[lbo-talk] Allure of the Maple Leaf

Wojtek Sokolowski sokol at jhu.edu
Wed Feb 9 08:12:22 PST 2005



> Republicans are gleeful about the liberals leaving. They LOVE IT.
> Why add to their pleasure, so I decided to stick around for the fight
> ahead.
> Marta

I really do not give a shit about Repugs, let alone what they love. The reason is that only a few wealthy Repugs will benefit from Bush re-election, while the NASCAR-loving variety will get screwed big time. That gives me a sense of schadenfreude, because I really think that these pampered and mean-spirited trolls deserve it - just like anyone who responds to a Nigerian Bank's offer deserves to be fleeced - but it does not really affect my life that much or my plans for the future.

The only reason I contemplate relocating to other parts of the world is my own emotional well being. Living in an aesthetically ugly, car-infested suburban wasteland, (I actually live in a city, but Repugs work hard to undermine city living), and having to deal with stupid, arrogant, mean-spirited and self-righteous people is an emotional drain. It is not something that makes my life unbearable - I can cope with it HL Mencken style: by developing detached contempt for the Boobus Americanus and engaging in high-culture pursuits. But over time, it takes its emotional toll. So for me, it is really a cost-benefit issue: when the shit starts really spilling over the brim (its is close but not there yet) and the emotional strain to deal with it will outweigh the relatively comfortable life I now have - it will be time to cash as much as possible and head East.

But another issue is that US society is a social Frankenstein - a concoction patched together with elements that do not quite fit. As a result, there are niches of thoughtful open-mindedness alongside niches of butt-ugly philistinism, niches of average mediocrity, ethnic niches, cultural niches, etc.. So it is possible to internally "emigrate" to a niche of one's choice without leaving the US borders. That is an option too.

Wojtek



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