Green Dragon Tavern
A place to sit down with a couple of pints of ale and wax subversive.
Organizer:
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A Plethora Of Outlaws….
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A Plethora Of Outlaws….
Hey Taverneers, I do not mean to trivialize, but it’s hard to follow a no news none of the time policy when we’ve probably had the most extensive news media cycle in the history of weekends. And while my feelings go out to those killed, or seriously injured, I’m kind of burned out by the whole plethora of news reporting of the incident. So I’m going to leave that discussion to the P.TV main feed. Speaking of “plethoras” one of my favorite scenes from “The Three Amigos,” where the Mexican bandito chief is being told about a grand fiesta that is to be held in his honor. The bandito telling the chief mentions Tequila, pretty girls, and piñatas. The bandito chief asked his guy if there will be lots of piñatas. The outlaw affirms that yes, there will be many piñatas. The bandit chief asks, “Would you say…there will be plethora of piñatas?” “Si, there will be a plethora of piñata’s.” The bandit chief asks, “Are you telling me there will be a plethora of piñatas because there will be a plethora of piñatas, or are you telling me there will be a plethora of piñatas because you do not know what plethora means?” You had to be there, I guess, but it’s a funny scene; really wacky for Mexican Bandit banter, and I could have it wrong too; as proprietor, I reserve the right to be wrong. I seem to remember sweaters being important to the bandito chief. Speaking of banditos, a post or two ago, I spoke of the potential of music being subversive, and how that idea fit the profile of the Green Dragon Tavern, which is loaded with subversion in its very DNA. Hence the song below, “Pretty Boy Floyd,” by Woody Guthrie. I’m a Woodie Guthrie fan. He was a hard living, train hopping, everything for the working individual everywhere kind of guy. He sang songs about violence perpetrated on working people like “The 1913 Massacre,” “Wreck Over Las Gatos Canyon/Deportee,” and “The Ludlow Massacre,” pointing the finger at gun thugs who worked for (elite) mine owners, and corrupt lawmen. McCarthyism labeled Guthrie a Communist. While a Communist in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s was different than Communism today, I in no way subscribe to either the old or the new as a political ideology. But if elite rich folk hiring killers to terrorize and murder working people and their families who were only looking for fairness in the workplace is Capitalism, then I’m not a Capitalist either. And before you judge, think about if tomorrow when you got to work, they informed you that they would no longer pay you in money, but in scrip that was only good in “their”store. And they took possession of your house and could throw you out for any reason, for which you had no recourse. Complain, and armed men would beat you senseless in front of your family. Complain to the Law (who are on the payroll of your boss) and one night you wouldn’t come home. Your family would be evicted with no money, and left with no bread winner to secure them food or a place to live. And there was nothing you could do about it, because you ran your mouth and ended up in an unmarked shallow grave. Well, you say, there’s labor laws in place now that would keep that from happening. Well, those laws didn’t exist for many of your grandparents and great grandparents. And we’re losing those protections more and more year to year. Wait until they implement digital currency. Say something someone over your head doesn’t like, and they cut your money off. Social credits are not far over the horizon either. Complain about and resist brutal, elite corporatists who steal your money and your life, and you’re a Communist. Now the Communists are the elite corporatists who steal your money and your life, and you’re the bad guy or lady. You’re not necessarily a Communist, but you’re a domestic terrorist for daring to speak out against the elites perpetrated graft, theft, and endeavors eventually wiping you out. Was Pretty Boy Floyd a bad guy? Depends on who you ask. After John Dillinger was killed, Pretty Boy Floyd became the FBI’s most wanted. Public enemy, numero uno. The “law” had a tough time catching up to him because he used money stolen from the elites to feed hungry working people, and, often paused during a bank robbery to burn many of their farm mortgages. The poor farmers and working poor wouldn’t help the “law.” Ah, the good old analog days. Eventually he was killed in a shootout with the “law.” Woodie might have romanticized or embellished the story a little bit, but by and large it’s fairly accurate. Besides Hollywood embellishes everything, so cut Woodie a break. The final verse is a one-two knockout punch. Talks about the true nature of outlawry. We can criticize Woodie for his politics, but let me ask; if my above scenario of social credit monitoring and currency obtainability based on approved behavior ever takes hold, might we view both Woodie and “Pretty Boy Floyd” in a much different light? Listen to the song below, and pay close attention to the last verse, and ask yourself who’s the bad guy? Time once again, as Bob wrote, for “…my boot heels to be wanderin’.” Love y’all… https://youtu.be/fBF3aXvquHs?si=vwP4Zh0RJS9xxr6w
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4 Replies
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Wow, so much information in that post! I agree that it’s a matter of perspective…..Communist back in the day, or labor activist ……gray areas. Those “villains” of so-called “organized crime” from the 20’s and 30’s were caught by G-men who were using the same “Hoover-esque” criminal tactics as them, but the government & elites were licensed to do it. The richest families of America/world (Morgans, Rockefellers, Carnegies, DuPonts, Rothschilds, etc) killed tens of thousands or more with poor working conditions. My great-great grandfather working on the Burlington Northern Railroad was one of the casualties. He left my great great grandmother widowed with 3 children to provide for. I believe some criminality is going to happen because of a person’s makeup (Thanks to my Criminal Justice & Psychology schooling), but honestly the justice system, by & large, favors the wealthy & you’re going to see very few wealthy folks in prisons’ general population.
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It’s almost as if Jails, especially the Super Jails, are made to imprison and punish “robbin’ hoods”, non-affiliated money makers and miscellaneous “undesirables”.
Created by the super wealthy class of “elites”, for the rich and famous. Kinda gross, but that’s real. Thank you sharing your professional and (actual) expert observations.
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I enjoy reading your stuff a lot. Hope to hear your voice on the show again (& again) soon.
I guess that means I’m an outlaw. Cool.
Thanks for lettin’ me ride with The Gang. Makes me want to listen to more of Woodie’s music.
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Take a listen to this song: https://youtu.be/d_3dVLtbMZI?si=keL6JsDqTwPj2-EQ
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