racing to the red light

Since a whole lot of hot air is about to be spewed forth across our fine nation [in the form of the first presidential candidate debate for the 2016 election cycle], and since it’s 106 degrees Fahrenheit at RttRL‘s editorial offices at the moment, we thought we’d share a cleverly written article from The LAist on the topic (our emphasis):

The Santa Anas are part of our invented origin stories and our common language; they are one of the very few things that all Angelenos experience in our sprawling, fragmented city. In fact, we have only three true civic icons, unbound to a specific location, and the mythic winds are one of them (palm trees and the searing promise/disappointment of the California dream are civic icons two and three, respectively).

There are a few quotes from Raymond Chandler and Joan Didion, which we can’t personally comment on.  But it seems that this article was missing a better quote, one from John Fante’s Ask the Dust.  But since we’re too lazy and unable to quickly locate it, we’ll be more scientific about it and simply substitute some images from the Web instead.

We like this one because it depicts little sailboats taking advantage of the strong offshore winds:

But, you should still read Ask the Dust.

It’s a sad commentary on the state of affairs in the United States these days – whether from a cultural, political, economic, foreign/military policy perspective, or really by any other measure – when the mainstream daily periodicals of record are making statements and writing headlines like:

(L.A. Times)

Or to take another example, from the N.Y. Times’ endorsement of Hilary Clinton for president:

In any normal election year, we’d compare the two presidential candidates side by side on the issues. But this is not a normal election year. A comparison like that would be an empty exercise in a race where one candidate — our choice, Hillary Clinton — has a record of service and a raft of pragmatic ideas, and the other, Donald Trump, discloses nothing concrete about himself or his plans while promising the moon and offering the stars on layaway. (We will explain in a subsequent editorial why we believe Mr. Trump to be the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern American history.)

As so often happens during times of uncertainty, the bigots and racists come out of the woodwork to spew their toilet bowl thoughts on how one race or religion is inferior to their own, and seek to capitalize on this Fear to draw others to their way of looking at the world.

And what public discourse does the American voter get?  Discussions about Clinton’s use of email, casting doubt on her “credibility” and honor.  While this author still believes that Clinton, like all career politicians, is self-serving and bent on obtaining power, it is no exaggeration to say that there really is no alternative for any rational, responsible American voter.  Donald Trump is not qualified (in any sense) to be elected as chief executive.

So instead of talking about the real problems facing our country:

1. Income inequality, the rise of the “corporation as an individual with all the legal rights therein”, and the disappearing middle class
2. Human-caused climate change and other environmental destruction
3. The knife in the heart of American democracy that is the Citizens United Supreme Court decision
4. The looming funding crisis that Social Security still faces
5. The growing homeless population
6. Yes, the very real specter of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism
7. U.S. policing problems stemming from “he was reaching for his waistband”, “I was in fear for my life” and other license-to-kill justifications for law enforcement

… The conversation revolves around the subject of Clinton’s affinity for Hotmail vs. the State department email system.

Choose wisely, America.  We have a lot to lose – maybe not as much as the ultra-rich billionares like Trump, but in some ways more.  We would lose whatever credibility we have as a nation and a people, if Trump is elected in November.