Dear Diver,

I know it’s supposed to be off-season, but there is a buttload of traffic in Durango right now. Just the other day, I bumped into a downtown resident running his downtown errands in the car. The dude was literally driving from one block to the next and then was going to make a big trip out to the gas station to fuel up. What’s going on? The last time I checked, gas was more expensive than gold, the atmosphere was melting away and the Earth’s self-timer was about to go off.

– On the hoof in Durango

Dear hoof and mouth,

OK, one possibility, everything he needed was huge! Probably not. Americans live in a state of denial and apathy appeased by our material possessions (commodity fetishism) overwhelmed, mislead and confused by filtered media, owned by and pushing multinational corporations’ interests, as though they were our own. Ask yourself what you see, don’t doubt yourself, you’re a good judge. The use of resources at an insatiable rate, devaluation of the dollar, being told what is going to happen rather than being asked, having our rights usurped via midnight legislation (i.e. Military Commissions Act, Patriot Act) being subject to “representatives” whose power is irrevocable by you or me, having our emotions, interest and labor power co-opted to make the haves have more (20 percent has 80 percent of all net assists) loss of checks and balances to centralized power of the executive branch… democracy? Part of a democracy is dissent and opposition, choice. Not to fear repercussions from the state for wanting something different, THEY WORK FOR US!!! We need direct, revocable representation, people need to take the power back. We need political and social equality not “economic liberty.”

– Diver

Dear Diver,

Here’s the deal. The other night, I had a few drinks too many and started behaving a bit wildly. My good friends (you know the saying – “with friends like these …”) got my performance on video, and the next thing I know it’s on YouTube. I’m all about a good laugh every now and then, but I’m hearing about my little show from my girlfriend, boss and now even my parents. A) What’s the best way to get the 45 second segment off the web? B) What’s the most diabolical revenge I can seek?

– Camera Shy Carl

C.S. Carl,

Shut-up! Take responsibility for your actions. You don’t want to look like an asshole, don’t be one. Don’t blame someone else for what you have done, own up to it.

– Diver

Dear Diver,

What is wrong with people?

– Julie

Dearest Julie,

Oh what a question …the fact that market capitalism is falsely posing as democracy and freedom is a start. It pushes its methodologies, ideals and
interests upon us as though they are our own. multinational corporations, big business and small business only have a goal of generating as much profit as possible for their shareholders, who, with multinationals, are CEO’s of other giant corps, ex-representatives and government officials. No ethics are involved; no responsibility/liability can be pinned on corps (or Carl) or the individuals who comprise them, thanks government! Any autonomous nation state that tries to stem the entry/exploitation by multinationals is squashed by our government, (i.e. sanctions, NAFTA, GATT, WB-IMF loans). This is big and real. We need to stop being wage slaves so one person at the top can benefit, the laborers deserve to profit from their labor power, not have it taken. Look at any business in this town, who really profits? Not the people who are doing the actual work. Amidst all of this, how are we to be authentic and live meaningful lives?Homo Economicus is not human nature.

– Diver