..were to simply point out. in a quick manner. that government solutions are not all they are cracked up to be.

I particularly found the "distraction" equalizer technique with loud crashing noises quite symbolic of today's media - which is a constant cacophony of distraction designed to stifle intelligent thought and pander to base instincts and emotions. Even his choice of sounds was symbolic - loud music (teens subwoofers?), car crashes (evening news anyone?), 21 gun salutes (the military), sirens (police) and Hazel's suggestion for chimes...in honor of religion.

Vonnegut was taking potshots at the existing cacophony of society and how it retards intelligence, not merely painting out a prophetic warning.

And then the image of ballerinas with fumbling with various weights and masks on paints an image worth a thousand lesser tales. The ballerina making her voice "uncompetitive" and apologizing for sounding too good was also a line worthy enough to be an Ayn Rand passage.

So there is a lot in that story to chew on. Not just because equality only exists in mathematics and conceptualization, but because the story also illustrates the inanity of even attempting to legislate equality.

And yes, Vonnegut , was mostly left of center. However, much of his writing transcends clear classification with a single political philosophy and focuses more on the many failings of human nature.

Painting me as a shill for the worst corporate sleaze is a fit that doesn't quite match up. If I had my way, no companies would be bailed out and the market would be allowed to compensate. No CEO would be paid a penny of public monies. As for the workers - they would be absorbed by the surviving companies that buy out the failing companies holdings. Toyota and Honda would likely be bidding on GM's tangible assets and factories. The need for cars would not vanish and their output would need to increase. The foreign banks would hire the best of the employees of the failed lenders.

Markets, with only the most basic government supervision, take care of themselves. Bail outs only mess things up and prolong failing business models. And yes, the USSR and Brazil are great examples of failed business models being permanently enshrined to burden the citizens of these nations.