The Revolutionary Moment (James Howard Kunstler)

[Tace]

James Howard Kunstler -- World News Trust

Dec. 13, 2010 -- I overheard a conversation between two employees over at the Price Chopper supermarket last week. The supermarket employees were both middle-aged women.

First: "I'm going home to a cold house."

Second: "Why don't you turn up the heat?"

First: "I don't have no money for fuel."

Meanwhile, 175 miles south in Manhattan somewhere, Lloyd Blankfein's personal shopper is trying to figure out whether to buy Lloyd's favorite niece a Fabergé egg themed Memories of Azov or a Jaguar XK convertible.

Maybe the catch here is that the anonymous supermarket workers are only freezing this Christmas season. If they were freezing and hungry, it might be a different story. But, working in a supermarket, a person might find a way to cadge a few tidbits here and there (whoops, we broke a bag of Cheetos on the loading dock) -- the catch there being you could get fired for stealing the merchandise. O sorry nation!

But don't fear! The president and congress are looking out for you, O nation of freezing supermarket employees (and flummoxed personal shoppers, and wily mega-bank CEOs)! They have fashioned a deal that we might call Stim-u-rama. Everybody gets a tax cut! Everybody! Not just Lloyd B but all you toiling and moiling shelf-stockers and check-out cashiers. Plus, you will get a reduction of several percentage points in your payroll deductions -- a redoo in the dedoo! -- which must be good for at least one Justin Bieber action figure (if there are any left!) in these waning days of the Yuletide consumer frenzy.

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[phantom power]

1. Revolutions happen when enough people decide they have nothing to lose.

I don't think we're there yet, but that's the direction we're heading.

[freebrew]

2. +1

Was discussing this yesterday. Seems the rich have lost the ability to learn from history(if they ever had that ability).
Thinking of the past revolutions of poor vs rich... France, Russia, England, etc. The rich and powerful didn't fair too well.
Maybe they think this time will be different?

If I were rich or in government, I would be getting very concerned about the way things are heading.
But, then I realize we're in the usa and all thoughts of people standing up for themselves or each other vanish in a cloud of dismay.