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A pleasant lull lies over the land where today fewer people labor honestly
— and some labor gruelingly for too little — while a matrix of rackets
sustains the illusion that our living arrangements have a future. Is
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the minds of the millions moiling around
their backyard barbeques? I applaud his refusal to stand for the national
anthem, though not for the reasons he stated. Rather, because I’m sick of
vulgar symbolism in a dark moment of a fraying culture that demands more than
cheap talk and lame gestures.
In case you’re wondering, the reason we’re subject to all these
repetitions of The Star Spangled Banner is not for love-of-country
but something quite the opposite: the fear that its promises are empty. Ever
wonder why every public official in the land has to wear a flag lapel pin?
Should it be necessary for the president of the US to signal his devotion to
duty? Wouldn’t we normally just assume this to be the case? No, it signals
the widespread and generalized anxiety that the national condition is dire
and that we don’t have the confidence or the clarity to face the challenges
of the time. President Obama might as well wear a crucifix or a bulb of
garlic in his lapel.
In this presidential election year especially, Labor Day serves as a sort
of collective deep breath before the plunge into a season of political
anguish. The number of potential voters disgusted with the choice between two
clueless monsters of egotism must be epic. If WalMart held a sale on bullshit
filters, they might stand a chance of turning a Q3 profit. Otherwise, expect
economic performance to be increasingly frightening even if The New York
Times and CNN continue to spin out tales of unicorns jumping
rainbows.
Events, not personalities, are going to demonstrate where things are at in
the late-stage techno-industrial crack-up at hand. The shamans at the Federal
Reserve have exhausted their repertoire of incantations for levitating the
financial markets and, more ominously, the value of the US dollar. The
prankish god they serve has arranged things so that the very faith needed to
sustain their illusory influence will run down the drain as November 8 creeps
closer. They must be getting awfully nervous down at the Eccles Building.
The sudden bankruptcy of South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping Company ought to
send shivers down the scaly spines of globalism’s cheerleaders. Fragility is
everywhere in this unraveling network of gigantic, far-flung promises and
obligations. The former middle class of America has lost its ability to
absorb anymore smart phones or Kardashian brand Pure Glitz hairspray©.
They’re pacing grooves in the faux hardwood floors of their McHomes through
reams of unpayable bills trying to stave off the re-po squad while Grandma
slips into a diabetic coma. These are the good folks who supposedly comprise
70 percent of the so-called economy, a.k.a. “consumers.” You can stick a fork
in them — and maybe we’ll hear a few reports of that on Tuesday when the
holiday barbeques smolder their last.
More concerning, though, are the conditions of the banks. When their true
insolvency is revealed — which may coincide with the height of the election
season — look out below. The bankruptcy of one measly shipping company will
look like a zit on the ass of a diving blue whale as countless trade
operations seize up for lack of confidence that they will ever be paid. Then
what?
Then we are forced to pay attention to the actual dynamics now at work in
the world. Or be driven crazy by our refusal to get with the program. I tend
to think we’ll opt for the latter. We’re too unused to reality. We’d rather crash
and burn than change anything about our behavior, or even our perception.
Both Trump and Hillary are perfect avatars for this date with a hard landing.
The disorder both of them are capable of inducing will be a spectacle for the
ages.
