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At work, when I was at the jails we joked about "Survivor, L.A."
My (mostly black, some American) coworkers and I dreamed up the new Survivor: a white guy, naked, dropped into Watts-Willowbrook on a Saturday night with fifty dollar bills stuck onto him with superglue.
Maybe give him running shoes.
posted by
majroj
on August 4, 2006 at 9:28 PM
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Maj, my only experience with American Favellas
was in the South Bronx in the late 1960's and 1970's. It was a no man's land. That same real estate looks a lot better these days but I still would not venture down those streets alone.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 4, 2006 at 4:35 AM
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Cynthia, could an unarmed police officer walk through South Central L.A.?
The majority of people there would leave him or her alone, but it only takes one bad actor...and there are many.
Gangs are growing too, becoming quasi-clans. When I was on active duty for 2 weeks in the Eighties near Idaho, we were advised NOT to go to Cour d'Alaine due to White Supremecist threats to capture U.S. servicemen.
posted by
majroj
on August 3, 2006 at 7:40 AM
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ariel70, I agree 83%
I'm not positing another Great Depression just like 1929, there were other considerations including the balance between agricultural and urban/industrial economic sectors with the worst weather in about a century. I'm noting that the same combination of sharp operators and ignorant/greedy people for them to prey on is arising again, and promises changes in the American economic picture again. Our economic landscape is becoming one of extremes, and everyone except the rich sliding off the edge when they retire..often mandatorially.
Ho Chi Minh was once quoted as stating the only way to fight a giant is to grab him by the belt buckle. China and America have each other by the buckle economically. They are not our friend now, but we represent a tremendous cash cow (needing turnips and creating vast amounts of dung) so their interest is not in alarming us, but in milking and herding us. Question is what they will do about Taiwan and other real estate and peoples they want.
posted by
majroj
on August 3, 2006 at 7:37 AM
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Blanche, if you are in a position to grow at least some
of your own food, go for it. Being a city dweller, I am totally dependent on "the system" when that collapses, those pots of cherry tomatoes on my deck won't go far.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 2, 2006 at 2:47 AM
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Cynthia, getting the picture and doing something about it are too different
things. I've long had the overwhelming sense that all is not Morning in America. I do pity those who are still burying their heads in the sand, though. Unfortuantely, the awakening will not be pretty for all of us. I wonder if I should start gardening.
posted by
Blanche.
on August 1, 2006 at 5:49 PM
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Maj, I love your "American Favellas" remark.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 5:46 PM
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Ariel70, my now dead, Irish Catholic husband
used to say, "what goes around comes around." I think you are saying the same thing. And, I agree.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 5:45 PM
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Majroj
Just in here for a minute or two, 'cos were' out to lunch soon.
To suggest that there may be a re-run of the great Depression of 1929 for the reasons give is arrant nonsense ; there is no chance whasoever of history repeating itself exactly.
What America, and he friends should have nightmares about is America's atronomical fiscal and monetary deficits ; he ( admittedly slight at present )losing of her competive edge; and far more, her incestuous relationship with China.
China gobbles up dollars by the trillion, so that America will permit floods of her cheap imports. The money that China earns from her exports buys more dollars.
This is fine when they're friends, but what happens if they fall out in a serious manner? What happens is meltdown of the US economy. Forget those silly, irrelevant mortgages, and start worrying about the real bogeyman in the closet.
They have an old saying in Northumberland, England " You grow the neeps to feed the beasts to make the muck to grow the neeps"
IN other words one grows turnips to feed cattle, to make manure to grow more turnips.
Kinda similar situation, don't you think?
posted by
ariel70
on August 1, 2006 at 4:11 AM
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Wiley, I was disappointed in the Canadian voters,
but somehow Quebec seems like world unto itself, lost in time;-) That offer sounds good. I will be up in Montreal soon, but I have baby sitting duty while my daughter studies and then takes her final French Lit exam, a very silly requirement since she has studied to be a nurse...but like I said, Quebec is it's own little universe.
Keep up that good fight you are fighting with the power company. Every little bit helps. We need more people with guts to question authority at every step of the way.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 4:01 AM
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We have welfare and food stamps instead.
LBJ's War on Poverty moved the action off the streets and into the apartments, housing projects and big gashogging automobiles.
While overasll unemployment must be lower than then, there are ever-increasing neighborhoods where I am convinced unemployment has increased...but poverty stays about the same.
The phrase "American favellas" comes to mind.
posted by
majroj
on August 1, 2006 at 4:01 AM
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Maj, those were exactly my thoughts! That and the dustbowl too of the
1930's - can bread and soup lines be far behind?
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 3:55 AM
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Azur, thanks for the clarification.
I was too obtuse to get your comment, but NOW I get it and it was a good one;-)
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 3:53 AM
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Blanche, You don't econonmic savvy
You and many other Americans know full well what is going on in this country, you've just been too afraid to let your self admit it. From your comment it is clear that you get the picture. Majroj just made a good annalogy in his comment about the effect of adjustable rate mortgages.
posted by
Cynthia
on August 1, 2006 at 3:51 AM
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Cynthia
Go to your room.
Stop writing, you are too good at it.
Now though, after reading you, I'm so depressed I tried to hang myself on the shower pipe but it broke and I just landed in the bathtub.
I thought it would work because I've lost 6 lbs over HydroOne Networks Inc. so far.
Sheesh, and now we've elected a shmuck called Harper up here that is a Bush clone.
He brought home 150 folks from Lebanon on his private plane, when there are 40,000.00 Cdn's. (sic) to get out of there.
C'mon to Montréal, let's do smoke meat and dill's at Schwartz's on rue St. Laurent.
posted by
WileyJohn
on July 31, 2006 at 12:28 PM
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We are allowing the same shenanigans which triggered the depression of 1929
Essentially, buying investments or real estate (same) "on margin" or by other means which heighten the lenders' chances of repossessing.
Don't get me started on international relations and the coming energy crunch.
posted by
majroj
on July 30, 2006 at 9:32 PM
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Cynthia, you are confirming all my wrost suspicions, I don't have the
economic savvy to know about Adjustable Rate Mortgages, but here in Seattle, when the tech bubble burst, it burst big time in 2002, and put a lot of people out of work, however, the middle class are still living on their housing equities. If that bottom falls out, what then?
My mom is also pro-Bush, ironic because of my own situation, I"m on disability, what she refuses to acknowedge is that if her beloved GW had his way, I'd be destitute. Same with privatizing Social Security, at least he has not accomplished that. I cannot imagine that would do much for anyone except line the pockets of the investment managers who would be salivting to get their hands on the largest hedge fund in history, and the fees that would then line their pockets for managing it.
The donut hole? I've heard of that. I knew that the Medicare changes were not going to be to the benefit of the elderly. So sad that it has taken so long for so many to wise up.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 30, 2006 at 4:05 PM
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Er.. I was thinking of it in the dramatic context
in your Shakespeare reference. It has all the ingredients of a drama but it does not inspire
posted by
Azur
on July 30, 2006 at 4:00 PM
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Oh, Arley. thanks that recommendation on the book.
I'll be sure to buy it.
posted by
Cynthia
on July 30, 2006 at 3:54 PM
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Azur, inspiring??? I know you are being ironic, but
this current situation is beyond irony.
posted by
Cynthia
on July 30, 2006 at 3:53 PM
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The big picture
is not too inspiring
posted by
Azur
on July 30, 2006 at 1:48 PM
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Thank you Arley,
We just have to hope the criminals who are running this show have not totally hacked all those Diebold voting machines come November;-(
posted by
Cynthia
on July 30, 2006 at 1:42 PM
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Cynthia
BRAVO! I wholeheartedly believe you said it better than anyone has for quite a while. Great job!, Truly a great job! (For any of those out there that still believe George and Company had a plan, I recommend the new book by Peter W. Galbraith, "The End of Iraq".) If you can ignore the sneaking feeling in your gut that tells you something might be wrong, this book with its facts, dates, times, places and personalities that document the total fiasco of Iraq, will make it crystal clear for you. It would be absolutely hilarious, if it weren't for the fact that thousands of people are getting killed, our economy is being damaged, our national image is tarnished beyond recognition, and the Republicans still don't have a fricking clue!
I bid you peace and understanding. Arley White
posted by
ArleyWhite
on July 30, 2006 at 10:28 AM
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