Day #38

I just had a weird the-future-is-now moment. While waiting for the internet to load, specifically my blog editor, just now, I was worried that the words in my head would be forgotten because dear GOD, how can one type or otherwise exhibit their thoughts without the INTERNET-WEBS,

So, I will use that as an excuse to pop the cork on another bottle of wine. Why not.

Day #38 in paradise.


We moved here 38 days ago. We found a pretty cool apartment, with nice neighbors and an avocado tree or two. Thinking is hard when the neighbors play loud music. All day.

Alrighty / therefore / so, here we go, this is my community service: I will translate law so that everyone can understand not only the letter of it, but the spirit as well.


Today's translation is inspired by the rapscalions next door:
...
B.  It is determined that certain noise levels and vibration are detrimental ("Clubby siren and bass music sucks and, if too loud, also effects") to the public health ("the way people feel physically."), welfare ("You are violating their space by making loud noises in it and that is aggressive") and safety ("and how much of that wouldn't piss someone off.") and contrary to public interest, and therefore the board of supervisors of the county does ordain and declare that creating, maintaining, causing or allowing to be created, caused or maintained any noise or vibration in a manner ("So, be warned: if you make loud, stupid noise") prohibited by or not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance("you are pissing a lot of people off") and shall be punishable as such ("and the state will make you pay money for being a dick."). (Ord. 11778 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978: Ord. 11773 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978.)
...

Political agreements

We aren’t being truthful with ourselves.  We’re blaming our government for the problems we perceive in the world – the wars, the warming, the lack of resources, the tension and hate – like Frankenstein blaming his monster for the destruction he caused.

A government is an agreement.  Idealistically, we are in an agreement with ‘officials’ or ‘politicians’ to run the show for us.  Please, we say, make decisions in the best interests of mankind and of Americans.  We will pay you to be experts – tax us, take our money and place it where it is needed most.  Help make policies to keep us healthy and safe.  And comfortable.

And we all know how that goes.  Power corrupts and those put in charge don’t act in the best interests of mankind.  Or so we think.

Actually, these politicians are doing exactly what we want them to do.  As evidenced by our massive, massive consumption and greed, we are not willing to change our lifestyles and change what we need.  We are not willing to live without electricity or easy food.  We are not willing to give up extensive travel, air conditioning, cars, cheap products – this is our heritage, is it not?  We are the Gods of the Earth and we cannot be contained!  Our lust cannot be contained!  We should not be contained as it is our right to travel freely, eat what we want and do what we please.  Just make sure I am comfortable – anything less is uncivilized!

So, why should we expect our politicians to be our moral compasses?  If we demand a lifestyle that, at the very least, requires so damn much of the Earth’s resources, why shouldn’t we go to war for that demand?  Why shouldn’t we have 1000+ military bases all over the world to ensure our domination?  Why shouldn’t we turn a blind eye to labour practices that ensure cheap consumer goods?  Why should we wait until we can create safe, non-destructive energy to have luxury?  Why should we wait to take our places as Earth-kings?  Why shouldn’t we demand that all resources (shale oil, arctic oil, water) be made available to satiate our immediate lust, to the point of our own destruction?

We don’t really care about the future or other people or the fact that we’re all dying and taking the world with us.  If we did care our actions would reflect it.  If we estimate the reasonable, tangible consequences of our individual actions, multiply that by 7 billion and the resulting figure still kills the world - why do we act so?  Because someone else in the schoolyard is doing it?  Has a bigger toy?  Makes us feel unimportant?

We don’t really care.  If we did, we’d spend some time considering real change, beyond (or in spite of) politicians and policies.  The world is dying and it’s our fault.