The very-energetic Joe Konrath continues his point-by-point refutation of the idea that Amazon is the devil. Me, I’m still contemplating the seemingly-unrelated (but we know it’s all connected, somehow) U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the religiosity of the corporate person. So I’m reading Joe and this little quote fell out of context and into my lap:

“The energy required to refute stupidity is exponentially larger than the stupidity itself.”

As a friend of mine commented with respect to the Supremes that those who are upset about the decision and those who are pleased with it seem to be having two entirely different conversations. Each accuses the other of missing the point. Which is hardly surprising. Talking past one another has become the national pastime.

It’s tempting to ignore it all; is it possible? My friend says no, it isn’t possible.

Moreover, she says, putting my head in the sand only leaves me with sand in my ears and my ass in the air. Which may be true. I am loathe to be like former first lady Barbara Bush, who in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina refused to fill her beautiful mind with thoughts about the sad plight of others. But Barbara’s ass wasn’t in the air. It was nicely enrobed in finery, cushioned on a quality damask-upholstered chaise. What is a normal person to do?

I like Amazon. I like that I can publish, and purchase, quirky, hard to find books and ebooks and fill my own (occasionally beautiful) mind with thoughtful stories and interesting ideas without going broke in the process. Have you priced a bookstore hardcover lately? Have you had much luck finding indie works at your local Barnes & Noble? It isn’t Amazon that’s putting bookstores out of business. It’s readers who’ve made their choice. Welcome to the world.

I don’t like the Hobby Lobby decision, any more than I liked Citizens United, or the decision that placed George W. Bush in the White House in 2000. The Supremes seem intent on reshaping the rule of law to conform to some corporate dystopia in which only those with millions to spend get a seat at the table.

Again, welcome to the world.

Meanwhile, I’m re-reading Gore Vidal’s Empire, historical fiction set 100 years ago, when the U.S. was getting ready to seize control of half of the world, birth control was illegal in the U.S, and money, property, and lineage were the yardsticks by which power was measured and bestowed.

Same as it ever was.