I feel much better now, having vented about two of my least favorite cultures…my least favorite for sure, at least here the U.S. of C. (United States of Capitalism), being the banking culture. Don’t get me wrong, I do feel capitalism is probably the best economic system. Doesn’t mean part of it isn’t broken and needs fixing. 

If you were, say, five years old and had a dime you were proud of, and someone, say ten, convinces you to trade the dime for a nickel…because it’s bigger and thus must be better, is that an a-hole move? 

Before I get all worked up over a-hole #4, the A-hole of a-holes; the king of the shit pile; the a-hole(s) for the ages; the most arrogant coup in history, I gotta give credence to Angel #3: Peewee Johnson of Lake Vermilion.

Ok, let’s assume cultures are dynamic. They change…either evolve or devolve, I guess you could say. Evolve to benefit the community at large or devolve to benefit only a certain population of that community.  My little rant is, of course, related to the latter. 

Culture is defined by “The American Heritage Dictionary” as: the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns…of a community or population.” Like Angels and Assholes some cultures allow for gratifying behaviors some for astonishingly asshole behaviors. A thought is that we may not necessarily act independently out of free will and choice, but as pawns of the established codes of a culture. 

For my second ‘Angel’ I’m keeping it all in the family. The same son that goaded Asshole #2 into exasperation loves his mother. His mother, Mary, also my wife naturally, had to drop out of high school her senior year as we were starting our family a little early. 

Ok, let’s start with the assumption that no one’s born an asshole. I don’t give credence to the ‘bad seed’ theory. So, something happens in their lives to make them one, some vitamin/hormonal deficiency causes lapses in normal, acceptable behavior. 

I admit to winning most skirmishes with humility and my modest wife is always accusing me of (excessive) self-promotion, consequently to make her happy, I’m using myself for the “angel” example. 

We all run into assholes. I’m sure you’ve wondered, as I have: why do people do asshole things? Why would anyone want to be an asshole?