tom_thinks
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Go to New York
Ok, I won't be going to New York City to protest the Republicans. Its too bad because I could get a discount at Applebee's if I wore a pin pledging to be peaceful. Not that I'm into throwing rocks and burning cars but getting a discount for "good behavior" kind of makes me want to cause some trouble just to prove I'm not here for the discounts. Check this out:
While such a scheme brings new meaning to the term "sellout," it's consistent with a cynical belief that every problem has a market-driven solution.
You have to love Mayor Bloomberg. Only a billionaire would be optimistic (read: silly) enough to believe that anyone planning to protest a divisive administration could be bought off for the price of a Big Onion Walking Tour of the city and a free mug from the Gotham Comedy Club.
"It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach," Bloomberg said, mocking Napoleon's insistence that an army "travels on its stomach." He then announced the benefits of never leaving home without a "Peaceful Political Activists Savings Card" at a news conference.
The card and a list of places where protesters can exchange their consciences for a pittance can be downloaded from www.nycvisit.com (no doubt including a certificate for a complimentary "666: The Number of the Beast" tattoo redeemable at all participating parlors).
Lest we forget, Esau sold his birthright for a pot of spicy lentils. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Still, few of the expected 200,000 dissidents who'll jockey to get within spitting distance of the coronation of George W. Bush will settle for protests heavy in quiet desperation in exchange for $5 off the admission to the Museum of Sex.
To those of you going to protest, don't be bought off by this stupid crap ( I know you won't). To those of you not going, You better have a good reason. (I'm working and too broke to fly up to NYC.)
