corporot

(I've had this article in mind for many weeks, but it was so devoid of wit, pith, or the faintest whiff of originality, that i'd been unable to bring myself to write it. I can finally do so, now that i have an anecdote to add. All hail the mighty anecdote. Bow down to the anecdote!)
I recently made my first foray into the world of capitalism.
Up to this point in my life, i'd never made any speculative investment, or gambled for anything other than fun. Last month, that changed. And the fact that i "scored" has NOT made me feel terribly dirty, i must say.
I've recently had a mild fascination with japanese actor Sora Aoi. She started out in porn, then crossed over into "legitimate" films. Her appeal is understandable. She's got a baby face, and large, real-looking breasts. I've not seen her porn, and MAN, WOMAN, AND THE WALL is her only film i'd recommend. It's likely to spark lively discussion and debate if viewed with the right company, plus she's at her most beautiful. She touches the reptilian part of my brain that says MUST FUCK, MUST FUCK. Please don't take that as any sort of affirmation of the paradigm that equates breast size with attractiveness...teeny breasts can be stunning. But the fact that Sora is an Asian woman with big melons, is indisputably part of her allure. Her film TSUMUGI, a bit of a darling with the critics, didn't do much for me. And SIREN nearly ended my Sora fascination...it's just abysmal, and on top of that, she doesn't look very good (again, pardon my reptilian shallowness, but stretch marks don't do much for me, especially on a water demon).
But back to capitalism. I acquired these movies through Amazon.com. I look for music and films there, as you can find some rob-esque bargains. I sell things, too. I rarely buy anything beyond a single-digit price. SIREN and TSUMUGI were around $20, so i didn't rush to purchase. I finally grabbed SIREN when it became rich with investment potential. Based on the reviews, i suspected i might not want to keep it. When there was only one used copy left, and new copies were priced at over $50, i made my move. If i watched it and re-listed quickly, i would own the only used one, and could perhaps set my price. The film was crap, and the plan worked brilliantly. My sell price was $33, and within a week, i snared a fish. I don't know a T-bill from a T-rex, but that's an impressive return on investment.
Okay, maybe i do feel the tiniest bit dirty.
My original article (remember, the original article?) is very much about capitalism. And democracy. Which of those systems is more at the heart of our nation? It seems hard to deny that capitalism is kicking democracy's ass. When 1% of the population controls 50% of the assets, you have a formula which has historically ended with people swinging from a street lamp. Not in the fun way.
The middle class, which has a little extra time and money to fight for democracy, is so pacified by American Idol and the New York Yankees and whomever the hell the "Kardashian sisters" are, and so piss-afraid of exiting the middle class in the wrong direction, that the barons of industry go unchecked. The level of acceptable greed in this country has become so bald-facedly vomitous, that people without souls are nurtured and rewarded, instead of being smacked in the nose. If you think Enron was an aberration, your head is so far up your ass that you can almost peek out of your own throat.
Capitalism just needs better regulation? Insufficient regulations let us down? I applaud your optimism. But if you think every politician isn't bought and sold by the time they reach the state level, you're a bigger idiot than me (and i'm quite the idiot).
The big secret in our society...the thing that corporations hope the little person will NEVER understand, is that the disempowerment the average american feels is completely unfounded.
The power to control our nation is at our fingertips, so close at hand that we're all under some sort of pathological spell, to not see it sitting there. I'm not talking about the ballot box, or organized movements with protests and marches and folk songs. Let's give Pete Seeger a little rest, the man's 127.
What is the essential power in this country?
Money.
Where does corporate income come from?
Us.
U.S. corporations are wealthier than most foreign countries. Who funds them? We do. We have the power to shift the way money is distributed in this country. And we can do so in almost no time. If everyone stops pouring money into corporate businesses, they'll disappear.
We can't afford to feel powerless, because our window of opportunity is closing.
When you buy bread, or nails, or books, or that inflatable rubber Rockette, DON'T GO TO THE CORPORATE STORE. Go to the small business. Do it now, do it today. Small businesses are disappearing.
Is the small business immune to corruption? Of course not. In this society, maybe one person in a thousand will choose decency over greed. But the difference, and all the difference in the world, is that the small business owner is there in front of you. DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE to the people they service. If they act shady, the community will stop patronizing them, give them dirty looks, and even maybe stop having sex with them.
While we're at it, there's one more piece of economic muscle it's time to flex. Banks have acted appallingly, and it's time to hold them accountable. I myself had some fraudulent credit cards appear in my name. My bank, Bank of America, promptly shut down my own card. I had a spotless record with them, but without a single question, they shut me down. They then upped the interest on my remaining balance to 25%. My reward for a nine-year spotless record.
Tear up your credit cards, get back to cash, before the corporate world does away with it. Perhaps it's time to leave the banks altogether, and start an account at the local credit union. What the heck's a credit union, you say?
You'll be glad you asked.
It's time for democracy to kick the barons of greed off their perch and take back this country, before it's gone.
It's time to stop poor Mr. Jefferson spinning in his grave.