The first time I saw one of these unmarked buses, I thought it was just a fancy foreign tourist bus. Then I found out the truth*- they're luxury "Google buses" that transport Google employees to and fro between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. They use public bus stops, often nudging out public transit buses so that they have to pick up their working class passengers in the middle of the street. These Google riders are the same elitist slime that are currently doubling rents in SF (already amongst the highest in the land) and encouraging landlords to evict elderly tenants, single mothers, you name it. They come and take at will, they expect to be served and catered to, and those who make less must defer and exit in their presence- they make no apology, offer no compromise, and if you complain or call them on their unlimited greed and callousness, will simply dismiss you as a whining loser. Case closed; earbuds need not be removed.
It's high time these people were made less comfortable, less welcomed. These ass wipes need to be taken down a few notches; I'm not advocating violence, I am advocating that they contribute and share- or get the fuck out. I'm not talking about nickel and dime contributions to a coupla charities, that doesn't in any way compensate for the long time residents they're single handedly kicking out. It's high time they realized they too are imperfect humans with faults and imperfections, and that they must share this space in a fair and equitable manner with fellow humans of all economic levels. Or... get the fuck out!
* if you think I exaggerate their complete arrogance and overriding ignorance- just read their comments...
* if you think I exaggerate their complete arrogance and overriding ignorance- just read their comments...
3 comments:
Welcome to unbridled capitalism.
Nothing to do with welcoming, everything to do with forced exclusion/inclusion...
I'm new to the Bay Area -- moved here in 2012. I've lived all over the country, but mostly in the Midwest, and also a long stint in the south. Here's my take...
Yes, these tech workers are a bunch of spoiled brats. Most grew up upper middle class, had college paid for by their parents, and then walked into a high paying job. Their only life experience has been booming job market. None has known a hardship. And, they believe their success is completely of their own making, had nothing to do with timing and luck. So yeah, I generally agree with you.
On the flip side, for every Californian that's been displaced by these 20 year old wonders, there is another Californian who has been made rich by the endlessly rising housing market. Anyone who bought in during the 80s or 90s has made a killing. The tech boom made a lot of regular people millionaires.
Then there is a third way of looking at it. Come out to Concord where I live. We aren't tech millionaires. We all have middle class jobs and are raising families. The ridiculous cost of housing is a huge strain. In most families both parents have long commutes and the kids spend all day in daycare or at the grandparent's house. The misery and hopelessness of everyday life in Concord is worse than anywhere else I've lived. Lots of our friends are stuck in a cycle of renting and will never get any financial traction. They live like slaves with no hope for improvement.
The worst part, to me, is the lack of culture in the Bay Area. With prices this high there is no hope for artists, musicians, and writers. Same goes for restaurants and entertainment. Things are stagnant. Either you got in when things were reasonable and rode the wave, or you got left behind. It's nearly impossible to start anything new unless it's backed by big corporate dollars. Maybe that's OK because all anyone does is work to keep up. Who has time to go out and listen to a band or check out a gallery, and who has the money? Those tech kids are at google 80 hours a week. The rest of us are stuck in traffic.
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