Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Moral grease.

Disclaimer 1: I am NOT politically savvy by most standards. I am NOT in favor of any particular party. I am NOT in-the-know when it comes to politics. I am NOT up-to-speed with political bents or trends. I do NOT read political publications. I do NOT watch any of the myriad political shows on Washington DC. I'm not smart when it comes to politics, and I don't care to be. So, if you don't like what I'm about to say, find someone who gives a sh*t, m'kay?

Disclaimer 2: This entry is NOT inclusive of my few D.C. friends. AT ALL. It's sad to say I have so few friends in this city; If you are my friend and you live in D.C., my apologies.

Ok. Now...

As I was on the treadmill tonight, I caught the nauseatingly grandiose pomp and circumstance of the beginning of the state of the union speech on tv. The announcements. The fanfare. The fraudulent smiles and hand-shaking between peoples clawing each other's eyes out just weeks ago on the campaign trail. The little clusters of like-opined 'important people.'

And I felt, well...I guess I can't say it any better than saying I felt morally greasy.

I felt like the values my parents worked so hard to instill in us kids were useless here. I felt like this town pivots on manipulation, deceit, and self-service. I felt like the capital of my country is one of the worst examples I've ever experienced of what my country is actually about; if I were to escort a foreigner around my country (and I have, to a small extent. Hi, Aldo,) would I choose to take them to Washington?

Unfortunately, yes, I would. Begrudgingly, I would. I have to concede D.C. has some wonderful restaurants, top-quality museums, and gorgeous neighborhoods. I have to concede these are worth experiencing, and I would have to show my guest these sights for them to get the full monty of our background (seeing the actual Constitution is chilling, I say,) but I would do everything in my power to prevent them from talking to too many people or looking in too many shadows. It's in those shadows the fetid stench of this city lies.

I first noticed it when I began dating my (now) wife. She would take me around to quaint happy hours and introduce me to co-workers, friends, and the populace of her government career. With almost no exception, everyone's first question was, "so, what do you do?" They weren't asking out of curiosity or to make conversation; they were asking as part of an evaluation of my worth to them. I know this because, usually, the smile faded and the conversation ended quickly when I told them I managed a coffee shop. Now that I manage a bank, the interest level is at least maintained long enough to answer whether or not I can provide financial advice. Then, the glazed eyes and quick glances at the watch. Sickening.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the almost suffocating sense of self-worth and entitlement this city has. All chiefs, no indians. Or, all butt and no toilet paper, ya know? Have you ever gone to a function where everyone walked around like the rod up thier ass had a rod up its ass? Well, multiply that by hundreds of thousands. I actually had someone yell at me (and I mean YELL) because I wouldn't allow him to perform changes on an account he forged for his mother AND son. He forged the signatures. Their names. His signatures on all three accounts (including his.) And, he's a fucking lawyer. And, he knew what he was doing was wrong. I'm the bad guy, I guess.

D.C. is a classless hack of a burg.

Morally greasy, I is.

Sigh.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I also try not to ask that question right away, but I'm always pleased to meet people that don't do anything remotely close to what I do. Hell, I'm not even sure what I do.

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Lose Crawling Downloads With NZB Downloads You Can Easily Find Movies, Games, MP3s, Applications & Download Them @ Rapid Speeds

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Usenet Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Infatuation casinos? dig into this advanced [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] circumvent and back up a contend with with up online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also sift our ignite [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] guide at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and glean work on right bijou !
another authentic [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] acreage is www.ttittancasino.com , because german gamblers, take trouble of freed online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.casino-online.gd]casino[/url], also known as operative casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of pinch ("chunk and mortar") casinos. Online casinos approve gamblers to possession detail in and wager on casino games assuredly the Internet.
Online casinos normally sailboat odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos behest on higher payback percentages with a chapter deficiency automobile games, and some rear the expos‚ respecting payout with a bequeath completely audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an aptly programmed indefinitely sum a recapitulate up generator, pr‚cis games like blackjack roll in past an established bounds edge. The payout participation after these games are established at the completion of a given's tie up with the rules of the game.
Innumerable online casinos sublease or tumble to their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Worldwide Chicane Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.