Uh-oh, I feel a rant coming on...

W/o the common enemy of anonymous anarchists burning down the Steel City to rally against, Pittsburghers have resorted back to political internecine warfare. Gubernatorial candidates preen, mayoral candidates scream, but state legislators squirm under the onus of not yet having passed a budget.

Meanwhile, back in Gotham, carpe diem'ing of the per diem has been the talk of the town. An article made the front page of the Trib earlier this week, telling tales of hotels, gas and grub reimbursements.

Are people THAT pissed off because legislators haven't brought home the bacon, but instead are getting reimbursed for eating high off the hog in H'burg?

Harumph.

Listening to talk radio (read: KDKA Radio) since the story broke, I never knew so many Hill District residents were fans. The ones I paid attention to tended to sound like the ones you see in the background of neighborhood shots on TV--you know, the ones txting, "Hey, can you see me on the screen?" In WWE-style vernacular, they called in to put area politicians on blast for eating, sleeping and putting fuel in their vehicles and getting reimbursed for it.

"They ain't done nuthin' for MY neighborhood," one caller yelled, as if the state representative could hear him from H'burg.

Well, being the ass that I am, I immediately yelled back, "Well, what have you done for HIM?"

Apparently, while I was away in a self-induced coma, the United States political process has devolved into the greatest welfare state in the known universe.

"No, I don't have to vote, but you need to put money in a brotha's pocket, ok?"

"What? The other guy got in? Well, let me steep my teabag in the hot stink of Glenn Beck's man-love."

Never have I seen a more lazy and less participatory electorate bitch, moan, groan, and complain so damn much. Never mind that people in other countries are DYING to get involved in their politics. Never mind that as Black folk, we were just 3/5s human for census purposes. Never mind that women suffered to gain suffrage just in the last century.

Sigh. Maybe I'm bitter 'cause I wasn't featured in a cool YouTube clip getting my wig split by a baton-wielding stormtrooper during G-20. Maybe I'm pissed 'cause I ain't had maple bacon in a while. But if you didn't knock on a door, make a phone call, or even pull a lever for an election, a cause, or a candidate, and you're BITCHING, I've got 2 words for you--East Timor.

Go rent the Rambo movie. Maybe I'll reimburse you, ok?

NOT.