The 4th

A message from Baby Ricochet

The forth of July

Taking time to celebrate

freedoms we're losing 

If you're one of these people who think freedom is the right to stroll through Wal Mart dressed as Ben Franklin with a BushMaster rifle over slung over your shoulder, you're an idiot.

Real freedom is earning a decent income at a decent job so you can live in a decent neighborhood and send your decent kids to a decent school and not have to worry about some a*****e pumping Jack and Jill's classroom full of rounds because his scientologist employer had a religious objection to including anti psychotic meds on their healthcare plan. Real freedom is not living in a country with the highest incarceration rate in the f*****g world where privately held prisons have an interest in keeping their cells filled to maximum capacity. Real freedom isn't a government being held hostage by a gang of emotional three year olds because they let their party be controlled by village idiots so they could convince people to stupid to know any better to vote against their own interests. Real freedom is listening to experts and not morons with big mouths and microphones. Real freedom is knowing you won't retire to that trash dumpster behind the 7/11 after you have a stroke and can't work 80 hours a week at 8 bucks an hour to pay rent on your single wide anymore. Real freedom is the right not to get fucked over by big government, big business, big insurance, big media, big b***s, the big top or what the f**k ever your big boogie man is. Real freedom is taking a stand for those who can't stand for themselves. Real freedom is a real problem for those at the top and a fading dream for the rest of us.Real freedom can be real scary because sometimes you gotta take a stand beyond paying the light bill. Real freedom means shaking s**t up and pissing people off because real freedom is dangerous to those at the top and they will do anything to keep us in line. Real freedom means a real fight.Happy 4th of July boys and girls. Lets get shitfaced and blow s**t up like are forefathers did. 

Author's Note

America really does have the highest incarceration rate in the world. The 'freest' nation in the world with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Seriously, what the fuck is up with that? If that's not an indication of something is seriously wrong with this picture I don't know what is.

Reviews

[Marie]

Baby R., you never disappoint me.

Perhaps the reason America has the highest incarceration rate in the world is because America has more criminals than any place else. Just a thought.

[Baby Ricochet]

Much of it is the epic fail war on drugs locking people up for years for 20 bucks worth of rock while wall street walked after defrauding the world. That's some fucked justice.

[Marie]

You're right; the war on drugs is a failure. What's the answer? Should there be a peace on drugs?

[s y e]

I hear ya Baby, I love the ending. You just tell it like it is, huh?

[Baby Ricochet]

For better and for worse yeah I do.

[Coyote Poetry]

My father wasn't allow in my Grandparent house. They didn't want a Mexican in their house in the fifties. We have came a long way. USA is far from perfect. I don't blame the leaders. I stood in line with a thousand people to vote. They voted for a man who sold weapons to Mafia in Mexico and our enemy in the middle east. We the people voted the dumb asses in. The people voted for the same people who allowed the USA to fall into debt and allowed poor President like Bush to destroy a region. For what? Next election I hope we learn. Vote for leaders not seeking lobbyist money. Here in Michigan. They hated the new Governor. Today, Michigan is out of debt and getting better. I pray the dumb asses who voted for the same people learn. We decide what we need.
Coyote

[Baby Ricochet]

I blame the corrupted system of misinformation and the suit and tie gangsters people have to vote for.

[Frieda P]

Nice finish, you surely do know how to shake s**t up Baby, no denying that....we hear you loud and clear!

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you frieda

[MsJewel]

Honest, truthful words here BR. It's damn scary to think about.

Julie

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you julie

[Tai Ryens]

Well spoken regarding the reality of freedom as an illusion not only to the United States (although more so in their case) but also across the world. Although I do not blame the government (or any fragment of it) solely for manipulating the circumstances and the ills that plague the country, I must admit that government officials throwing hissy fits over the silliest of things or over things that are against their beliefs is utterly ridiculous and needs to be stopped. As for the incarceration rate, I must say, it's partly the government's fault and partly the fault of circumstance. The economy, as we know it, isn't doing so well and does not hold up to the millions of people in search of jobs, leading to a few of them taking particularly risky jobs in order to put dinner on the table; the government, however, is at fault for manipulating the said situation instead of rehabilitating the prisoners to better make them contributors to society. Speaking of which, I highly favor Norway's system of rehabilitating the prisoners instead of creating the cycle of prisoners being reincarcerated because they no longer know how to function in the society they were released in. If you've no idea what I mean, I would suggest reading up on their systems, as it seems to function far better in comparison to the American prison system.

I'm rambling, I shall halt. Well done, as always, Baby; speak the truth and never be silent~

[Baby Ricochet]

The incarceration rate is because of the epic failure that is the war on drugs. Locking people up for years over 20 bucks worth of rock while wall street defrauded the world and walked. That's some seriously fucked up Justice. Despite all the drug arrests I could go out right now and get 50 of rock in about twenty minutes. Drugs are as easy to get as weapons in this country. It's a f*****g farce.

[A. Amos]

This was scary and honest, left us thought provoking...great write!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Amos

[Caleiph Ken'yon Brewer]

Good analysis. This poem (borderline prose) is a firework of realism. Many people are oblivious to the incarceration rates here in U.S. full stop! Crafty on how you bring the issue full circle on a holiday where most are out celebrating besides of reflecting and synthesizing the past with modern strife for independence, be it political, social or moral.

[Baby Ricochet]

The poem was the senryu at the beginning. The rest was prose. The incarceration rate is because of the war on drugs which has proven a disaster and has done little to curb the flow of drugs into this country. Despite all the glaring statistics the war on drugs keeps getting money to waste throwing African American kids into prison for 20 bucks worth of rock while wall street continues conning the world. That's some fucked up justice

[Caleiph Ken'yon Brewer]

Good points. However, although African Americans are disproportionately jailed for drug related convictions in the U.S compared to other racial groups. I don't think the drug war is the sole cause for such statistics. I think the spike of incarceration rates among African American is the upshot of failed drug policies introduced in the Reagan Administration. I think the current legalization of certain drugs may ease those statistics overtime. I also feel that the drug wars is a mufti faceted issue that gives traction to legal and illegal immigration. If you are following the news, presently there are droves of immigrants (mainly children) from Guatemala, El Salvador and other Latin American counties who are busing border States through Mexico in hopes to escape vile conditions caused by drug gangs. I think legalization and taxation is a push and pull benefiting both nations and would lower incarceration rates as well as curb the violent drug war and improve economies. I think once that is achieved; we can genuinely tackle the issue of immigration reform....You really rattled my brain with that response. lol

[Caleiph Ken'yon Brewer]

I like the picture you posted to this poem. Much satire, lol. Keep doing what you doing man. You cool : )