To Be A Tool, Or Not To Be

People on all sides have been working over Charlie Wrangles draft proposal. Personally ,I like how he messes with people, like Utah Phillips says,"you got to mess with people". Its a kind of shock therapy and Charlie is actually a very smart guy. He was upset with Chavez because Chavez beats Charlie at his own game. Anyway..a conservative blogger was upset because he thinks hidden in the proposal is the covert messaging that the voluntary enlistment program selects for "fools, losers and tools". He expounded on the qualities of todays fighting force. We have all heard about the "economic draft", but this notion is disputed (conservatives argue the data does not back this up). I won't go into the minefield subject of an "IQ" draft but I KNOW there are more than a couple felons serving in luei of and a FEW immigrants who will be naturalized if they survive but what does it mean to suggest someone is a "tool"? Could that apply to someone who volunteers to do something? I think of someone unwittingly serving someone elses interests, being used for a dirty job, but remaining unaware, conned rather than coerced. How could you get someone to do something you want without them being aware? How can you get people to participate in something that will benefit others and harm them and to not only do it willingly but enthusiastically? First you need a pitch.

Im thinking of Tom Sawyer and his strategy for getting out of work, for getting others to paint the fence he was supposed to. Not just to do it, but beg to do it. How? He sold it. With an appeal to self interest (you are missing an opportunity!) and the imaginary. ( your failing to understand how much fun this is) Same as selling fast cars, or beauty products. We are all tools to some extent, but getting shot up securing oil wells for rich people and thinking that's what gives your life "meaning", thats a" tool "you won't get drafting middle-class mall rats. Charlie knows.

Last night at the CAJA meeting we made plans to go battle the "free market"neoliberal agenda in Bozeman Montana next week.They decided to use our out-of-the-way-corner of the world to negotiate what they hope is the final round of negotiations in a trade deal between the US and South Korea. We will be manning the barricades. Anyone who wants to join us please come. Bring a warm coat. Some new young people showed up for the meeting and liked the energy. One gal said she was from S.Dakota and had never heard anything like what we were saying. Another gal said it was a little scary for her ( I know we are on track) and one kid gave an impassioned reading from Zinns Peoples History. Very cool. Definately NOT tools.