When I get right down to it, I know I'm not really an expert at anything. I've held a variety of jobs that had little or nothing to do with each other. I was educated in the public school system and graduated from the state university with a couple liberal arts degrees. I play in a rock n' roll band playing an electric bass and singing without any formal training with either. I act and direct in community theatre plays although I have never had an acting or directing coach. I know I am a laymen of life, but the things that are happening these days have my simple mind baffled. The more people talk and attempt to explain the world to me these days, the less it all makes sense.

Two years ago, we attacked Iraq. To this day, I can only name two cities in that country: Baghdad & Fallujah. The latter isn't much of a city anymore. I know there's Sunnis and the insurgents. Those are the bad guys. I'm not sure who the good guys are besides us. I know they've had a few elections. They have a government and a constitution, and it doesn't change the body count numbers. They are trying to create a police state, but it's been difficult. It's hard to sell democracy and freedom while teaching the a portion of the locals to harass and kill another portion of locals. I don't know what's so important about that country. I don't know why it's so important to attempt to make a democracy out of an Islamic state. I don't know why we must stay the course of War & Death. It all sounds so dumb to an idiot like me.

I didn't know who Scooter Libby was before a couple weeks ago. I knew about Gordon Liddy, but he was big before I was even born. I knew about Valerie Plame and her covert CIA status because of Robert Novak and his column. I didn't know why no one was tarred and feathered for revealing her status. It's hard to be an undercover agent when your own country reports your status in the papers. I know the whole has to do with yellow cake, Africa and misinformation leading up to the war in Iraq. I don't know why it was so important to smear her. If you want to go to war, shouldn't you have legitimate, unquestionable reasons? I don't even like yellow cake on my birfday. That's right, my ignorant mouth speaks da soopa doopa slang at times.

What was up with that Supreme Court candidate? She looked downright creepy like one of the gelflings in the Dark Crystal after the Skexis drank her essence. She was a kiss ass and a wannabe. We all like our asses kissed, but no one likes someone else's brown-noser. I refuse to kiss ass, and ultimately I get very few favors done for me. Call me an ignorant son of bitch, but I can't help but think that all this cronyism over competence when it comes to hiring people is really killing our credibility as a nation.

In the latest local election, we had a proposal to raise the city minimum wage from the national $5.15 an hour to $7.50 with a built in cost of living increase. Seemed like a good thing to me. I've worked minimum wage jobs, and they sucked. They sucked twelve years ago, and they suck worse today. You can't even buy two gallons of gas for an hour's worth of minimum wage work these days. The proposition was defeated 51% to 49%. Apparently, sympathy for corporations and business profits still outweighs the plight of the poor. Maybe if we got ex-Presidents to ask for money from the rich and middle class to help pay the poor better. Nah, that's stupid idea. But hey, I'm not the brightest guy either.

The more I learn these days, the dumber I become. Life used to be so simple. I thought the government would represent me, but it turns out it lies to me. I thought the police would protect me, but it turns out they check my license plate for possible warrants. I thought utility and fuel providers would supply me with reasonably priced energy, but the oil companies boasted record profits and the gas providers are licking their chops for a cold winter. I thought my way of thinking would resonate with the populous and start cultural revolution, but it has left me feeling empty and alone more times than I can imagine, especially when I'm surrounded by other people.

They say ignorance is bliss, but They are wrong. The more I learn, the less I know. My ignorance swells on a daily basis, and it is not blissful. Ignorance is Acceptance & Subordination of the way things are. That's what I'm doing these days, accepting and subordinating. Pretty stupid, huh?

Chris Jungle loses brain cells every day.