Playing God

On the way back from lunch I was "treated" to Shrubleroy's early eulogizing of the mine disaster victims...he also took the time to offer laudatory praise to rescue personnel before proffering his normal "God bless..." conclusion. As you might expect, I wasn't exactly impressed.

Why? Well, I've got any number of reasons.

Attytood, especially, gets it: like another "natural" disaster that occurred last summer (hint: it began on August 29th), Monday's mine explosion underscores just how the government views "rights"...first and foremost is the right to profit--above all. Protect miners from hazards like coal dust? You gotta be kidding--indeed, the Bloomberg article notes number of violations and dollar amount of fines paid by the mine operator last year (and, to be fair, let's point out the individual is a donor to the Democratic party and friend of John Kerry named Wilbur Ross). There were 208 violations. The largest citation carried a fine of...$440.

However, Millazo--and Attytood--both point out the real issue, namely, a corrupt culture of corporate cash paying for corporate government that rules in the interests of...corporation. And, while I doubt he genuinely comprehends it, one George Shrubusto Bush embodies their ideal of a leader: one who unquestioningly, but relentlessly, pursues their agenda at ANY cost.

In the course of such pursuit, dead bodies like those in West Virginia--or those in Louisiana (Katrina itself did not bring about death--shoddy levee construction did) become at best a bothersome collection of corpses, worthy of mention only in passing, then quickly forgotten (Shrub has been mighty quiet about the body count in New Orleans). But when it comes to promoting a war agenda--ah, a win-win situation for Team Bush AND his sordied collection of corporate pals: Shrub gets to play dress up, billions of dollars flow into corporate coffers--then by all means the coffin count gets played up. So, we get Dick Cheney exploiting 9/11 victims--again--today. Shrub himself can barely get through a session of public speaking, either prepared or "extemporaneous," without a mention--or ten. Dead soldiers assigned to his fool's errand of a war in Iraq become justification for...his fool's errand of a war in Iraq (though, not surprisingly, dealt with off-stage to the point of being so much freight, especially now that Operation Enduring Clusterfuck is...an Enduring Clusterfuck). Responses to any serious questions as to their various screw ups range from "how dare you question us" (e.g. Joe Wilson/Richard Clarke) to "we don't want to point any fingers" (i.e., blame can't be pawned off on anyone else). Abramoff, despite his GOP ties, becomes a bipartisan corrupter. And they hope all is forgotten--or at least confusing enough--to allow for a return to "business as usual."

When you look at the needless death and destruction during George Bush's watch, it's frighteningly apparent that this pathetic little man--hell, as plenty note, this more-chimp-than-man--somehow has managed to convince himself that he's actually the ubermensch. Corpses are mere tools at his disposal, laws and rights are used or tossed aside at his convenience. He and his corporate buddies--which truly do comprise a bipartisan government--consider the rest of the population as little more than regrettable necessities.

If that's not playing god, I don't know what is...