Fast-Tracking to Anarchy

"If nothing else good comes out of our crisis, perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call for the entire nation. It's time to put our shoulders to the wheel to solve our problems.

Doing nothing is not an option for America. Much of poor America, especially in our major cities, has been Third World America for decades. Soon the urban middle classes and even upper classes will become better acquainted with that world."
- Janet Travakoli, Huffington Post

Remember a few posts ago, I promised that Piccolo would keep you laughing through some pretty serious issues? Just to be sure you don't think we're a fluffy group of actors who dream only of slapstick and slop scenes and door slamming, here are a couple of links and some reading to help you see the meat of our matter.

I can think of no single article to better summarize the "hot topics" in "Low Pay? Don't Pay!" than this article from Wednesday's Huffington Post. I urge you to give it a read here: Fast Tracking to Anarchy. It's not about the kind of anarchy that may immediately come to mind, but something much more real and much more close to home.

Can Chicago realistically fix its own problems? Can Illinois? Do I dare even ask about our national government?

Travakoli has also written about Arianna Huffington's new book, Third World America: How Our Politicians are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream. I'm adding it to my reading list right now!

For some stunning visuals, visit Alison Wright Third World America Gallery. Click on Galleries on the left column and then scroll down to Third World America.

So now you see what we're talking about...which seems completely counter-intuitive to comedy, right? How does the hell does one laugh through all of this crap? When everything in the world seems to be turned against us average suckers? Playwright Dario Fo knows what he's doing. Stay tuned to the blog and you'll see!