“I think we could do with fewer labels, not more.”
—George Carlin, Nat’l Press Club speech 13 May 1999 (below)
The other day I was talking to an individual about the issues we are facing with the homeless in Sacramento.
We were having a really nice conversation – and we were pretty much in full agreement on the problems and why they weren’t being solved, how they should be solved —
and next thing you know he’s blaming everything on liberals and wokeness.
When I tried to point out that most of us are all centrists and we all believe in the same thing, I realized whatever I say will not make a difference. It will not matter to him at this point.
Sigh.
I’m not being critical of him by any means – it just saddens me that we are so fucking divided when we all believe in the same things.
I also realized that our political parties have become just like the families of addicts.
The Republican Party is the hard working addicted father who used to be sober and compassionate, but now is so lost in his addiction that he no longer sees reason in anything that doesn’t serve his addiction and ability to control the family.
The Democratic Party is the loving co-dependent mother who could always fill the needs of the family through explanation and reason, but now is so lost in making everyone happy, and so scared of her spouse, that she can’t see her own part in the family violence and disfunction.
The Independents are the friends and neighbors who say they care about the family but side with which ever one fits their own agenda no matter how harmful or dishonest it is.
The Progressive Party is the oldest daughter who sat in silence watching the parents go from love to hatred and is now adamant not to repeat the pattern, but she doesn’t see how she runs head long into decisions without thinking them through.
And The Green Party is the quiet little son sitting in his room scared of losing everything and dying, and just wants everything to be okay, but is too small and inconsequential to make a difference.
This is why we cannot talk to each other.
Labels, labels, labels.
George Carlin states things rather well:
This is definitely worth watching all the way through, however, if you just want to watch the part about labels it starts at 27 minutes 10 seconds.
For the parts of FLOMM philosophy Carlin inspired, jump to Q&A at
45:55
48:30
and on education: 51:05.
Labels.
—Louis Warfield
Flommist Louis Warfield is a fabrication specialist who runs the award-winning Rhino Design Studio, “You dream it, we’ll build it.” Copyright © 2023 Louis Warfield.
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