I'm Trying To Make Sure That There's

The Great Recession Is Not Imaginary, And The Effects Loom Large. There Was An Article In The Nyt About The Galloping Death Rate Among White Men In Middle Age. Higher Than Among Any Other Demographic, Etc. Mostly Death By Drugs, Alcohol, Or Suicide. Many Of Them Rural. My Feeling Is That It's Many People Who Haven't Been Able To Get Back Into The Work Force. Reg Morse Is An Example Of The Problem.

People Know That Pain Is Part Of Our Nature, That It Cannot Be Avoided And That It Should Not Be Avoided. But Capitalism In This Country Is Focused On The Idea 1) That Life Can And Should Be Absolutely Beautiful; 2) That Beauty Can Be Defined According To An Ironclad Objective Standard; 3) That Beauty Can Be Held Onto Forever If Only You Do The Right Things Perfectly Enough; And 4) That It Can Be Purchased.

Impotence, Fetishism, Bisexuality, And Bondage Are All Facts Of Life, And Our Fiction Should Reflect That.

My Suspicion Is That This Is An Unavoidable Human Dilemma, That People Will Always Want To Avoid Pain, To Avoid Those Who Are In Pain, And So Will Be Vulnerable To Anyone Or Anything That Seems To Promise Permanent Avoidance.

I Suppose I Should Say That I Treasure Blasphemy, As A Faith Of The Highest Order.