cow tippers unite

"just because my dad didn't rape the land and exploit the workers doesn't make me a peasant. and it's not like he didn't want to rape the land and exploit the workers. i'm sure he did. it's just that as a barber he didn't have that much opportunity." this tidbit from an underrated steve martin flick, strikes a chord with me.

how many of us, given space enough and time wouldn't tear up a shot at a little land rapin' and worker exploitin'? or maybe we think, given the opportunity, we'd play for the good guy team? who knows, maybe we would. maybe some of us are good enough and bright enough to overcome all the corrupting power of power and do something worthwhile. not me. i'd blow all my influence strong-arming congress to give me a monopoly on hot dog vending carts.

then again, what if, say dubya had been born the son of a corn farmer in iowa? would he have clawed his way to yale via the local public school system? muddied his own hands digging for texas tea before making a play for public office? nah. i picture him more as the hard drinking, cow tipping, shot gun on the pick up truck kind of dude. gets his high school sweetheart pregnant and goes to work at the mill by age 18.

probably would've killed at least one of us in a drunk driving accident by now. but that's not such a bad trade off. is it?

on the bright side, kerry picked edwards as a running mate. rapers and exploiters? good guys? a little of both? i'm willing to find out.