I keep getting sent this David Simon op-ed from the Guardian about the 2 Americas and Marx and Socialism and 1932 and throwing bricks and all the rest. Lots of people seem to think it’s brilliant – some even think it’s historic – others see though the gloss.
“There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show”
That’s the message of John Edwards, er, David Simon and the culprit is, of course, 1980 – and we ALL know what happened in 1980, right? “We” made a big mistake. “We” turned the reigns over to self serving Capitalists and let “Them” win it all.
UPDATE 4/26: In what can only be described as serendipity, while I was typing up this blog post last night, Orioles fans were having what the BaltSun described as a “strange night” which is true if you think being locked in Camden Yards to protect you and yours from the rioting heart of darkness in the parking lot is merely “strange”. For Marxist Baltimore there’s every likelihood that things will get stranger in the years to come.
There is no better example in the USA of “blue state” policy in action and the the “constrained capitalism” + “socialist contract” that David Simon promotes than Baltimore, MD – The bluest of the blue (that is to say, NOT a hotbed of Libertarian thinking that so confuses and frightens DS). Turn it up to 11 David – let’s see what happens.
UPDATE 4/27: It was inevitable that David Simon would chime in on the riots that have engulfed Bodymore, Murderland and it’s priceless. He “stands athwart history, yelling Stop!!! you’re burning down my city.”
What’s the matter with these Baltimoreans? Have they been reading David Simon’s op-ed in the Guardian where I said:
“We’re either going to do that (deal the cards again) in some practical way when things get bad enough or we’re going to keep going the way we’re going, at which point there’s going to be enough people standing on the outside of this mess that somebody’s going to pick up a brick, because you know when people get to the end there’s always the brick. I hope we go for the first option but I’m losing faith.”
But he’s not yet lost hope. Today, now that it’s real, David Simon says this:
“If you can’t seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please.”
(Yes, please, please he owns property there and it’s value is rapidly diminishing by the hour.)
Read your Marx! and it will all make sense.


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