David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'
The creator of The Wire, David Simon, delivered an impromptu speech about the divide between rich and poor in America at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, and how capitalism has lost sight of its social compact.
I live in one, on one block in Baltimore that is part of the viable America, the America that is connected to its own economy, where there is a plausible future for the people born into it. About 20 blocks away is another America entirely. It's astonishing how little we have to do with each other, and yet we are living in such proximity.
There's no barbed wire around West Baltimore or around East Baltimore, around Pimlico, the areas in my city that have been utterly divorced from the American experience that I know. But there might as well be.
We've somehow managed to march on to two separate futures and I think you're seeing this more and more in the west. I don't think it's unique to America.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/david-simon-capitalism-marx-two-americas-wire
David Simon, creator of The Wire, and of Treme, know whereof he speaks.
Until now, I had not heard of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
Here is a link to it for further reading:
http://fodi.sydneyoperahouse.com/some-people-are-more-equal-than-others
[font style=color:#FF0000;]there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?[/font]
Oscarmonster13
(209 posts)Thanks for posting this I never would have seen it...
The comments were pretty intelligent too. I agree though that while he is really good at pointing out what's wrong, he comes up short on a solution set. I think the "brick" is simplifying what we are up against. With the surveillance state and the militarization of the police and DHS, well, we really don't have many options...
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)the comments are lucid and reality-based, instead of Hate Radio bilge.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Which is why I read a lot of international papers, for a more balanced, and articulate, viewpoint.
and less spelling errors, sad to say.
Bill USA
(6,436 posts)recommended!!