The History of Co-Opting Outsider Literary Presses

In the past evil-doers at least had the common sense and courtesy to co-opt those who opposed them. It was a much easier, and the end cost effective way of neutralizing opposition than killing them or choosing to combat them infinitely. Just buy them. Make them part of the machine.

It was done quite frequently in America in the past in the news and publishing industry. If a group of insurgents was chapping your ass with their criticism, simply send them a check and they'll go away happy to smoke dope and bang on their bongos.

But the tactic went away in the 1980's. A new, arrogant nouveau reiche moved in and took over, and they didn't believe in the old ways. In fact, they didn't believe in anything but their own principles, which they took to have been given to them from god itself. Who compromises when god is involved?

In America, money is the truth, and they had the money, so whatever they spewed was de facto considered the truth to anyone who wished to follow in their path. And their god was pretty chill about allowing them to adopt a relaxed interpretation of the rules he set up for them. Unless it was other people breaking them. Then there was no lenience. 

For the first time all month I'm not selling anything here, so it feels good just to talk about Zombie Logic Press  

Fascism was defeated in the French elections today. Unfortunately we were not so lucky in America last November. The acension of the new faux Conservatives from religious kooks to full power has been fully realized. So much so that they have now declared their churches, and corporations (same thing) to be holy institutions with all the powers and privileges of human beings. They are not to be questioned, not to be taxed, and not to be asked to adhere to any rules whatsoever involving responsibility to their workers, customers, or the environment.

Their god has but one commandment: thous shalt turn a profit.

They have no need to co-opt the press because their adherents are so thoroughly under their spell they cannot be awoken to even present them with facts. 

Rockford Pages Outsider Poet Thomas L. Vaultonburg Writes Second Children's Book

Outsider poet Thomas L. Vaultonburg, jammer for the Rockford Pages outsider poetry slam team, has finished his second children's book, Atrocious Poems A To Z, to be released June 9th.

This morning he's up early to promote the book and get an early start on the Churchill Grove garage sales. The only thing he has in mind that he's looking for is a mid century orange wave chair and cassette tapes of horror movie soundtracks. 

Another one of my squad goals today is to sell a copy of my latest book to someone. Anyone. 

Atrocious Poems A To Z is a book about all the things that kids love to hate. 

My brain isn't awake enough to do a competent sales pitch today. Three years ago the people down the street put out a bunch of VHS tapes for a quarter each. I found one with Lana Turner and a killer cat. This morning I really don't have anything in mind I'm looking for except vinyl and cassettes, VHS, Hot Wheels, books, and old typewriters. I've never found a redline Hot Wheel anywhere but on Ebay. One time at the Pec Thing I found a Beach Bomb that was in acceptable condition, but I wanted a copper one, and eventually bought one on Ebay.

Here come the lurkers. We usually do a garage sale this day, too, so I never get to go out. But Jenny didn't want to do it this year because we're already way overscheduled with the art show and the book and a million other things so I'm up and ready. I've never gotten a crack at all the stuff before it's been picked over.

Now everyone in the house is awake and people are starting to line up all down the street to get the good stuff first. I've learned not to panic about it too much because I buy almost everything I'm interested in on Ebay now. It's just so much easier to find a really nice one from a reputable seller who has a track record.

Like Zombie Logic Press has a track record with books. Atrocious Poems A To Z is the fourth book in the Rock River Literary Series, and it's printed right here in the United States in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

You don't have to wait for people to open their garage doors, you can order yours now. 

Atrocious Poems A To Z