A Wise Counsel Member Speaks

I got this from Lupin at Billmon's Whiskey Bar. I should have found it myself, but I was being a hausfrau earlier today. It's from Kurt Vonnegut, and it's very fine. I would love to talk Vonnegut and any of his labors of "love" any time. Enjoy.

Cold Turkey, by Kurt Vonnegut at In These Times.

Just a teaser from the top of the piece:
"Many years ago, I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was no peace.

But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America’s becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas."

Talk to me about Vonnegut and Bokonon and Ice-Nice and Dresden and Biafra...