"You and I are not in the Big Club" . . . by George Carlin . . .

[OneBlueSky]

This excerpt from George Carlin's lastest HBO special, "Life is worth Losing," was transcribed and posted by Mark Faulk on his investing website . . . highlighting is mine . . .

http://www.faulkingtruth.com/Articles/Investing101/1070.html

There's a reason that education sucks, and it’s the same reason it will never ever ever be fixed. It’s never going to get any better, don’t look for it. Be happy with what you’ve got. Because the owners of this country don’t want that. I’m talking about the real owners now, the big, wealthy, business interests that control all things and make the big decisions.

Forget the politicians, they’re irrelevant.

Politicians are put there to give you that idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land, they own and control the corporations, and they’ve long since bought and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the State Houses, and the City Halls. They’ve got the judges in their back pockets. And they own all the big media companies so they control just about all the news and information you get to hear.

They’ve got you by the balls.

They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying to get what they want. Well, we know what they want; they want more for themselves and less for everybody else. But I’ll tell you what they don’t want—they don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That’s against their interest. You know something, they don’t want people that are smart enough to sit around their kitchen table and figure out how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago.

They don’t want that, you know what they want?

They want obedient workers, obedient workers. People who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork and just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and the vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it.

And now they’re coming for your social security money.

They want your fucking retirement money; they want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street. And you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it all from you sooner or later because they own this fucking place. It’s a big club and you ain’t in it! You and I are not in the Big Club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you in the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to believe, what to think and what to buy.

The table is tilted folks, the game is rigged.

Nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. Good honest hard working people, white collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on. Good honest hard working people continue, these are people of modest means, continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about them. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about…give a fuck about you! They don’t care about you at all, at all, at all.

And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care.

That’s what the owners count on, the fact that Americans are and will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white, and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday. Because the owners of this country know the truth, it’s called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.

you can watch Carlin deliver this himself at this link . . .

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1617382713

[redqueen]

1. I *hate* that rant.

Thank goodness the people who fought, suffered and died for labor rights didn't listen to crap like that.

Thank goodness those who worked in the underground railroad and for the end of slavery didn't listen to crap like that.

Thank goodness the suffragettes didn't listen to crap like that.

I hope to God nobody here reads this crap and gets the idea that there's no point in fighting. Cause there so is.

[bleedingheart]

2. I completely agree with you!

My grandfather had no formal education and yet he was a labor organizer and a smart man who knew that what was being done to him and the rest of his fellow miners was wrong. They fought and died to give people today the right to be paid in money and not script, saftey laws and the 40 hour work week among many things...and back then...the "Big Club" existed too....but he didn't fall for the same crap that Carlin is trying to push which is to just take it and do nothing.

I like Carlin but this is one part of his act that I can't stand...

[leeroysphitz]

3. I think all the people you mentioned knew what Carlin says here

to be the absolute truth. Why else would they have fought so hard to change it.
I don't think Carlin's intention was to sound defeatist but to rile and wake people up.
That's a worthy goal. I hope people to wake up and get riled about what's being
done to them in their own names.

Just my opinion.

[bleedingheart]

4. I thought that too...but it depends on his delivery and i have heard

him deliver it where it was a bit hard to know which way he was leaning...

[redqueen]

8. I disagree completely. And here's why:

"...it’s the same reason it will never ever ever be fixed. It’s never going to get any better, don’t look for it. Be happy with what you’ve got.

Forget the politicians, they’re irrelevant.

Politicians are put there to give you that idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t.

(snip)

They want your fucking retirement money; they want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street. And you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it all from you sooner or later because they own this fucking place. It’s a big club and you ain’t in it! You and I are not in the Big Club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you in the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to believe, what to think and what to buy.

The table is tilted folks, the game is rigged. "

(snip)

The ONLY hopeful part is this:

"That’s what the owners count on, the fact that Americans are and will probably remain willfully ignorant of ..."


I don't see how anyone could reasonably see that as in any way motivating or encouraging.

That, to me, seems absolutely and utterly defeatist.

[leeroysphitz]

11. Ok. But I don't hear resignation in that language I hear a challenge.

But hey that's just me.

[redqueen]

12. Hey, I hope you're right!

I hope you're right and this year when I go block walking, people don't give me that tired old "it's all rigged, maaaan!" crap.

:hi:

[Sal Minella]

15. Me too. It's a Carlin-style call to action, I think.

I've seen Carlin live, and he reminds me of the old epigram, "The fastest way to find an idealist is to scratch a cynic."

Sort of like the fond uncle saying to the kid, "I don't think you can get an A on that math test."

[The Count]

43. he also brags he doesn't vote. Nope. Not on my side. I'm with democracy.

[redqueen]

51. No way! SEE?!

I should trust my instincts.

If what you say was true, I was SO frickin right.

[Hoping4Change]

33. I totally agree with you that he is challenging people not asking them

to resign. I think it is a phenomenal rant. Its a real wakeup call. I love the line about the American Dream.

[Bandit]

63. DLC will fix all of it, on that you can bet the farm...

:shrug: It is good to be optimistic but stay in the real world okay?

[redqueen]

67. Who says what defines "the real world"?

The DLC?

If we let them, sure.

And with people like Carlin ensuring that everyone knows how hopeless it is, fewer people will dare to hope or much less work for change.

[JNelson6563]

76. Thinking a bit literally? Carlin is always sarcastic!

Do you need a :sarcasm: in audio or something? Are you truly this much of a literalist? Obviously the part about "it's never gonna change" is a sarcastic challenging type of statement. Coupled with the bit about the "Big Club" NOT wanting educated masses capable of critical thinking, it is an excellent way to point out the truth of the oligarchs.

I believe great labor people and those who work/have worked hard for that and other such causes would APPLAUD Carlin's message: Get off your ass, take a look around and take to the streets! Don't put up with it!

Sheesh.

Julie

[democrat in Tallahassee]

6. I thinkyou misunderstood him; he's on our side and he is

absolutely correct. Look at what the bushes have done. Do they REALLY care about education? No, they care about making money for their pals; they care about selling brother Neil's educational software. When Jeb was governor all he could talk about was closing libraries. Carlin is right; they do not have our interests at heart; it's all for their petty causes and they package it as being for the people.
imho

[redqueen]

10. I'm not saying he doesn't make good points.

I'm saying that he's saying this in a way that will encourage people NOT to try... cause why bother? It's all rigged.

I've talked to WAY too many young people who have completely given up, and why? Cause "both parties are corrupt, man! It's all rigged! Just be happy with what you've got, while you can... why stress out if they own everything?"

:banghead:

[ShortnFiery]

17. That's Carlin's MO ===> to stress out on everything

That's what makes him so damn funny. Step back from the "bloody obvious" and smell the entertainment value of such rants. Carlin's IMO a classy rant to the beloved and belated Sam Kinison. And face it, Denis Leary's rants can "bottom feed" even more than Carlin's stuff.

I love the guy! He's been in rehab and I guess like Robin Williams these brilliant comedians KNOW what those in power are doing and are saddened by it. I've been depressed or on lows ever since Paul Wellstone was killed. :cry: ON EDIT please note - I'm far from brilliant but have a fun sense of humor.

But this type of humor is to be taken in the spirit it was given:

Rant On Dear George Carlin!

One of my favorites was when Carlin ranted about Mickey Mouses' Birthday being celebrated like he was really a person and the rest of the world should give a sh*t. He ended this rant with words to the effect that "I hope Mickey Dies in some inner city slum with his hand down Goofy's pants." :P

He's a genius right along with the current top performers Jon Stewart and Steven Cobert. I'd bet money Carlin's one of their favorite mentors. ;)

[redqueen]

23. I'm not saying he's not funny... or that he hasn't inspired other comedians...

I'm only concerned that he's feeding the apathy trend that's so in vogue with young people today.

[The2ndWheel]

25. The only way to change anything

Is to stop giving a damn about the current setup. But you have to let go first.

[ShortnFiery]

26. Excuse this bluntness, but Carlin is NOT a Social Worker,

he's a COMEDIAN! You're welcome to love him or hate him but it's not his responsibility to come across as "motivational" or "socially appropriate."

Again, no disrespect because you come across as very well informed, but please consider "lightening up" because Carlin is A COMEDIAN, not a potential role model for our children. :shrug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. Even if he does narrate Thomas the Tank Engine

;)

[ShortnFiery]

49. Excellent retort! But that career didn't really take off now, did it?

Mister Conductor is a potty mouth! :rofl:

No more roles on kiddy shows for you George Carlin. :(


Oh he's polluting the minds of our children with excellent parenting advice:

"You love your kids!?! That don't tell me much. Everyone loves their kids. John Wane Gacey has his burried all around the house. Saying that you love your kids means nothing. But if you love your kids, don't treat them like little cult objects. Leave them the hell alone at least until they know which side of the play pen smells the worst." :P

[NobleCynic]

78. ::Blinks in disbelief::

Wow.

[redqueen]

56. No, he brags about not voting.

He has a platform to do good, and he does that instead.

I never said he should be a social worker. :wtf:

[Hoping4Change]

37. I think Carlin is trying to rouse people who are caught in a dream.

What better way to do that than to call them suckers. Telling people they've been suckered and that there is nothing that they can do to change it can be an effective way to rouse people from passivity and put them in a fighting mood.

[Greyhound]

50. and this is incorrect, how?

Both parties are thoroughly corrupt, "we" were in control of both houses several times over the last 50 years or so and what did "we" do? "We" spent most of our time protecting egos and turf, making sure that our campaign contributers made lots of $$ at public expense, creating high-paying, safe, jobs for our cronies, sabotaging every single proposition that may have actually helped, and on and on and on. "We" were more concerned about the score and the game, than "we" were about what it did to our country.

The reich-wing didn't win, have never won, on the merits of their ideas, no, they won because people just got fed up with our bullshit and decided to give the other guys a try because, as reprehensible as they are, at least we know where we stand and what they'll do.

One last thing, as for George Carlin himself, he has nothing to gain by trying to wake our dumb asses up other than the slimmest possibility that this nation could get better. He has been very successful for over 40 years and has more money, prestige, and power than he can use, so other than the shot to his ego from playing these venues, what has he got to gain?

[redqueen]

52. ...

"it will never ever ever be fixed. It’s never going to get any better, don’t look for it. Be happy with what you’ve got."

:puke:

[YOY]

20. It's motivational by means of incitation

That's the beauty of it.

[redqueen]

22. I hope you're right...

I've met too many defeatists to take that kinda stuff as the jokes it's meant to be I guess.

Or maybe I'm just too dumb to 'get it'.

[YOY]

27. As long as it disgusts me (the hackles are raised in my throat)

I am undefeated. The same can be said of yourself.

[ThomCat]

31. The way I hear that

he's trying to get people angry, and at the same time convince them that game can't be fixed, so we have to do something big. It's a call for revolution instead of trusting evolution.

You're right that people who aren't willing to fight might get discouraged by hearing this. But people who are willing to throw everything down might get motivated.

[ProfessorGAC]

34. I Know Longer Consider Him Relevant

His world view is a little too black and white these days. I no longer care to hear what he has to say.
The Professor

[spoony]

40. Agreed

To me he stinks of either nihilism or hopelessness, and neither of those are going to do us any good.

[redqueen]

53. He brags that he doesn't vote.

What a champion. :eyes:

[adigal]

35. I think he is right, so I like the rant

but I don't like his conclusion that we can't change this.

If we would all wake up to this fact, and start to elect people who are not owned by corporations (Bushes, Clintons) we could defeat them, beat them at their own game.

But we have to wake people up.

[redqueen]

54. He works against us by bragging about not voting...

and saying up front: give up, the game is rigged.

I don't buy this 'challenge' nonsense. He brags about not voting. What more does anyone need to know?

[The Count]

42. I'm with you! Self ennamored apathy never helped anyone.

[Little Wing]

44. That entire show was miserable

I think he's been hit really hard by his wife's death, and misery loves company

[OneBlueSky]

45. he's a COMEDIAN! . . . like all good comedians, he takes a kernal of truth . . .

and carries it to it's most absurd extreme as a way of drawing attention to it . . . if you take the rant literally, you're missing the point . . .

[endarkenment]

60. went right over your head then. nt.

[redqueen]

64. just like his being proud of not voting? is that over my head too? n/t

[endarkenment]

65. different topic.

The rant above is not a rant for apathy it is a rant against sleepwalking through life. I don't agree with Carlin on voting, although I understand his point, but he simply is not advocating apathy here in the statement quoted by the OP.

[redqueen]

66. "It’s never going to get any better, don’t look for it.

Be happy with what you’ve got."

if that ain't a statement advocating apathy, i don't know what is.

[endarkenment]

69. As I said you completely missed the point.

Pair up the opening paragraph with the closing paragraph. Carlin is saying that it is never going to get better because we are sleepwalking through life. He is telling us to wake up.

[redqueen]

70. There's only *one* line that's encouraging.

Sorry, that doesn't cut it for me.

Still hate it.

[dolo amber]

75. To be fair...

He does specify "You know something, they don’t want people that are smart enough to sit around their kitchen table and figure out how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago."

I totally get what you're saying, but I think he's focusing more on the post-Reagan era. And in that context I unfortunately have to agree with him 100%. Because unfortunately, it's true. :(

(I still think :yourock: regardless. :D :hi:)

[redqueen]

83. You rock!

You know why? Cause you said all that with out any snide "sheeshes" or shit. Pff... this place.

:loveya:

[ShortnFiery]

5. Love Carlin's delivery and so true!

We know who we're working for --> The Corporate Power Elites are heavily factored into *all* American Government Policy.



Bow before your Corporate MASTERs and believe all that the American M$M tells you, lest you WILL BE destroyed by The Big Club and stashed down the memory hole.:scared:

[Auggie]

7. Carlin is saying that it's important to be and stay informed

and to make educated decisions regarding who you vote for.

[Swamp Rat]

9. BEST CARLIN RANT EVER!!!

I agree with him 100%!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

16. Yeah, I've loved him since . . .

. . . about 1973 when my best friend got the "7 Words" LP.

Carlin had the nads to go to SALINA FUCKING KANSAS, last autumn. Did a great show, and he brought down the house.

Most people misunderstand the guy. Yeah, he's bitter. So what? He's informed, brilliant, and he's honest enough to come out and say that 90 percent of this population are a bunch of dumbfuck sheep.

He cares. And he's trying to wake people up . . . in a very different voice than most people are used to hearing.

Like a SwampRodent I know!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

19. Way'at CrazyOrangeCat!

We swamp rats are often misunderstood.

:hi:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

24. HA!!!

:spray:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

28. One of the funniest lines of the show . . .

. . . was something to the effect of,

"I'm sick and tired of the media telling me what is news."

"Ya' know what ISN'T news that they keep yakking about anyway?"

"Lance Armstrong. Always talkin' about Lance Armstrong."

"Fuck him!!!"

"And fuck his balls! I do NOT want to hear about his balls."

[Swamp Rat]

30. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

32. Excuse me, Mr. Carlin?!? Lance Armstrong ...

only has ONE, so it's singular, ball, not balls. :blush:

What can I say other than, "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't." :wow: :yoiks:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

38. !!!

:spray:

[kentuck]

13. Excellent rant!

Emailed to friends.. :)

[blogslut]

14. I got to watch him give that rant live

In West (freaking) Texas. The crowd went wild.

If it pisses you off, then he did his job.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

18. exactly.

[smirkymonkey]

47. I agree - my interpretation of the rant?

"WAKE UP PEOPLE!"

The power elite and the government don't give a shit about you or your problems, so if you want something to change - GET INVOLVED!

[camero]

21. Good rant

One of my favorite lines from him is in one of his books (forgot the name, a co-worker took the book on loan and never gave it back). It went, " They say if we don't give the rich more money, they'll stop working but if we give the poor more money, they'll stop working. Where's the logic in that?"

[glitch]

29. Don't sweat the thundershowers.

Excellent rant, but the obedient workers they want are in Asia now. They've already gotten all they wanted from us, we're not even their target consumers anymore.

[Straight Shooter]

36. Government exists to serve corporations; people exist to serve government.

I don't know who originally said that, but it's sure in line with Carlin's rant.

No, I don't get a sense of defeatism from Carlin at all. I feel like he's trying to slap people upside the head and say, "WTF is wrong with you that you would let yourself be pushed around like this. Get up and do something about it!"

As long as we read and post on DU, as long as we write letters to the editor and talk to people, trying to inform them, keep in action, we'll never be defeated. We're only defeated when we give up, lie down, and roll over.

[The Count]

41. Get lost, George! Carlin doesn't vote. He's trying to spread the apathy.

He may be sheltered as a rich celebrity, we, the actual little people have to deal with the results and get involved to change them. Glorifying being a moron -
he could be so much more than that!

[redqueen]

55. Yes he could!

It's pathetic that he stands up there on that stage he has and actually proudly encourages people to give up... and is proud of the fact that he doesn't vote.

Since I learned that, not only do I hate that rant... I have no respect for him at all.

[OneBlueSky]

81. Carlin is not encouraging apathy . . . he's MOCKING it! . . .

as he explained in an earlier concert, ANYTHING is fair game for a joke as long as the exaggeration is big enough . . . sheesh . . .

[meldroc]

46. Awesome rant!

Hopefully more people are taking it as I am - as a call to action, not a call to apathy.

[Kurovski]

48. I see and hear a lot of different folks yelling "Wake up, people!" in this world.

Carlin is one man who knows how to set off the alarm on that cold, rainy Monday morning when you just want to stay in bed for ten more
minutes.

But there ain't no snooze alarm!

[Armstead]

57. Carlin serves the Big Club by preaching that life is useless on a cosmic level

The message I've always gotten from his is basically "Life sucks and then you die. Deal with it."

Although it can be cathartic and funny, personally I find that offensive and destructive ultimately. It leads to dead-end cynicism, which is what the members of the Big Club are counting on.

So in his own way, he is doing the bidding of the Big Club by preaching apathy and defeatism.

Yes, he's a comedian, and not an evangelist or political organizer. But I think he has a moral responsibility to at least leave people with some hope that things can get better -- instead of the feeling that there's no use trying.

[ShortnFiery]

59. "But I think he has a moral responsibility ..."

Again, George Carlin is a COMEDIAN.

To many Americans who loathe elitism and well meaning busy bodies forcing their good habits on us, Carlin's a comedic genus who doesn't owe society any damn thing. Hell, if Carlin gave a rat's a** about what many American "morality filter patrols" thought, I wouldn't like him. ;)

BTW did I mention, Carlin's a Comedian? :eyes:

[redqueen]

71. I agree it's not a "responsibility" per se.

But he is wasting an opportunity.

Rock bands were very influential in the 60's, no one can deny that.

It's sad to see someone who so obviously sees what is going on, but does SO little about it.

[originalpckelly]

74. You think he's wasting an opportunity...

I don't. I think he's doing quite the opposite, this man is very intelligent and he knows what he's doing.

[ShortnFiery]

79. You don't know George Carlin ...

With sincere respect, those of us who admire "the punk" in our comedians love the fact that he doesn't give a damn. After all, it's really up to us, you and me, to change this Country.

My husband is like you in a "humor sense." He's turned off by the anarchist type comedians like Carlin, Leary, Mencia and the late Sam Kinison. I guess it takes a certain type of personality to find them TOTALLY HILARIOUS. But I fully understand that many people are "put off" by his style.

For some reason, I admire Carlin for not giving a damn about social responsibility and continuously rants about the absurdities of life with a vivid and often obnoxious bent.

Yes redqueen, you have more than enough ammunition to not appreciate his manner.

To each his/her own. :hi:

IMO Carlin ROCKS! :evilgrin:

[endarkenment]

61. he is ranting against sleepwalking though life!

You: "So in his own way, he is doing the bidding of the Big Club by preaching apathy and defeatism."

Carlin: "That’s what the owners count on, the fact that Americans are and will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white, and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday."

How you and others here have turned his rage against apathy into it's opposite is an exercise in seeing what you want to see.

[Armstead]

82. He coiuld change it very easily.

"That’s what the owners count on, the fact that Americans are willfully ignorant of the big red, white, and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday....You don't like it? Then get up and do something about it. "

[redqueen]

68. He's the opposite of the bands in the 60's

who encouraged people to at least try.

[DaveJ]

72. I think he's trying to incite a revolution, but hey...

Personally I think he's raising awareness. I would think that in the 60's people pointed to the problems that existed with similar styles of rhetoric.

But maybe there are some people who do not take it that way and will resign themselves to failure. Not sure about that.

[originalpckelly]

73. Well, it's working.

:P There's a mighty wind a blowin'. This nation has eaten the beans of liberty the last few years and the one that's about to rip lose will shoot that red, white and blue dick right out of our collective asses.

[MindPilot]

58. He's right: "the system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago"

Defeatist or realist? I say realist. Carlin bases his non-voting position on the idea that he is an observer not a participant. I vacillate between seeing that as a cop-out and a courageous stance.
Personally I harbor no illusions that my vote is counted or my voice heard, but I keep shouting and voting. Am I pissing into the wind? Probably, but I feel like I'm doing something.
Will things change? Maybe but I doubt I'll live long enough to see it.

[MrSlayer]

62. He's 100% right.

I've been saying the same thing for a while now. The two party system is in place to distract us from who really runs everything, the corporate masters and world banks. It can be changed but it will take an enormous effort. It starts by not electing people beholden to the corporate interests that fund their ridiculously overpriced campaigns. I doubt it will happen.

[0rganism]

77. heavy words from a man who rakes in millions by publishing his sense of humor

I'm of two minds about it. First, he's right on a lot of this stuff, painfully correct and well-stated to boot. But it would come across as more genuine if delivered by someone who wasn't a famous professional comedian. If I heard Joe Sixpack ranting like this in a bar, I'd think, "yeah right on, fight the power." But coming from Carlin... well, let's just say when a person reaches a certain level of fame and fortune, I expect him to take the contents of a rant like that and fucking do something about it.

George Carlin could get elected if he wanted to. He could be a councilman, a mayor, a state rep, hell, the sky's the limit for someone as wealthy, connected, charismatic and sharp as he is. Those big media companies he curses, they'd love to see a guy like him running for office, they're not averse to someone rocking the boat as long as the rocker brings in the ratings. He could be one of the "irrelevant" people who constitute the government, yes, I do believe he could, he'd be powerful and popular and he'd probably find a way to enjoy doing it.

Or, George Carlin could also buy plenty of stock in one of those companies whose antics he decries, and play the game that way. He could unlock the doors to the "big club" from the inside, and show people how to do things right. He could lead by example, make himself fabulously wealthy, and do something to reform the system. As a big, wealthy, businessman, with a large side-order of fame, who could gainsay him? No one's keeping him out of the club but him.

Then again, maybe he could just keep doing what he's doing, but take it to the streets. Stop charging for shows, and stand on the corner with a megaphone instead. He's got the clout, the leverage, he could make his points from a different angle, and empower the people who run the machines and file the papers. Hey, I'm not saying he'd be an instant success, but he'd have at least as much chance to make a meaningful difference as Cesar Chavez.

What pisses me off the most is that of all the people who benefit from the current situation, as a man who makes a fine living by pissing on the outrageous inequalities of society, he's right in there with 'em all. The assumed ignorance of the common man isn't just a boon to the corporate fatcat, it's fodder for his act. But I think he underestimates us.

Critical thinking isn't something we've lost along the road to industrialization; certainly as a skill it can be improved, refined, developed through education and practice, but most people inherently posess some capacity for it, just as they can appreciate some forms of music or enjoy a sunset or laugh at Carlin's jokes. There's an automatic response, an aesthetic of sorts, an appreciation of the well-expressed opinion that appeals to people. It's not a lack of critical thinking skills that gets us in trouble, rather it's a lack of information to evaluate a situation critically that bogs us down. People can instinctively feel there's something wrong with a piece of propaganda, and if they only had the necessary data in front of them, a lot of folks who uneasily accept the status quo would instantly know it for what it is and, moreover, be able to refute the propaganda -- at least for themselves, if not for others. The intermediate goal of exploiters is not to dull the proletariate down, but rather to distract and alienate its members from one-another so they don't have time or energy for the hard facts.

George Carlin is in an excellent position to bring us closer, if he chooses to do so. Unite the clans!

[AnnInLa]

80. Carlin Special on HBO right now

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