The 4th: a view from the anti-Kip

"Nationalism is an illness that must be overcome."--Albert Einstein

I know that I'm supposed to gush all red, white, and blue on this day, acting like Ronald Reagan threw up all over me, but I'm not going to.

I believe it is entirely possible to be both thankful for what you have and thankful to those who afford it to you while keeping a balanced and critical perspective.

I know I'm supposed to set off firecrackers until someone gets their eyes or fingers blown off but I'm not going to.  Just can't imagine it's what Thomas Jefferson had in mind.

Face it, America.  You've been bought and sold.  

George Carlin is quite a bit cruder about it than I am but I believe that his fundamental argument is on target.  I am especially in agreement with his view on how "the powers that be" want our minds to operate.  Only an idiot would believe our political leaders, regardless of their party affiliation, to be altruistic patriots who only want what's best for us.  If you are in political power or if you are the CEO of a corporation, the last thing in the world that you want is to have a general populace that is capable of thinking for themselves or formulating their own opinions.  You want people to keep their words about the nation sweet, for fear that they might otherwise seem right or wrong to be the bitter seeds of treason.  You want people to think that "women's suffrage" means keeping them in the kitchen.  Sheep, brainless sheep who hold no concept of where they have been or where they are going, who need only to have a cloth of red, white, and blue waved in their faces to lead them.  Oh and docile, too.  Don't forget docile.  Provided your bank account is sizable, your carnal needs are sated, and your TV is all reality, then it's all good, right?

Have I mentioned that I can't stand firecrackers?

Unbrand America.

Follow me on Twitter: @Jntweets