fuck the 'new poor'

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

It never ceases to amaze me how the standard of living for the average American is beyond shitty compared to pretty much anywhere else in the developed world, yet the majority of your population insists that capitalism, like, totally works.

yeah but who cares man, we're still better off than anyone in the Congo.

Hahaha, yeah. And that attitude is exactly why you're eventually gonna get there. You already have the crime rate of a 3rd world country, and the standard of living isn't lagging too far behind. I know you're being sarcastic, I'm just saying. What's also funny is how when you point this out to a certain type of American, the knee-jerk response is "yeah, but that's because you're communists, and we have FREEDUM!!1" Yeah, okay, sure. I guess that means communism works? Ahem.

Where do you live? I want to live by you. Do you take foreigners? I'm being serious.

[spacehamster]

Where do you live? I want to live by you. Do you take foreigners? I'm being serious.

Zurich. Has almost everything any other major metropolitan area has minus the crime, the stink and all the other downsides. I was just talking to a coworker from the States about an hour ago how awesome that is about Zurich, actually. We're not a very foreigner-friendly country, but if you have an education, your chances aren't too bad...

[Comrade Slinky]

If you aren't covered in sores and have a tv, you ain't poor!

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

Fuck land ownership. Fuck conveniences wrung from the slavery of others. Fuck division. Fuck shame because you can't afford the things they sell you, real or imagined. I'm not talking specifics, Ross. I think the portrait I'm painting is on a canvas larger than the field of your vision. Look around.

Okay, this was condescending. Sorry, Ross. I usually know better than to argue things here that really get me going but I'm a bit sad today. I've managed to keep my pinko libertarian socialist ways to myself for a long time. Ignore me. We'll just roll dice and talk about lovely imaginations instead. The world is broken anyway!

[spacehamster]

People didn't have their "city faces" on, trying to scare off the bad guys...

Yeah... I live in what's generally considered the most dangerous neighborhood of the entire country, and really... as long as you're not actually in the drug or prostitution business, nothing will happen to you here. It seems like everytime somebody gets mugged, it makes the papers.

And mind you, by Swiss standards, Zurich is actually pretty dirty. Out of towners often complain how loud and smelly it is here, and I have to laugh because if you've ever been to any real city... well, you know.

[Bored, Esq.]

I think the average American would rather die than feel like he was part of a community that he had to help pay for so it could be clean, ordered, entertaining, rewarding, cultured, etc. Yes, he pays taxes to enable these things but he has zero oversight and doesn't want to be bothered if such a thing was offered to him. Most Americans just want to work, come home, wall themselves off and pretend other people and the outside world don't exist. I don't think Europeans understand just how competitive and cut-throat Americans can be...and in many ways they don't WANT to be...they're forced to be because "everyone else is", or so they say...but that's a vicious cycle. I'm often astonished by how petty, base, manipulative and exploitative American society can be, all in the name of an illusory "freedom" that is actually only enjoyed by a very small number...who don't even understand or appreciate it. But these are all cliches...

RE: KRB, I think it IS going to get a lot worse...and we might be in a position where we won't be able to fight everyone anymore. I wholeheartedly support your metal dice blackjack plan.

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

Mike, I'm only moderately educated. I'm more aesthetically sensitive and artsy. I write and speak well. Those who have only just met me say that I'm a bit intense; those who know me find me persuasive and infectious in my enthusiasm for things. I think I would be a good addition to Zurich, despite not really knowing a craft that might obviously contribute to your society. Could you put in a good word for me, please? I might make a good house boy and companion for an older lady.

[spacehamster]

I don't think Europeans understand just how competitive and cut-throat Americans can be

I think I understand it pretty well, and that's one of the big reasons why I love visiting at least certain places in the US, but I can't possibly imagine living there. It certainly has its advantages, and I'll take them... in moderation, but I don't understand why anyone would want to live like that. I think most Americans just aren't aware of the alternative and/or they've been brainwashed to think that the alternative means giving up any semblance of individuality. I know, not a very novel viewpoint, I'm just trying not to be hyperbolic here.

Matt, if you're seriously looking into finding work here, I'll be happy to help, but I'm just an inadequately educated highschool teacher myself, y'know.

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

I think the average American would rather die than feel like he was part of a community that he had to help pay for so it could be clean, ordered, entertaining, rewarding, cultured, etc. Yes, he pays taxes to enable these things but he has zero oversight and doesn't want to be bothered if such a thing was offered to him. Most Americans just want to work, come home, wall themselves off and pretend other people and the outside world don't exist. I don't think Europeans understand just how competitive and cut-throat Americans can be...and in many ways they don't WANT to be...they're forced to be because "everyone else is", or so they say...but that's a vicious cycle. I'm often astonished by how petty, base, manipulative and exploitative American society can be, all in the name of an illusory "freedom" that is actually only enjoyed by a very small number...who don't even understand or appreciate it. But these are all cliches...

RE: KRB, I think it IS going to get a lot worse...and we might be in a position where we won't be able to fight everyone anymore. I wholeheartedly support your metal dice blackjack plan.

Yeah, that first paragraph is really true. And I don't think Eurocats understand the attitude and way of life here, which is carried on a swifter-moving undercurrent of fear than they're maybe used to. People here cannot win unless others lose, inasmuch as life here is a cruel and constant juxtaposition: an infection I was trying to describe earlier, and the reason why my tent-guy can't find happiness in that field until he finds someone worse off than himself to position himself above. Freedom. Freedom is just a word here. You don't have to study semiotics to get that. Patriotism is a powerful morphine in light of our condition. My hopes for sweeping change (not anything Obama would ever dream of, ha) won't happen. We'll either stabilize and rot, or diminish and eat each other, or swell and eat others. If I have an ounce of courage, I'll remake myself in a country I like better, armed with my dice blackjack in case they ship me back.

I'm in a room surrounded by speakers and computers and DVDs and conveniences and toys and none of them make me happy. They pass time is all. They own me. I would trade this shit in a second.

[zzzzzzzz]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean, that's why I'm taking such measures to get the fuck out of this horrible place I'm living in now. I don't want to be a part of it so I'll just skim the edges and be on the move, looking for interesting people..Doing it right, I'll have the money to see Europe one day, another friend of mine who bounces around the globe on a shoestring budget has told me some awesome European travel tales.

[Cryptoplasty]

My personal favorite is people who bitch and complain about having no money, but at the end of the week when they get their paycheck, go and blow anywhere from $50-150 or more at a bar. I mean, at least if you spend the money on something stupid like a game, you will have the game the next day. All you get the next day from a large bar tab is a hangover and a deep sense of "oh, fuck...". (Edit: Also, some of these people who are trying to be "responsible" will opt not to drive, but take a cab home instead, another $20-40. Not promoting drunk driving, but c'mon)

2nd place goes to a girl I used to know that would complain about money troubles, but would spend $50 on something like lip plumper.

The life of an Amelia, except WE pay for some of it.

If you live in a place like NYC, Boston, or San Francisco, and you're complaining about not being able to afford rent, fucking MOVE.

[baconrebellion]

When KRB starts his cult/revolution, I would like to apply to be his 1st Lieutenant.

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

My personal favorite is people who bitch and complain about having no money, but at the end of the week when they get their paycheck, go and blow anywhere from $50-150 or more at a bar. I mean, at least if you spend the money on something stupid like a game, you will have the game the next day. All you get the next day from a large bar tab is a hangover and a deep sense of "oh, fuck...". (Edit: Also, some of these people who are trying to be "responsible" will opt not to drive, but take a cab home instead, another $20-40. Not promoting drunk driving, but c'mon)

2nd place goes to a girl I used to know that would complain about money troubles, but would spend $50 on something like lip plumper.

The life of an Amelia, except WE pay for some of it.

If you live in a place like NYC, Boston, or San Francisco, and you're complaining about not being able to afford rent, fucking MOVE.

You realize of course that cities don't work that way, right? They actually require the lower class to keep it running, they need people who can barely afford the standard of living to work there. Hey, wouldn't it be great if all the rich people could just move into the city and the poor could move to caves or something? That way no one would ever have to suffer!

EDIT: I live in one of the most expensive areas in California. Rent on a 2-bedroom place runs anywhere from $1,600 to $2,400 a month. Since I make just above the poverty line, I'm able to scrape by (with enough to blow on metal fucking dice) if I live with roommates. Downtown there is new housing for people below the poverty line. Since I make a little bit too much I'm not allowed to live there. I actually have less available money than those people. Sometimes the lower middle class gets screwed harder than the lower class. I could move, sure. But any city you go to is going to be the same. There are, however, some nice caves up in the mountains that I know of.

[Geeheeb]

Ahem, working class.

[Charles Schulzerie]

I'm a fundraiser for non profit organizations, so you can imagine the bullshit I hear people say to me claiming to be so fucking poor.

This dude just the other day was telling me that he makes $1600 a month on social security. I seriously stopped and said "Are you fuckin' serious man? You can't give $15?"

It's also mind blowing how people will throw themselves at you to help out sick kids, or Haiti, or whatever 3rd world country is rotting away at the time, but they'll NEVER give money to the dudes in wheelchairs that fought and saved our country from the fuckin' Nazi's.

[Geeheeb]

dudes in wheelchairs that fought and saved our country from the fuckin' Nazi's.

they didn't.

[zzzzzzzz]

You can do a grind band out of your van.

Hell yeah you can! It's really not that hard, just sleep in the van, locate work, get a cheap gym membership for weights n showers, locate a laundry maT, places to park and take shits, ride a bike mostly everywhere, keep more of your money.

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

I'm a fundraiser for non profit organizations, so you can imagine the bullshit I hear people say to me claiming to be so fucking poor.

This dude just the other day was telling me that he makes $1600 a month on social security. I seriously stopped and said "Are you fuckin' serious man? You can't give $15?"

It's also mind blowing how people will throw themselves at you to help out sick kids, or Haiti, or whatever 3rd world country is rotting away at the time, but they'll NEVER give money to the dudes in wheelchairs that fought and saved our country from the fuckin' Nazi's.

We hate looking at our own problems. There's some serious self-denial there. It's tragedy. Really. In the classic sense that requires the privileged fallen to have contained within himself the seed of his own flaw: us refusing to contend with our own crippled vets. Haiti? That's not tragedy. That's a massive disaster and loss of life. The tragedy is people texting $10 to Haiti and stepping over the crippled legs of a homeless vet politely wagging his sign.

[Geeheeb]

The tragedy is people texting $10 to Haiti and stepping over the crippled legs of a homeless vet politely wagging his sign.

Ha. Great summation.

[Kurt Russell's Beard]

You can do a grind band out of your van.

Hell yeah you can! It's really not that hard, just sleep in the van, locate work, get a cheap gym membership for weights n showers, locate a laundry maT, places to park and take shits, ride a bike mostly everywhere, keep more of your money.

You will need a van. This is key.

My brother just spent six months living in his car. It was very difficult for him. He lowered the back seat so he could sleep with his legs in the trunk, like a big metal sleeping bag. Though he padded it as best as possible, it was very uncomfortable. But worst of all was finding a safe place to park. At least once a week he was woken by unsavory types trying his car door in the night. Get a van. Keep a bat in there or a hobo shank dripping with AIDS ichor.

[neckbeard]

Man I wish I did grind-truck when I was a kid.

[canon.docre]

there was a lot of swear words in my original post, but I am not without empathy, and I don't turn my back on anyone. These new poor will learn, and they will adapt. Its going to change how they see the world. One of the main components of my personal/political beliefs is that people are fundamentally good (go ahead and laugh) and the middle class dissolving is going expand the number of people who aren't sedated by consumerism. I'm not counting these people like votes or a political commodity, either: when people can't afford simulated self-actualization, when massive conspiracies to distract people from what would really make them happy implode, this is when we have a real chance to turn things around. We have to. That is why its important to become involved in our communities. Media and capitalist propaganda switched its gears decades ago to prepare for this stage of capitalism where there is no longer a middle class and we are just meant to slaves, die off and kill one another. We can't turn against each other now; it will figuratively be the death of humanity.

[the awesome Assassin]

You should start a protest and destroy stuff to get your message across...

[canon.docre]

You should start a protest and destroy stuff to get your message across...

I have never taken part in a protest, or "destroyed" anything as part of a political agenda. I routinely "put my money where my mouth is" though.

Fuck you.

[baconrebellion]

You should start a protest and destroy stuff to get your message across...

Maybe you should learn a little tolerance......

all he's trying to say, brah, is like: get over it all of you whiners, shit is gonna work out fine. Whatev's, relax. You all care and shit. Fucking fags, thinking and stuff.....