Did you read the Vanity Fair article “Sarah Palin: The Sound and the Fury“? This article bummed the hell out of me. Not because Sarah Palin is a corrupt, greedy, power-hungry, Machiavellian, sociopath of the first order. I already knew that. But because people are still thinking she’s relevant and somehow has something of substance to offer our nation and are embracing her anti-intellectual posturing while simultaneously lining her pockets with PAC money for giving canned speeches. Wake up, Palinites: she wants to stay folksy so you’ll stay stupid enough to keep giving her money for doing nothing.

I’m frustrated that the right wants to subscribe to the “screaming banshee” method of discourse, seeing who can interrupt more and shout irrelevant talking points louder instead of actually backing up assertions with logic, facts, and rational thought. I’m disillusioned that Glenn Beck and his ilk are going after “social justice” as some kind of code word for tyrranical kitten killing as opposed to dismantling systemic oppression perpetrated by wealthy white men for ten thousand years. I’m disillusioned that education of any type other than homeschooling or private religious education is portrayed as indoctrination into socialism and unworthy of any funding at all while at the same time denigrating what education can and does do for citizens of this country. I’m pissed off that those on the right who have brains and intelligence have been shut out of discussions of what could be bipartisan solutions to our country’s myriad problems in the name of the screaming banshees. I’m really fucking sick of tea party nutjobs acting as though they have sole claim to “liberty” and “patriotism” while they conveniently ignore those parts of the Constitution that don’t serve their agenda, all while propping up this document most of them have never read.

If you think I’m exaggerating, you must not live in a city where the tea party gets a disproportionate amount of coverage in the local news.

I’m also sick of those attempting to turn this country into a theocracy through a combination of legislated religious dogma and downright bigotry. I have no interest in becoming a handmaid, and it is downright shameful that in 2010, citizens of this country are legally discriminated against and lack the same civil rights as the hegemony, hiding behind YET ANOTHER document, this time scripture, that they pick and choose to use based on their desires.

I’m tired of a ideological strategy that involves being so fucking ridiculous that the other side bangs their collective heads against a wall until they are unconscious, or at least too dazed to wade through arguments not based in reality. I’m tired of smug talking heads being deliberately obtuse in order to stick to their message, spouting the party line while wearing a shit-eating grin and playing an only-slightly more sophisticated version of I Know You Are But What Am I.

I’m disillusioned because one of my Canadian friends told me they (and by “they”, I mean Canadians in general) think our whole country must be high since Sarah Palin continues to be relevant. Worst high ever, let me tell you, if that’s true.

And, most of all, I’m pissed that being on the ground, working for positive change in our communities, has little-to-no impact on the local and national dialogue. If the people doing the real work in this country, trying to fix our schools, our health care, and our communities were the people doing talking heads on CNN, instead of pundits looking for ratings or career politicians seeking reelection or insanely lucrative work in the private sector after they’ve used and abused America, this country might look different. Hell, I’m pissed at how many of my so-called progressive friends aren’t doing shit to make our world a better place besides maybe giving money to this campaign or that.

Fuck this shit, I'm going to DC. Time to take back sanity.

]]> http://southcityconfidential.com/2010/09/22/599/feed/ 11 http://southcityconfidential.com/2010/06/16/for-my-next-trick/ http://southcityconfidential.com/2010/06/16/for-my-next-trick/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:30:08 +0000 KBO http://southcityconfidential.com/?p=403 When I started blogging, I did it with the intention of all my wildest dreams coming true.

And now it’s happened. Fame, fortune, and power are MINE! <muahhahaha>

Well, not really. But the folks over at MamaPop, a pop culture blog with a feminist slant that I’ve loved since it’s inception, for some reason want me to join their crew. Which, OMG, is totally like your big sister letting you smoke with her and her friends. Well, if I had a big sister, which I don’t, but it’s too late for me to harbor resentment about that.

I’ll be posting over there on a variety of pop culture-related topics every Wednesday and Friday, starting today with my post on yet another Hollywood remake in the works. MamaPop has some of the best television recaps and pop culture commentary on the interwebs, and I’m honored that they’d let me snark and shake fists with them. I mean, they’re the ones that threw the bitchin’ party with a unicorn cake.

I really admire what Tracey and Amy have done with the site and for the women’s blogging community. Last year at BlogHer, I listened to their panel on feminism and pop culture blogging and was just in awe of their big sexy brains. So please, come over and check out the site. It’s really pop culture at it’s snarkiest and almost all of the commenters have great spelling and grammar skills. Win. The lovely Laurie of LaurieWrites and overlord at Draft Day Suit, lobbied hard for my inclusion, and for that I thank her. This all but ensures I’ll be dancing like Elaine at the Sparklecorn party at BlogHer this year in New York.

It’s like a full body dry heave set to music.

Recently I joined the new Young Professionals board for Safe Connections. If you aren’t familiar with Safe Connections:

As the oldest and largest locally-founded agency serving abused women and teens in the St. Louis region, Safe Connections is essential core of resources and support for survivors of violence. Safe Connections is the only agency providing integrated services for women who have been victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and/or childhood sexual abuse. (from Safe Connections’ About Us)

Safe Connections provides vital services for women and teens in the area who are survivors of violence, and their work is an area where the need for help is almost always greater than what they can provide. The Young Professionals is a new group formed by Safe Connections to gain volunteers and supporters in the 21-40 age group who can help Safe Connections expand their mission and services.

We’re hosting a happy hour to raise awareness about and gain membership for Safe Connections and our Young Professionals group.  This event will be held at Pi in the Central West End on Wednesday, March 3, from 5-7. Chris Sommers, who owns Pi, is also a member of the Young Professionals group, and Pi will be offering half-price appetizers and drink specials for those in attendance. You should come.  You need no reason to go to Pi and have a cocktail on a Wednesday, and this gives you free reign to claim it as your good deed for the day or week should you see fit.

Domestic violence is an issue that does not discriminate based on race, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, or religion. I’d love to see you guys come out, particularly my lady-blogger friends.

Check out Aimee Levitt’s interview with Aronowitz, if you’re like me and you’d rather talk feminism on Sunday as opposed to watching football, come on down to Left Bank to hear her speak.