june 30

and of the republic for which it stands, one corporation, under Bill Gates, indivisible.... With July 4 fast approaching, a tribute to the American flag that best represents today's society. Salute, hail and bow before this adbusters redesign:  Have I bought corporate? Do I support some major corporations that are largely harmful? Do I work for a company that also owns the notorious Channel One? Yeah, I do, and I have. I'm working on it. But for anyone who lets that consumer culture envelope him or her like a comforting cloud is living in a fairyland. There may never have been a time when corporations didn't influence policy -- but there's no reason we can't work towards having one. If you sell something, great. Sell it. If it doesn't sell, and you can't make it better, you're done. Lobbyists should be restricted if not eliminated, and there should be no such thing as soft-money contributions. No corporate donations over $5,000, no individual contributions over $2,000. And if you as a candidate can't win, that means you just don't have the popular support. Corporations are not in it for you. They're in it for the almighty dollar. End of story. And if that's okay with you, just hope someday your interests and that of a monolithic corporation don't clash. I warned mom about the evils of Wal-Mart shopping, but sometimes I think she sort of nods and says, "Uh-huh," just to be tolerant and let me spout. That's kind of what moms are for, but I wouldn't mind a little feedback. Anyhow, then she goes to Santa Fe for a few days and comes back, disappointed: "There were McDonalds and Gaps on every corner," she noted sadly -- she's the one who taught me the joys of found, unique, individual shops, despite her current Wal-Mart attitude, so I knew exactly what she meant. I gave it another shot. "Do you know why there's a McDonalds and a Gap on every corner, mom?" "No ... why?" "Because you shop at Wal-Mart." Somehow, I think I didn't get through. Maybe the PBS special tacked on the end of the Tonys tape I made her will help her see the light. Then again, they're always going to need more tube socks at Mom and Larry's.....