the trick

             is confusion.
the trick is upheaval.
the trick is misinformation
and division and propaganda
and a unified control
of wealth that allows
the very few to
fuck the very many.

there are no conspiracy theories.
there are only lies
fed to the public
to maintain the smallest
level of believability
to keep the machine
well greased
and in total control.

the trick is to
purchase the news outlets,
to only allow power to the
mainstream media if it is owned
by those who would profit
by the lies.

the trick is to make
America look like it is free
when it is simply a corporation
designed for profit.

the trick is treason.

the real trick is to be able
to read between the lies.

the lies are a puzzle box
glued together with
small truths.

small truths are
all that we have.

everything else
is an illusion
designed to make
us feel less like ants
with a magnifying glass
held above our heads
so when the time is right,
we won't realize
we're being burnt alive.

protests turn violent

we get taken away
by the soundbites,
the misinformation,
the biased opinions.
and we do it because
we yearn for
an absolute truth.
we want the world to be
identifiable
in a way
that makes us feel
as if we fit in.
we want
black and white -
right or wrong -
truth or lie.
but the honesty of the matter
is that
nothing fits neatly
into a box
made of our base bias.
so when we see protests
we automatically jump
to conclusions
and form opinions
based on our own experiences.
and that's how we're wrong.
we lack empathy,
and cannot understand
how someone else
may have a different experience
than our own.
we see gun violence
and believe that all guns
have the potential for killing
without realizing
that there are guns
that will never kill
another living being.
we see black men engaged
in violent acts
and assume
that all black men are potentially
violent. when, in fact, there are
the majority of black men
who will never commit a crime.
we see white men on the media
that are professionals and believe
that all white men are potentially
professional. but that is not the case.
there are plenty of white men
who fail, who fall below social expectations.
most of what we encounter
and base our theories on
are media driven
to secure ratings,
commercials,
and potential profits.
the media will do
whatever it can
to make sure
you tune in every evening,
even if they have to resort to lies,
and bending the truth to fit
into the most shocking story possible.
it takes a lot of work
to see
between the lies, the truths,
the bending lines
that we are force fed
every time
we interact with information.
but it is our responsibility
to be objective,
and to find the least
absolute answers
to the questions
that confront us.
it is our duty
to refrain
from ignorance.

show me the money. show me sympathy.

if the shoe
were on
the other foot,
you could be
damn sure
our leaders
would do
their best
to ensure
an equal future
for all
of the people.

you could
be damn sure
that they would
drop the religious freedom
bullshit
which has already
been established
in our Constitution,
and focus on actual issues.

maybe they could
set down some new rules
limiting lenders
from raping
consumers
with high interest rate loans.

maybe they could
bring they real criminals
to trail
for creating the deepest
economic downfall
since
The Great Depression.

maybe they could focus on the environment
rather than fixating on the pissing match
over oil that
they're having with other Super Powers.

i have been called a
Socialist
by the best of them.
the truth of the matter is that
i really don't fit myself into
tiny boxes with pretty labels.

Democracy is our best hope.
but there are a great many things
that need to be Socialized.
Medicine, Education, Utilities,
gas prices, the Lending System,
Political Spending, Social Security.
so there are certain programs
that need to be set up
to ensure a responsible future.
if the people are educated,
they can create a brighter future.
if their health is secured,
they can live without fear of
bankruptcy. if they can pay their bills
and rely upon a fair figure every
time, they are less likely to sit
in the dark. if they can afford to make
payments at an affordable rate,
they are more likely to pay off
their loans. if they can count on
the prices at the pump, they can drive
to work and be productive.
if they can trust their
Officials, they are more likely to vote
in the next election. if they know they
are going to be supported in their
old age, they are more likely to
produce in their youth.

it's all relative.

finally, if the people know
they are being taxed at the same rate
as their bosses, as their corporate masters,
they can relate to a capitol gains tax,
a luxury tax, a death tax, a tax tax.

but it is hard to pay for everything
knowing that the Silver Spoon Tribe
is living off our efforts.

really, isn't that what equality is
all about?

Don't Look Down!

Sometimes it feels like an
an elaborate movie playing just for me,
but I can't change the channel
and the volume is stuck on as loud
as it will go and no one seems to notice
and I wonder if they're even alive.
                     Sometimes hope
                                                filters through
and leaves the head feeling dizzy. And we cope
with it all in one way or another. Some self
medicate while others try to transcend as if there
is
                          some place to go
        beyond this.
But if that is the case, why does it feel so
stagnant? Try being alone for a little
while. You will feel it too. It rattles the
brains and makes the sweat come. This
constant rotation of the same scenes playing
over and over again as the end nears. It makes
you
       want to
fast forward just to get it over with. It is
only going to be more of the same with
a few minutes of hope thrown in to keep
your attention.
                         And there are those
               who say-
                               You're not looking at it
in the right way. But you could always say
that they need to open their fucking eyes.
                      They are too occupied to notice.
             They have
their friends and families. They are busy fucking
while they are being bent over in secret. They
have their phones and their television programs.
They have a retirement to plan for, and a mortgage.
At night they dream of bunnies and the chick they
fucked in high school. They pretend that everything
is going to be all right. And it will be
                                                             as long
as they keep their eyes shut tight. And.
                                                       Don't look
                                    down.
There are bargains to be had, coupons to clip. Fuck
the commercials. Do not pay attention to the ghettos,
don't look at the educationally starved. Do not open
the goddamn door and look outside because it is a
nightmare out there.
                                  Send in your donations
to make it all better. That way you can pretend that
some of the money you gave actually goes to those
in need and not to the rich fuckers running the charity.
Try to tell yourself that your credit line will buy your
way out of the mess that is dropping down from above.
Pretend the wars are justified to protect your rights.
Pretend the gas prices are low because they care about
you and not because they are trying to fuck with another
country who isn't keen on Capitalism, but would rather
wreak havoc on their citizens by make believe methods
to ensure no one ever gets ahead. It is all a different head
                                               on the same
                                                                   Monster.
They will say that if you pay too much attention to what
is happening, it will make you miserable. That is absolutely
true, but at least you are not pretending it isn't there. Maybe
if we all
                                pay attention more often,
               the shit will really hit the fan
and we can make a little change happen.
                               That would be funny.
                                                                   Wouldn't it?
Almost as funny as that cute kitten video you posted a couple
of days ago.

abide the times and protest when you're told

there are good people
and there are bad people.
some have criminal intent
while others do not.
not all criminals are poor.
not all wealthy people
are law abiding.
there are some people
who commit crimes
and do not believe
the crimes
they are committing
are criminal
to the degree
of prosecution.
some people
who have not committed crimes
are prosecuted even though
they are innocent.
sometimes there are clouds
in the sky,
but they don't always make
rain.
you can set a fire
without burning down
the city.
you can take a drink
of water
without drowning.
there are good law enforcement officers
and there are bad law enforcement officers.
some have criminal intent
while others do not.
not all law enforcement officers are bad.
not all law enforcement officers
are law abiding.
there are some law enforcement officers
who commit crimes
and do not believe
the crimes
they are committing
are criminal
to the degree
of prosecution.
some law enforcement officers
who have not committed crimes
are prosecuted even though
they are innocent.
when there are clouds in the sky,
it doesn't always mean
rain.
a spark does not always
constitute a fire.
a body of water
doesn't necessarily mean
there is a body in the water.

a crumb from the cake we should not eat

there is a certain level
of disgust
harbored for those
elected to office
who use their power
for anything other
than the will of the people,
brandishing their
new found glory
to aid the corporate
minority,
the charmed,
the indifferent.

have elections
ever been about
the silent majority,
those who work
throughout their lives
just to make ends meet?
what of those who strive
for a better existence,
for a small piece of the pie,
for a common goal
to get by and be happy?

have politicians
ever wondered about
the conditions
of the poor,
the realities
of the middle ground
workers who often
are left with nothing
when it comes time
to hang up the tool belt
and rest
after a lifetime of labor?

we are nothing
if we are not united.

they give us racism
and abortion
and religion
and drugs
and wars
and tax
and trials
and oil
to occupy our days
in order to keep
a tight noose
about our necks
so we can't look around
at any other possibilities
other than what they
throw in our faces.

we are divided
for control.
we are controlled
in our division.

we are nothing
if we are not united.

Just the right word.

Vulgarity is like
a fine wine,
no matter how costly,
it is still worth downing the
entire bottle.

Fuck can mean so many things.
It adds just the right amount
of flavor to spice up any
sentence.
But when used in just the right measurement,
it can become downright devastating.

Bring me words with ferocity,
with disgust,
with devilish intent.
Make those words melt
as butter on my flailing tongue.
Let them whip out among the masses,
let them bring tears to the eyes
of the weak,
the innocent,
the proper.
Only then will I know what
beauty such words hold.
Only then will I know
accomplishment.

Don't be mistaken,
using vulgarity
for the sake of vulgarity
just makes you an asshole,
a tit,
a cunting fool.

So choose your moment
and allow
the words to roll
from your tongue
as intended,
like a fine wine
better consumed
than spit out
like a Nancy.