Monday, May 23, 2011

Tuesday Travel With Vice Magazine: Balls Deep

So since the advent and explosion of right wing talk radio shows, many Americans are convinced that there should be no social safety net for the poor and weaker members of our society. Not all conservatives believe this to the extreme despite what liberal commentators would have you believe. Sure there are some, but most people are pretty moderate when it come to using taxpayer funds to help the needy.

But what if we did all suddenly transform our society into Rush Limbaugh or Michelle Malkin's vision of extreme right-wing utopia? A place where "the market" is the supreme ruler, and almost every facet of the social branch of government is either privatized or done away with altogether. What would that be like to have only the very rich calling ALL the shots? Is there a place on the planet that is like that? Well, actually there is. The country is called Colombia, they are actually pretty close to me. I've had the opportunity to go there on two different occasions, and I got to see this right wing Wonderland at its best in the form of policemen beating down homeless people in the park across from my hotel. There were no ambulances called, only prisoner vans despite obvious serious injury.

In this Tuesday installment from my favorites at VBS.tv, I'd like to share with you a documentary done by a member of the Vice staff who has been given the less than flattering nickname of "Baby Balls". He goes down to Colombia and explores a world that the tourists and rich folk walking in the streets above rarely see or even hear about. There is an entire population of people that live underground in the sewers of Bogotá and other large Colombian cities. They live in constant fear of extermination like vermin at the hands of roving death squads and right-wing paramilitaries who have been given complete license to kill them like animals.

I believe after watching this you will agree that despite political ravings from either side; the US, UK, EU, and Australia don't really have it so bad....



14 comments:

The Angry Lurker said...

Haven't watched it all but grim is an understatement.

tigey said...

I guess you're right, they don't have it so bad

Speedy Ed said...

i very much agreeee

Patti D. said...

I remember a Bones episode with this kind of underground society too if not mistaken, so I guess some scriptwriters have seen the documentary too!

Zombie said...

That guy in the video looks like hes straight out of ghost busters! lol.

Melanie said...

OMG. That is horrible. I feel sick.

Anonymous said...

goodness! i didnt realize it was that extreme there. thanks for sharing this...

duffboi said...

didn't watch it all.. a little put off. so far, horrible.

Kicking Rocks said...

wow...im speechless! 0.0

Alphabeta said...

This vid is hardcore - I love vice for that - they always deliver on full on, no holds barred journalism.

And... WELCOME BACK! You were indeed missed. Congrats too on the girls.

Shutterbug said...

It's good to have you back. I always learn something new. This is the first time I've heard about this.

Marlene said...

Neither extreme is a good thing..... the poor shouldn't be treated like animals....nor should the rich be expected to foot the bills for all the poor. There's gotta be a happy medium.

Unknown said...

With socialism people think giving the poor material commodities will improve their situation. For a completely 100% lasseiz faire society (with the "market" in complete control), they think putting them out of their misery (which is their lives) can make for a better world.

A lot of times, these 3rd world countries are transitioning from a more "primitive" economic/feudal system into a consumerist world the West believes is better for them. But if it weren't for the complete take over of industrialism, the poor would at least be in homes (not the best obviously) while still being part of productivity through agriculture. Now, all emphasis is put on industry. People who could stand on their own (albeit still in deplorable conditions) are displaced in the murky depths of poverty and shit-filled sustenance.

Copyboy said...

Hey Patti D! I remember that too. Guess they did.