NOVELIST KURT VONNEGUT RAMBLES
ON THE STATE OF THE NATION

From In These Times courtesy of The Nation:

Many years ago, I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was no peace.

But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America’s becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.

Vonnegut also offers this fantastic Eugene Debs quote:

As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.
As long as there is a criminal element, I’m of it.
As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

The essay goes on and on, but with Vonnegut, that's not such a bad thing. Go check it out. Click here for the rest.

Now, I've got to find a permanent place on this blog for that Debs quote...maybe up by the ever changing picture...

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