Sleepy Time Thought: 4/3/2012 Hunger Games Edition
I’m almost finished with The Hunger Games and I expect to see the movie this Saturday morning as long as my babysitter comes through (you hear that Joyce?). And while I don’t know how the story evolves from here, I have to say, so far it’s another conservative dystopian future (and a very well written one, too). The 99% are literal slaves to the will and comfort of the 1%. The government is not of the people, by the people or for the people. It exists solely for the benefit of the rich and powerful.
This is the crux of the liberal/conservative dichotomy. One side seeks to advance the country: health care for all, equality for all, a social safety net for all, stability and sustainability for all. The other side seeks to regress the country: health care only for those who can afford it, religious freedom only for those that practice the “right” religion, security and stability only for those born to wealth and privilege, a government that works for those who have the most money.
These are not two sides of the same coin. The liberal future can exist if we walk away from greed and hate and intolerance. The conservative future cannot exist without giving ourselves over to our basest impulses. The Hunger Games represent exactly what the GOP wants, a country divided and set at each others’ throats. Where human life is cheap and meaningless enough that watching children murder other children is considered entertainment. It won’t be the result of a cataclysmic war but rather a hardening of our national soul as the 1% demands ever more privilege for themselves that we must pay for, leaving us to fight for the scraps. And in this way we will be too busy scrabbling in the dirt just to survive that we will be unable to resist our gradual enslavement.
That’s not the kind of future I want for my children and their children. Is it what you want for yours?
Sleep tight you filthy liberal scum!
My Old Blog 
No sir, it is not!
Unrelated to this specific post…
I saw a dismantling of the president’s speech. I was curious if you’ve seen any references to the accuracy of it’s points. One of my ultra conservative buddies posted this: http://www.facebook.com/notes/paul-ryan/the-presidents-speech-distorts-the-truth-to-distract-from-his-failed-record/10150791420832448
and it’s set up in a difficult to argue format. I’d be willing to bet it’s BS, but I don’t like to argue points unless I can verify their legitimacy. I’m used to handing him his own ass in debates (thanks for the talking points btw), and would like to continue the trend.
Yeah, the funny thing about Ryan’s “path to disaster” is that it neglects to point out where it will close the tax loopholes to save the 3 trillion in tax cuts he proposes and Ryan continues to refuse to give details. Shocking. I honestly don’t read or listen to a word he says since his math is so bad, it’s embarrassing.
I will say about the voucher thing is that, sure, it’s great if your medical costs stay low. It’ll save money! But the second your health care costs go above the cost of the voucher? You’re done. For some reason, Ryan always leaves that part out.