As IF Times

link Iran, Venezuela leaders seek new world order – Yahoo! News.

These guys are sure to be lauded as true visionaries by someone.  Probably themselves.  It’s both bizarre and disheartening that popular mass media are not poking fun and ridicule at pompous nutbars such as these two sociopaths.  Of course politicians are almost obligated to make ridiculous pronouncements, that is part of the reason they’re in office in the first place.  Even recently in the U.S. someone claimed that the oceans would recede and the earth begin healing upon his election.  This hyperbole aside, in western countries, people are mostly elected on presumed ability to run the country, whereas in banana republics such as Venezuela, the more nationalist fervor  you can drum up, the better your chances of staying in office. 

I’m trying to imagine the electorate in western countries massing and chanting with fists pumping, “death to Iran” or “down with Chavez”.  It doesn’t happen.  And a good question is, why not?  Statesmen such as Mahmood and Hugo are constantly lobbing incendiary invective in the U.S.’s direction like black flies on a summer night at the lake.  Why do we care?  Wouldn’t it be more news if they proclaimed  how civilized and compassionate western civilization is?  Now that would be a man bites dog story.

People in most nations likely could not give a rat’s ass about percieved western imperialism.  In some of those places, having enough to eat and drink likely occupies most of their daily interest as is the case in many western countries.  However, there are always the few that revel in the sound of their own belligerent voices and elevated sense of power that comes from ‘leading’ a country, which is then fueled by other countries paying attention to them! 

Does anyone in Nevada or California or New Brunswick really care what Hugo and Mahmood have to say?  With the exception of deranged liberals who think that these statesmen’s points of view have any merit at all, their pronouncements are one note taunts played in an endless loop. 

The standard line is, “U.S. imperialism has caused_______” just fill in the blank.  World hunger, world war, disease, oppression, global warming, global cooling, depleted resources, etc, etc and etc.  Sadly, there are those in the west who actually believe this as well.  It’s akin to complaining about the food in a restaurant but continuing to frequent it.  If it’s so awful, why do they stay here?

Perhaps it’s just because we haven’t been exposed to the niceties of life under the rule in the great societies of Iran and Venezuela.  There just has not been enough effort on selling the high points of living in those places.  Maybe they need to mount a Club Med style ad campaign to convince outsiders of how idyllic life can be there.

They should play up the charm of living in exotic locales where you are free to think what you want as long as it conforms to the nation’s view of things.  They can feel comfortable in knowing that there are draconian and medieval punishments for their versions of criminal behavior, such as women being seen in the company of men who aren’t their relatives.  Ah yes, a few dozen lashes and a bit of stoning keeps that outrageous behavior in line.  They can play up the business prospects of selling thousands of yards of black fabric to a clamoring female populace.  They can live in the comfort of a society in which the state will deliver all your food and power needs…eventually and only as long as you don’t lose your place in line.

I think I’ve just handed Leo Burnett some new ad customers.

link Pilot Refuses Full-Body Scan, Says TSA Doesn’t Make Travel Safer « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY.

Changes in society always happens at the margins.  I don’t know where I was first exposed to this maxim, but I think the notion has proved valid in my experience.    This guy Michael Roberts, a pilot no less, has somehow drawn attention to the overreaching tactics at airports for screening passengers.  As time goes on, this guy could be the hero to the populace if he starts some changes to the system. It’s a wonder that the travelling public still submits to the invasive and unproductive screening techniques practiced at all airports.  In the real world outside of airports, any and all unwanted contact of any kind is viewed as infringements on one’s personal space.  We all know that teachers are prohibited to even hug small children at school for fear of triggering lawsuits and risking dismissal.  We are made aware of strict protocols in the office working environment as far as touching or remarks made.

If you think about it, it’s the government of the people treating mostly their own citizens as potential terrorists.  In other words, if like this guy Roberts, we don’t complain about the way we are treated by clerks, we are tacitly supporting such treatment. 

TSA 1: Hey have you seen the new security gizmo we’re getting for the airport?

TSA 2: No, what is it this time? Another X-ray machine?

TSA1: Nope, even better and more effective.

TSA2: Do tell

TSA1: Well you know how all we get is bitch, bitch, bitch  about our strip and feel procedures, we’re too invasive, you can’t touch me there without buying me dinner first etc etc?  Well now they have a new device which is perfect for detecting metal on passengers.  The best part is, we don’t have to feel up fat people any more.  It’s a plate upon which people have to stand which then sends 5000 volts through them for about a second.  If they have any metal parts on their body, the electricity will close a loop and zap them into unconsciousness.

TSA2: Yikes! Isn’t that dangerous?

TSA1: Well it’s still in the experimental stages but I guess we’ll see how many fatalities we get on the first run here.  But it will speed up the process so people can’t complain about how long the lines are. 

TSA2: Hmm, sounds iffy.  What if some human rights guy complains?

TSA1: Wake up man, we are the Transportation Safety Authority!  We can do what we want.  National Security and all that stuff.  They wouldn’t dare complain.  Has anyone complained up to now besides that troublesome pilot? We’ll show him. No, people will do what we tell them to do.  Besides, where else are they going  to go?

TSA2: Is it really necessary to zap kids and old people?

TSA1: Of course, we can’t be seen to be discriminatory.  Everyone’s a possible perp.  Why it would be just like those diabolical terrorists to pack some weapons on a 2 year old just because he looks innocent.  Cunning, very cunning.  Nobody is above scrutiny.

TSA2: Uh, what about people with metal prostheses or skull plates?  Won’t they be hurt or at least object? 

TSA1:  Maybe, but you know the old saying, can’t make omelettes without breaking eggs.  Besides they can get notes from their doctors or something and we’ll feel them up the old fashioned way.

TSA2:  Ok.  Well when do we get training on the new gizmo?

TSA1:  Training?! Haha, you are a card.