No Parking

You may have heard that our wonderful new governor decided that state funded higher education was so inessential that it could do without 50 percent of what it's been getting. I'll let Pitt make the argument for what it needs that money and why everyone benefits from it. To me, it's part of a bigger problem that so nicely summed up by this photo.

A few of these signs have been going up around the convenience store situated in the quiet, little neighborhood in which I live despite the genuine hassle of trying to find a parking spot between the hours of 4-10pm every weekday.

Signs like this recognize a few things: first, that there's a problem; second, someone decided this space can be used to solve that problem; and, third, the person that owns that space said, "fuck you and your problem." The parking problem is bigger than that one landowner. He or she can't solve it on his or her own, and, instead of participating in some sort of assembly (government) to address this larger difficult problem, she posts a sign and has the tow truck on speed dial because it's the local action she can take.... but it does nothing but piss us all off and make the problem worse.

Make no mistake, I'm not pointing the finger at the landowner and saying he or she is the source of the problem, nor am I pointing the finger at our new governor (who, despite this budget, might be insane, though). I'm pointing the finger at myself, at us. We're the ones posting the sign saying, "fuck you and your problem."

Until we start participating and contributing—if not with our time and effort, then with our tax dollars—I could really care less about the governor's budget.

I'm here ready to start (re)building something... and I'm going to call it civilization. When you're ready to join me, you'll know where I am. Until then, save me your lobbying efforts, your campaigns, your press conferences, and leave me alone. How's that for no parking....