The John Galts of San Francisco
by digby
The other day I linked to a video featuring what turned out to be a bit of activist street theatre (or a hoax, depending on your point of view...)A lot of people were offended that anyone would be so clumsily O'Keefish, one even demanding that I apologize for using the "slur" --- "nasty Google boy."
Well, there was more than a little bit of truth in that hoax, as it turns out. Get a load of this "start-up" guru:
Just got back to SF. I've traveled around the world and I gotta say there is nothing more grotesque than walking down market st in San Francisco. Why the heart of our city has to be overrun by crazy, homeless, drug dealers, dropouts, and trash I have no clue. Each time I pass it my love affair with SF dies a little.
The difference is in other cosmopolitan cities, the lower part of society keep to themselves. They sell small trinkets, beg coyly, stay quiet, and generally stay out of your way. They realize it's a privilege to be in the civilized part of town and view themselves as guests. And that's okay.
In downtown SF the degenerates gather like hyenas, spit, urinate, taunt you, sell drugs, get rowdy, they act like they own the center of the city. Like it's their place of leisure... In actuality it's the business district for one of the wealthiest cities in the USA. It a disgrace. I don't even feel safe walking down the sidewalk without planning out my walking path.
You can preach compassion, equality, and be the biggest lover in the world, but there is an area of town for degenerates and an area of town for the working class. There is nothing positive gained from having them so close to us. It's a burden and a liability having them so close to us. Believe me, if they added the smallest iota of value I'd consider thinking different, but the crazy toothless lady who kicks everyone that gets too close to her cardboard box hasn't made anyone's life better in a while.
It's hard to believe this isn't a hoax too, but he is a real guy. And he later apologized and removed the post from his Facebook page.
"If they added the smallest iota of value I'd consider thinking different."
His contribution to the economy appears to be running an event planning company that organizes contests for new app inventors and then facilitates "parties" for the winners to meet investors. I guess that adds "value" but it's not like he's Steve Jobs or anything. In fact, the John Galt guys probably look at him the same way he looks at the crazy toothless: a parasite or, at best, a moocher. Funny how that works.
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