CHRISTMAS...THE VERY NEXT DAY

Had we the chance, we wold have rushed
       to Bethlehem
           to see this thing that had come to pass.

Had we been a day later,
       we would have found the manger empty
           and the family departed.

We would have learned that they fled to Egypt,
       warned that the baby was endangered,
       sought by the establishment of the day
            that understood how his very life
               threatened the way things are.

We would have paused at the empty stall
       and pondered how this baby
            from the very beginning was under threat.

The powers understood that his grace threatened all our
        coercions;
they understood that his truth challenged all our lies;
they understood that his power to heal
        nullified our many pathologies;
they understood that his power to forgive
        vetoed the power of guilt and
              the drama of debt among us.

From day one they pursued him,
        and schemed and conspired
        until finally...on a gray Friday...
            they got him!
        No wonder the family fled, in order to give him time
            for his life.

We could still pause at the empty barn---
       and ponder that all our babies are under treat, all the
             vulnerable who stand at risk
                   before predators,
       our babies who face the slow erosion of consumerism,
       our babies who face the reach of sexual exploitation,
       our babies who face the call to war,
           placed as we say, "in harm's way,"
       our babies, elsewhere in the world,
           who know of cold steel against soft arms
           and distended bellies from lack of food;
       our babies everywhere who are caught in the fearful display
           of ruthless adult power.

We ponder how peculiar this baby at Bethlehem is,
            summed to save the world,
                 and yet
we know, how like every child, this one also was at risk.
         The manger is empty a day later...
             the father warned in a dream.
Our world is so at risk, and yet we seek after and wait for
          this child named "Emmanuel."
        Come be with us, you who are called "God with us."

Walter Brueggemann-Prayers for a Privileged People

A CALL TO PROTEST

I DON'T THINK I HAVE MANY READERS IN HOT SPRINGS, BUT I AM PUTTING OUT A CALL TO PROTEST THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY ON A MONTHLY BASIS, STARTING WITH HIS INAUGURATION ON JAN. 20. IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY REPLYING TO THIS POST. PASS ON THE INFORMATION TO ANY GROUP OR PERSONS YOU THINK MAY BE INTERESTED. WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. BRUCE

Trump Advocates 'Greatly' Expanding Nuclear Arsenal

Trump Advocates 'Greatly' Expanding Nuclear Arsenal

I SMELL A MILITARY COUP IN THE MAKING.

Barefoot Truth Walk Softly (with lyrics)

WAVES OF WELL-BEING SUBVERTED

In our Holy Presence,
   we confess that something strange and ominous
                is happening among us,
     so strange that we cannot understand,
     so ominous that we cannot control.

We are like Dazzling David and Smooth Solomon
     who presided over social transformations
                that soon were out of hand.

We are like them as we watch wave after wave
     of new power and new money,
                while our infrastructure disintegrates,
                and the poor grow more desperate
                        amid our surpluses.

We are like them as we participate in social differentiation
      of class and mass---
      we the educated, the privileged, the entitled,
                 and we scarcely know or notice
                         the lesser ones who remain unnamed
                                  and nearly invisible.

We are like them as we sort out tasks and assignments;
     we sit in our air conditioning and move paper
                but sweat only a little---
                    except at leisure.
     And they sweat and work and sometimes seethe,
               fearing the paper we move that disenfranchises them.

We are like Dazzling David and Smooth Solomon
     on the way in this great economy and this great church.
We are like them, grateful, but unnoticing. Sometimes we wonder
     if we will learn anything soon enough.

Good, hard, demanding, generous God;
                we do not ask to be dazzled;
                we do not ask to be made smooth in success.
             We ask rather for courage to be faithful,
                 to submit our privilege and entitlement to you,
                         before it is too late.

It is your holiness that subverts our best convictions,
     and so we submit to your haunting as best we can,
     haunted as was Jesus by purposes beyond his own.

Walter Brueggemann-Prayers for a Privileged People

           

CONTENDING WITH THE DARK AGES

 

DEPRESSION IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE AS WE ENTER THE ERA OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY. SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP:

1. STAY COMMITTED TO THE GOOD. IT IS WRONG TO HELP RICH PEOPLE GET RICHER. IT IS WRONG TO DEMONIZE THE POOR. IT IS WRONG TO TAKE AWAY A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CONTROL HER OWN BODY. IT IS WRONG TO TAKE HEALTHCARE FROM PEOPLE, OR NOT GIVE IT TO THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT IS WRONG TO HAVE TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY OVER HEALTHCARE DEBTS. IT IS WRONG TO DESTROY THE EARTH FOR PROFIT. IT IS WRONG TO CALL SCIENCE A LIBERAL PLOT. IT IS WRONG TO TEACH RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT IS WRONG TO INDISCRIMINATELY KILL PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF PEACE. IT IS WRONG TO SUPPORT ONLY ONE WAY TO SHOW YOUR BELIEF IN GOD. IT IS WRONG TO SUPPRESS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. IT IS WRONG TO CALL PROTESTORS UN-AMERICAN, OR TRAITORS. IT IS WRONG TO TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND HAVE BEEN PROMISED IT. DO NOT COWER IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE. STAND TALL AND GET RIGHT IN THEIR FACE.
2.  PREPARE TO TAKE TO THE STREETS IF NECESSARY. REMAIN NONVIOLENT. IN THE FACE OF A VIOLENT POLICE FORCE IT IS WRONG TO COUNTER WITH VIOLENCE. YOU THEN BECOME NO BETTER THAN THEM, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT. OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES FIGHTING THE BAD. OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEIR LIVES ARE NOT GIVEN UP IN VAIN. 
3.  THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF DAYS YOU WON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE GETTING UP. IT IS GOING TO BE A DARK, DEPRESSING TIME. THE DARKER IT GETS, THE MORE LIGHT WE HAVE TO GENERATE. WE WILL NEED TO FOCUS ON HELPING ONE ANOTHER. TO SET UP NETWORKS OF PEOPLE WATCHING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO ORGANIZE. CHURCHES NEED TO STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP THE NEEDY. NONPROFITS WILL NEED TO GIVE UP THEIR PROFITS. ANYONE WITH THE GOOD FORTUNE OF HAVING EXTRA WILL NEED TO GIVE TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO HELP US. WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER.
4.  SOME ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO FRONT A TAXPAYER REVOLT. EVERY TIME I THINK OF PAYING TAXES TO SUPPORT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, I GET SICK. WITH THE BRAIN POWER OF SOME ACCOUNTANTS AND ATTORNEYS, WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING. 
5. STAY POSITIVE IN THIS HOUR OF DARKNESS. IT WON'T BE EASY. I AM ALREADY FEELING THE DESPAIR AND TRUMP AND HIS APPOINTED ENTOURAGE OF MISFITS HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN OFFICE. THIS WILL BE A BATTLE OF SURVIVAL FOR MANY. MY CHRISTMAS WISH THIS YEAR IS THAT WE SOMEHOW GET THROUGH THIS INTACT. AS JESUS FACED AN OPPRESSIVE AND UNJUST GOVERNMENT, SO WE MUST DO THE SAME.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature made them.”
Bertrand Russell, New Hopes for a Changing World

The Bullshit Era

The Bullshit Era

GET READY FOR 4 YEARS OF STINK. TIME TO MOBILIZE.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

DEMOCRACY IS NOT JUST THE RIGHT TO VOTE, IT IS THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN DIGNITY.

Naomi Klein

QUOTE OF THE DAY

DEMOCRACY IS LIKE A TAMBOURINE--NOT EVERYONE CAN BE TRUSTED WITH IT.

John Oliver

THE FACTS OR THE STORY?

FACTS ARE SEEMINGLY FACTS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO BACK THEM UP. BE IT SCIENTIFIC, OR HISTORICAL, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE THERE THAT CAN BE RELIED ON. THE STORY OF JESUS' LIFE WOULD NOT QUALIFY BY MOST ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS AS FACTUAL. IT IS A NARRATIVE STORY USING AVAILABLE HISTORICAL REPORTING. THERE IS NO EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF JESUS OR HIS MINISTRY. EVERYTHING COLLECTED ARE STORIES ABOUT JESUS FROM OTHERS. THIS INCLUDES THE GOSPEL WRITERS. THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JESUS AND HIS LIFE, WITH LITTLE MENTION TO THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE TIME. THEY WERE WRITING FOR A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS THAT THEY WERE HOPING TO GATHER. LITTLE ATTENTION IS PLACED ON THE GROWING TENSION BETWEEN JESUS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT, IN A SETTING MUCH MORE CONDUCIVE TO JESUS' APOCALYPTIC CHALLENGE OF ACCEPTING A GOD OF COMPASSION AND CARING, WHILE NOT DISMISSING THE CHALLENGE OF BEING AN ACTIVE SEEKER OF JUSTICE.
FACTS CAN BE DISCUSSED IN AN ENDLESS PROCLAMATION OF WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG. THE FINAL LINE WOULD NEVER BE SETTLED. BUT THE NARRATIVE STORY PUTS US IN TOUCH WITH EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE OURSELVES. IT ASKS US HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED; HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CHILDREN BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES; THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR NEIGHBORS; THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE HEALED BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY; THAT EACH OF US SHOULD BE TREATED WITH JUSTICE, COMPASSION, AND EQUALITY. PERHAPS DETAILING JESUS' LIFE IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY. IN THESE TIMES, WHERE RELIGION IS BEING USED TO PROMOTE FURTHER DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HAVE'S AND THE HAVE NOT'S, PERHAPS IT IS THE POLITICAL JESUS THAT SHOULD GIVE US THE MOST HOPE. PERHAPS FOR EACH OF US, AND THE CHRISTIAN  COMMUNITY, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW JESUS MAKES US FEEL INSIDE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE WANT GOD AND JESUS TO INFLUENCE OUR LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. MAYBE IT IS NOT THE DETAILS WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH, BUT THE HOPE THAT THE STORY GIVES US.

When Extraordinary Circumstances Call For Extraordinary Measures

When Extraordinary Circumstances Call For Extraordinary Measures

CHRISTMAS-1953

Christmas was an exciting time of the year, especially for an only child. There were always plenty of presents. There wasn’t any competition. We always exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve. I’m not entirely sure how that tradition got started, but I would imagine I had something to do with it, not wanting to wait for Christmas morning.  And the fact that we always spent Christmas day at my grandmothers.

Christmas dinner. That I can remember. It was always a surprise as to what we might have. My grandparents were first generation German immigrants. One of the dishes I remember best was sauerbraten, which I later learned is a German technique to sour anything. Usually, for our Christmas dinner, it was sour rabbit, which my grandfather had recently shot. A squirrel or two may have occasionally been thrown in, but when things are soured, it all pretty much tastes the same. Always served with noodles. I did learn the art of souring things, and do practice it from time to time. I prefer soured, tame rabbit. I don’t do any hunting.

Iced sugar cookies were another treat at Christmas and Easter. My grandmother could make the best iced cookies I’ve ever had, and believe me, I’ve had a few. The secret was another German baking trick, sour cream. I did inherit her recipe when my mother died and will be have made one batch already this holiday season. They are not for dieters.

Postage stamps on the Christmas cards would have been 3 cents in 1953. A gallon of gas to get to grandma’s would have been around 22 cents. A brand new Ford to ride in would have been $1600-$2400. The average price of a new home was $17,400. Sugar for the sugar cookies, 89 cents for ten lbs. But to put it all into perspective, the average salary per year was $4000. The rabbit and squirrel were free.

Dwight Eisenhower was President, the Yankees won the World Series, and Dark Star won the Kentucky Derby. One of my favorite all-time writers, Ernest Hemingway, won the Pulitzer Prize for his fiction novel, “The Old Man and the Sea.”

Waiting for dinner to be served, we might have listened to songs on the radio sung by Fats Domino, Hank Williams, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Patti Page, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Doris Day, and Bing Crosby. Two of the most popular Christmas songs in 1953 were Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song-Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire,” and “The Hippopotamus Song,” song by a ten year old girl from Oklahoma, Gayla Peevey. She sang it to raise money for the first hippopotamus at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Things were much simpler then.

Those watching television in the living room might have seen such classics as “I Love Lucy,” “What’s My Line,” “Truth or Consequences,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” “The Life of Riley,” “The Jack Benny Show,” or “Dragnet.” You remember Joe Friday? “Just the facts, Ma’am.” One of my personal favorites was “You Bet Your Life.,” a game show hosted by Groucho Marx. I always liked the Marx Brothers. This was definitely a classic, featuring a cigar smoking Groucho asking such difficult questions as, “What color is the White House?” or “When did the War of 1812 start?” or “What color is an orange?” The most remembered question was, “Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?” Ends up it was a trick question. Both Grand and his wife are buried there. The highlight of the program was if the contestant mentioned the secret word. A duck, looking like Groucho, with cigar, glasses, and mustache, would swing down from the rafters. You talk about excitement. TV hasn’t been the same without Groucho. Or the duck.

So that gives you some idea of Christmas in 1953. I left out the part where the guys usually drank too much, and the women played bunco, a dice game, for money. That wouldn’t be very Christmas like.

Have a Merry Christmas.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE

THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES CAN BE INTERPRETED IN MANY WAYS. THE GOSPELS ARE GENERATIONS OF PASSED ON ORAL AND WRITTEN STORIES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED FOR THEIR ACCURACY. THERE ARE NO FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF JESUS' LIFE. THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN, PERHAPS UP TO A 100 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. MOST OF US CHOOSE ONE WAY TO BELIEVE, ONE WAY TO LOOK AT JESUS' LIFE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS. WHEN YOU EXPAND YOUR REQUISITE VARIETY, IT ALLOWS YOU MORE ROOM TO VIEW JESUS, HIS MINISTRY, AND THE GOSPELS THEMSELVES. ENTER THE HISTORICAL NARRATIVE.

JESUS: PEACE LOVING OR REVOLUTIONARY? OR BOTH.

CLEARLY THERE IS A TENSION BETWEEN THE GOSPEL WRITERS AND THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, DEPICTING JESUS AS PEACE-LOVING AND NONVIOLENT, AND SOME OF THE REALITIES OF THE TIME. APOCALYPTIC, REVOLUTIONARY FERVOR WAS LIKELY ON EVERY JEWS MIND IN JUDEA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. AS JESUS CONTINUED PROCLAIMING THAT A NEW TIME WAS NEAR, IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THE ROMANS TO SEPARATE OUT HIS APOCALYPTIC VISION FROM IS PERCEIVED REVOLUTIONARY ZEAL. IN THE END, THE REVOLUTIONARY JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED FOR TREASON. CHRISTIANS DOWNPLAY JESUS THE REVOLUTIONARY, PROBABLY FOR THE SAME REASONS THE GOSPEL WRITERS DID. WE WANT TO STIR THINGS UP, BUT DON'T WANT THE KETTLE TO OVERFLOW INTO TERRITORY THAT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH.

We can beat back the Reign of Trump--if we unite in a movement for Populist Justice • Hightower Lowdown

We can beat back the Reign of Trump--if we unite in a movement for Populist Justice • Hightower Lowdown: Buckle up, friends. Most Americans are about to be detoured onto a rough and rocky back road called “Trump Way.” …

WAS JESUS A REVOLUTIONARY?

"THE NOTION THAT THE LEADER OF A POPULAR MESSIANIC MOVEMENT CALLING FOR THE IMPOSITION OF THE "KINGDOM OF GOD"---A TERM THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERSTOOD BY JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE AS IMPLYING REVOLT AGAINST ROME---COULD HAVE REMAINED UNINVOLVED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY FERVOR THAT HAD GRIPPED NEARLY EVERY JEW IN JUDEA IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS."

Reza Aslan, scholar of religions

BULLSHIT DETECTOR

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: BULLSHIT DECODER RINGS. WILL HELP YOU GET THRU THE COMING 4 YEARS. STRONG, STURDY, RELIABLE, ABLE TO HANDLE HUGE AMOUNTS OF BULLSHIT. SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HANDLE BULLSHIT COMING FROM JACKASSES ON THE GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL. HURRY, THEY ARE GOING FAST. 

Dakota Access Pipeline Permit Denied

Dakota Access Pipeline Permit Denied

THE DAYS AHEAD ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH. IT WILL BE A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL. IT HOPEFULLY WILL STAY NONVIOLENT, BUT I WOULDN'T COUNT ON IT.

PEEVER LAW #69

IF YOU ARE ALREADY RICH AND WANT TO GET RICHER, YOU ARE THE WORST KIND OF HUMAN BEING.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IF I WERE TO REMAIN SILENT, I'D BE GUILTY OF COMPLICITY,"

Albert Einstein

JESUS OF NAZARETH

THERE ARE TWO FACTS WE CAN SAY FOR SURE ABOUT JESUS OF NAZARETH. ONE, HE LED A POPULAR JEWISH MOVEMENT IN PALESTINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST CENTURY. TWO, THAT ROME CRUCIFIED HIM FOR DOING SO.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"OUR PROBLEMS STEM FROM OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FILTHY, ROTTEN SYSTEM."

Dorothy Day

NEW GROCERY STORE

THERE IS APPARENTLY A PROSPECT TO PUT IN A GROCERY STORE WHERE THE OLD CRANFORD'S WAS LOCATED. REALLY BAD WHEN THE MOST EXCITING THING GOING ON IS A NEW GROCERY STORE COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NO ONE WILL CONFIRM WHO IT IS, BUT I HEARD CASH SAVER. THAT WOULDN'T BE THE WORST. WOULD REALLY HELP. MAYBE IT WILL BE A NEW YEAR MIRACLE. THAT, AND DONALD TRUMP DISAPPEARS. THEY WILL NEED A GOOD STOCK BOY, ALTHOUGH I DOUBT HE HAS THE BRAINS FOR IT.

THE PEEVER PUTS HIS MARK ON WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY

• NUMBER ONE: IT'S INHABITED BY HUMANS.
• NUMBER TWO: MOST OF THOSE HUMANS ARE RIGHT-WING, CHRISTIAN, REPUBLICANS. ONE OR TWO WOULDN'T BE BAD. EVOLUTION WOULD EVENTUALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM.
• NUMBER THREE: WE NOW HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS NUTTIER THAN A FRUIT CAKE. HAVE YOU EVER TASTED A FRUIT CAKE? LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.
• NUMBER FOUR: WITH EVERYONE CARRYING A GUN, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO END UP WITH IS NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF SORROW. THAT, AND A BUNCH OF ITCHY TRIGGER FINGERS EAGER TO KILL SOMETHING. MOST GENERALLY, THAT WILL BE AN INNOCENT PERSON.
• NUMBER FIVE: JUST HOW IGNORANT DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO DENY EVOLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE? I'M GOING WITH AN IQ OF LESS THAN 50.
• NUMBER SIX: CAPITALISM AS IT HAS DEVELOPED WILL NOT WORK. IT HAS NO PLACE IN A DEMOCRACY. THE RICH ARE TOO GREEDY. WALTON FAMILY: $100 BILLION. KOCK BROTHERS: $79 BILLION. BILL GATES: $75 BILLION. WARREN BUFFETT: $60 BILLION. JEFF BOZOS: $45 BILLION. MARK ZUCKERBERG: $44 BILLION. THIS AMOUNT OF PERSONAL WEALTH IS DESTROYING THE ECONOMY AND DANGEROUSLY DISTANCING THE RICH FROM THE POOR. VIOLENT REVOLUTION WILL BE THE RESULT. UNDER TRUMP, THIS WILL GET MUCH WORSE.
• NUMBER SEVEN: WE HAVE A RIGHT-WING SUPREME COURT THAT IS GOING TO GET WORSE. THE COURT WILL PLACE IDEOLOGY ABOVE JUSTICE. ABORTIONS WILL SOON BE MOVED BACK TO ALLEYS. RELIGION WILL BE PLACED IN THE SCHOOLS AND CHRISTIANITY WILL BE DECLARED THE LAW OF THE LAND. WE WILL RAPIDLY BECOME A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. PUBLIC ANYTHING WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST. FUTURE TEXTBOOKS WILL RECORD THIS AS THE RETURN OF THE DARK AGES.
• NUMBER EIGHT: HEALTH CARE HAS BECOME A COMMODITY FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT SICKNESS WOULD LEAVE PEOPLE BANKRUPT? IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. ONLY IN CAPITALIST AMERICA.
• NUMBER NINE: PERPETUAL WAR. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE RICH. SEEMS IT HELPS THEM GET RICHER. THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHO DIES OR WHO IS INJURED. NOW WE TAKE UP COLLECTIONS TO HELP THEM. OUR TAX DOLLARS USED FOR MORE WAR WEAPONS. COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS NOW AN ACCEPTABLE TERM. EVERY HOLIDAY, EVERY SPORTING EVENT, NOW HAS A MILITARY COMPONENT TO IT. WELCOME TO THE BRAVE NEW WORLD.
• NUMBER TEN: BIG BUSINESS AND BIG MONEY NOW RUN AMERICA. ELECTIONS ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, RIGGED AND SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. THE FLAME OF DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT OUT. 
• I COULD GO ON, BUT IT'S TOO DEPRESSING. WHY CLUTTER YOUR MIND WITH REALITY. THE FANTASY IS SO MUCH BETTER.

PEEVER LAW #14

WHEN IN DOUBT, TEE IT UP.