Thanks for the thoughts. And I share them, as well. Like I told KB, I have an extremely close friend who is an honest-to-God Iowa corn farmer, and we have these talks. I bought a motorcycle a couple of weekends ago, and riding home I rode through Trump territory. It's no more than 40 minutes, MAX, from my house. Hell, my MOM was head of the western states' US Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, and the only more Republican organization than that is probably the Heritage Foundation. We avoid talking politics because it never goes well. I basically have insurance now for the first time in my life. This describes me perfectly. I know I have it, but I also know it won't pay for shit, so I don't use it. Ever. I pay cash out of pocket. Out of simple fear of the system. But Americans have been raised to believe anything can be cured with a pill. Take a close look at the opiate addiction problem, for a microcosm of what is wrong with the entire way medicine is practiced in the USA. And yet, the moment the Democrats look at a Republican's program, say, "Hey. Now there's a Good Idea!" and then go to implement it... who tells us every single day that it is destroying America? Yeah. And a huge scam, that has been perpetrated by the construction industry. And, the way sports are supported in the USA, are simply a brutal form of tribalism. When I played rugby overseas, after a match both teams went out the bar and got drunk together and talked shit about the game. Everyone walked off the field and left the game on the field. Americans? They riot. And brutalize each other. All so the construction industry can build more ridiculous shit on the back of the taxpayers, by selling them a load of bullshit. This is where the Republicans and Democrats really differ. (Well, until Trump.) The Republicans have always had a well-oiled machine that could change direction on a dime. Spin anything. With the Democrats? Well, as they say, the easiest way to beat a Democrat is to put two of them in a room together. Ha ha ha. But seriously, Democrats (who I do not identify with, by the way) are wonks. They argue details and nuances and projection methods. Republicans just make shit up that sounds good in a sound byte - even if it contradicts their position yesterday - and then suddenly every one of the talking heads is using the exact same script. It's ridiculous. They'll say anything because of their cynical view of the American populace as being dumb and easily distracted. I've got lotsa good folks in the flyover states, but am always happy to add more to the list! They don’t have insurance and when they do they’re afraid of the bureaucratic process of handling billing.
Sports are a source of regional and civic pride.
Just because someone or a group of someones doesn't strike you as sophisticated, it doesn't mean that they aren't.
If you’re ever on the road and find that you might be in Redneckistan and you know one of us Hubskiers is near by, shoot up a flare. We got some good folks to introduce you to.
Americans? They riot. And brutalize each other. All so the construction industry can build more ridiculous shit on the back of the taxpayers, by selling them a load of bullshit. Uhm. I'm sorry. What point are you trying to make here? That sports are imperfect and rednecks are at fault? You're from Seattle, right? A stereotypical liberal haven full of rich millenials and the tech elite? Do the names "Seahawks" or "Mariners" mean anything to you? Did a bunch of conservative business cronies sneak on to the city board overnight and vote for policies to create and support these teams? Did the same thing happen over in Boston, home of the stereotypical ivy league liberals? It's not a Republican/Democrat thing bro, it's a politicians are a bunch of fuck heads thing. As for Europe? Dude, the UK coined the term Hooliganism when it comes to sports. Hell, in Europe and Africa, racism and soccer crowds seem to go hand in hand. And fucking shit. Sports isn't the only industry taking advantage of Americans. Healthcare costs rake millions of people over the coals every year and Obamacare was a sellout to the insurance agency. The banking crisis is just the tip of the iceberg of Americans getting screwed and I'm pretty positive it was Bill Clinton who repealed Glass-Steagall which lead to that crisis. You see any Republicans creating laws to fight predatory lending? Probably not. Then again, I don't see any Democrats tripping over themselves in an attempt to do the same.And a huge scam, that has been perpetrated by the construction industry. And, the way sports are supported in the USA, are simply a brutal form of tribalism. When I played rugby overseas, after a match both teams went out the bar and got drunk together and talked shit about the game. Everyone walked off the field and left the game on the field.
Oh the whole sports stadium scam is a personal annoyance of mine. Like the Olympics, their construction is sold to the city as a big money-making venture, so there is a referendum and the public is convinced to vote for it. I was going to link to all the recent articles about the lack of value these new uber-stadiums actually bring to cities, but a simple Google search of "stadium fiasco" brings up tens of thousands of results. Heck, I remember the Kingdome getting paid off 15 years after the building was demolished and replaced by a new stadium. That's funny, actually. All those tech companies came from somewhere else about 10 years ago. I grew up here in the 1970's when most Americans couldn't find Seattle on a map, and when our industry was logging and being a shipping port. The day Boeing passed Weyerhauser in employees, revenues, etc, was a big shift. 1st Ave through the center of town was known as the most perverted place in the USA, with more strip clubs and XXX rated movie theaters than most states. Shit. I used to ride dirtbikes in the forest where Microsoft was eventually built. Those millenials you talk about? The ones that moved here from somewhere else to work for Silicon Valley companies like Google, Adobe, Expedia, and the others? Ten years ago they were wearing diapers. Yeah, there are a lot of hipster Amazon programmers wandering around like they own the place, but their entire life takes place within a 5 mile diameter circle. Step outside of downtown Seattle, and they simply do not exist. Same as Minneapolis. Or Austin. In actual fact, yes. You're from Seattle, right? A stereotypical liberal haven full of rich millenials and the tech elite?
Did a bunch of conservative business cronies sneak on to the city board overnight and vote for policies to create and support these teams?