The mariner is following the Ferguson, Missouri conflict. He feels there is a much larger conflict than the current troubles in Ferguson. If inequality and abuse of one class against another is a time bomb, Ferguson is the perfect example of a fuse for that bomb.
Ferguson was a “perfect storm” situation: low income town; majority black population; oppressive white law enforcement – all waiting for the spark. The overkill of Michael Brown was that spark.
What has happened is further oppression by law enforcement, causing even more rebellion, leading to looting, increased violence, a collapse in processes of government and a collapse of meager commerce in Ferguson. One cannot help but draw comparisons to Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
Ideally, but not achievable, is to remove the cause of oppression: the police department. The mariner believes the State Of Missouri had good intentions when it deposed the authority of Police Chief Joe Belmar. However, State Police Captain Ron Brown, after making a fine gesture of cooperation, has made a wrong decision to bring in further oppression with heavy duty, military style equipment. Dressing police in alien uniforms straight out of a video game further separates police from blacks. Now, Governor Jay Nixon brings in the National Guard.
As of the census of 2010, Ferguson had a population of 22,406. The racial makeup of the city was 29.3% White, 67.4% African American, and 1.5% other races. State police and the National Guard, along with military ordnance, have been brought to Ferguson to control a fraction of 15,000 African Americans.
The mariner provides these details to show clearly the imbalance and improper but probable reaction by government. Imagine that Ferguson is first in many outbreaks caused by the inequalities of race and US economic policy.
Dast we suffer an overthrow by the likes of Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins before society can be reformed by Paul Barras and the Thermidorian Convention (French Revolution)? Perhaps this reference is too erudite. Dare we suffer an overthrow by Ted Cruz, the tea party and its associates before we can return to a balanced democratic society with a balanced economy? This is not a farfetched analogy considering the behavior of four Governors and Congress in response to humanitarian troubles on US borders, in many southern states and latent turmoil in under employed cities.
Meanwhile, CEOs earn 12.3 million a year – 354 times the salary of an average worker.
As Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake.”
Ancient Mariner