August 15

Oh, my--half past August already. We are back on line--sort of. The service goes off and on, mostly on. The technician never showed up yesterday and we are betting they did some kind of magic on their end (where ever that is) and decided that would do it. We'll see. However, I see it as another example of what Yves Smith at Naked Capitalism calls "crapification." Note: service is out again for the second time this morning.

Bill Astore put up a good piece this morning: The Rich Have No Sympathy or Use for the Poor. He includes a link to Oliver Anthony singing his song: Rich Men North Of Richmond. During our frequent discussions on our political situation I have often said that people elected The Former Guy out of a very deep well of discontent. Listening to Anthony's song I have to amend that: people voted for TFG out of a deep and bitter anger. The talking heads have been perplexed by the discrepancy between the economic statistics and the persistent pessimism over the economy. And our "two" parties are really the wings of a big business/finance party. Springsteen's songs were a genteel critique of our culture/economy. Anthony's is a pained and angry scream.