Over one thousand people lined up yesterday on 63rd street to get assistance with their utility bills. Times are tough, and I imagine anyone willing to wait in line for the day is really in need. I'm not knocking any of these folks for being poor, however I am going to knock a few of them for being stupid out of season, and for a sense of misplaced indignation and playing the victim. So a thousand people show up, the cops are called out because they are blocking driveways, intersections, and the crowd is apparently getting a little chaotic. One guy was reportedly selling spots to cut in front of him in line. Anyway, the police show up, traffic control cops start issuing tickets, 30 of them, many for expired tags. One lady was pissed that she got a ticket for expired tags, and I'm willing to wager if she couldn't be bothered with keeping her tags current, then insurance was probably nonexistent as well. Another lady interviewed says it was all a set up, the cops knew these people were going to be there, and it was all about getting some revenue through tickets. Because targeting people who can't pay their bills is always a sound strategy for banking the scrilla. Not for nothing, but being broke doesn't mean it's okay to ignore parking laws, like don't block driveways, or run around with expired tags. I'm not without sympathy here, if it cost a quarter to shit, I'd have to throw up, times are tough. Being broke doesn't give you a pass to show your ass, ignore the law, or play the victim when you get caught short.
The people who produced the Pro Combat Tax renewal commercials think you are an idiot. Yes I'm talking to you dummy. I tried to find a link to the commercial, but after 2 minutes I said fuck it, you'll just have to trust me on this one. The commercial shows a few kids playing on some slides and skipping around all innocent and shit. Then this voice over comes on, "Drug dealers are always looking for new customers" the scary voice tells us. Yikes! Call me a cynical douche bag, but I'm not buying what the commercial is peddling, and not for nothing, but drug dealers are probably not slinging crack for milk money and a Power Rangers action figure with a missing leg. I was kind of non committal over the Combat Tax, I could take it or leave it, if it passed, whatever. But now I think I'm against it now just on general principal. If you have to sell something using scare tactics that are so blatantly scary, and counterfeit, then it must not have much merit.
Lastly, but not leastly, or something like that, I want to make a confession, sort of. I'm not real happy about the way I wrapped up my 3 part Paradise post. Sometimes what you write falls flat, and I think that's the case in this instance. I was trying to convey the randomness of some really horrific events, the way two paths cross and the deadly consequences. Anyway I think I lost something in the translation. There's no fucking do overs in this joint, so it is what it is. If you felt cheated, like you were strung along , you probably aren't alone. Like I told my three former wives, "Stick around, you'll love me again in the morning". That line didn't work on them either.
These organizations should anticipate very large crowds whenever money or flu shots are given away and provide adequate locations or alternative means for handling such large crowds. What about the people who can't get to said locations? What about the handicapped, pregnant, old, etc. They don't stand a friggin chance. It doesn't take a genius to anticipate these kinds of problems.
ReplyDeleteThis is where we're headed folks. Long lines for everything the government provides. Morons administering programs who know nothing about the way business should be conducted.
And, since you bared your soul in your last paragraph about your last series, yes it did fall flat because you had us holding our breath for more in parts 1 and 2. You had us waiting to hear who done it or some mystery novel type ending. If you were writing a fiction novel, you would have made up some really good outcome that left us with our mouths hanging open, but real life doesn't always have novel endings.
From the combat web page:
ReplyDelete"Took the highly regarded DARE program to thousands of middle school children"
Yes, "highly regarded", not "effective", highly or otherwise.
"Closed 13,091 drug houses in the last 7 years."
I'm guessing approximately 12,991 of those reopened.
etc.
MM, do you know anything about police reselling confiscated drugs? Not necessarily in KC, but in general.
Paradise Lost was great from a writing perspective, but it left me feeling really bad. I quit watching True TV & all crime shows for a New Year's resolution, and Paradise Lost made me remember why
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actually there is a government assistance for low-income people that pays for heating bills,in KS it's called LIEAP and is done by mail,no need to go anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it fell apart at all.
ReplyDeleteThe ending was tight and powerful.