Of Politics and Money

(Sigh.) Oh, how I wish I could smite!

I have a couple of things to blather about after reading a Washington Post article on some legislation currently getting kicked around congress.


Synopsis: politics is a dirty game, run by money and for money, with a little bit of power thrown in for flavor. While reading the article the anger came to a good rolling boil, and after the article I simmered down to mostly nausea, where I remain. This condition is due mostly to my lack of smitage powers, but also involves being torn over a very strong desire to move to Canada or some Scandinavian country in the face of my sense of nationalism.

Into the fray… So, domestic sugar producers are bilking American taxpayers out of millions of dollars a year, and American consumers for billions. Yes, they provide jobs. Yes, they produce a ‘vital’ agricultural/commercial good. Yes, I believe in the strategic necessity of domestic production (to a point). That being said: screw those bastards.


I believe in globalization and supporting the welfare of all mankind a lot more than I believe in supporting the welfare of a minuscule percentage of mankind at the expense of that of a vastly larger percentage. I believe in the use of sugar for ethanol production and taxing petroleum-based fuels out of mainstream existence, both for environmental and geopolitical/national security reasons. I don’t believe in relying on domestic sugar production to do it.


Somehow relying on the benevolent industriousness of an industry already putting us through the wringer to meet the challenge of alternative energy investment and production seems a little stupid. Then again, I don’t have that derned money I was talking about earlier.


For those who would justifiably and correctly argue that I don't have sufficient education or experience to 'get' the 'big picture,' I say they can kiss my ass. I may not know what chartreuse is, but I know green when I see it.

Yeah.

I guess my somewhat deflated point is that if we look to industry and government to sort out the whole damn energy mess independent of constant nagging on the part of a apathetically diligent citizenry, not a whole lot will get done. Well, a lot of people will get richer, and a few people will get more powerful. Not you or me though.

-S.W. America