. Fer Gawd’s sake who cares who gets there first! If you keep driving that way, you might not get there, at all.

Ever.

Common courtesy isn’t any more. And it shows in the accident and insurance rates. (hoo-boy, them again.)
Are there exceptions? Of course there are, but those exceptions have become a minority these days. Rare enough to call attention to themselves, instead of being the accepted and expected norm.

So, what can we do?

Don’t know, and have nearly reached the point don’t care.

I did my share, good and bad. But that’s almost over.

See, I won’t be around for a lot more years, what happens after I shuffle off this mortal coil is not going to bother me a whole lot. Bothers me now, but what the hey, did what I could.

How the world is for my children and their children and theirs? Do I care?

Yeah, I want them to live in a better world! Tried to give them enough grounding to have them on the good side of the equation.

Ok, enough whining, moaning and all that. Thrown vegetables should be fresh, organically grown and in reusable bags.

You! Back on row six, don’t you dare throw that bottle, unless it’s full. I could use a couple of shots.