VLVL2 (1) Zoyd's WORK

[Terrance]

> Though, the government only wants him to do "something publicly crazy" by a
> certain date each year (3.11). The particular manifestation of craziness is
> Zoyd's choice, and he takes a distinct though bizarre pride in both his
> apparel and the performance itself (cf. his not telling Prairie about the
> "sugar window"), as well as in the quality of its televisation. 


Yes, this is a very important point. It is,  for example,  Z's
**choice** to put on a dress. Z wants a dress that will look good on the
Tube. And he gets the dress because his plan is to do something 
different this year (go up to a logger bar in a dress with Cheryl's
pretty little chain saw and destroy some of the property there instead
of jumping through a window). 


Notice how Berger deal with this fact (Z's **choice** to wear a dress). 

(BTW, Berger says the dress is a K-mart dress). 



 Also, they choose the set, the location, the window. And, as Buster
reminds him, Z's particular manifestations of insanity (his MO or
jumping through glass) is what they want him to do for the money. He
needs to do the same thing each year. Like any actor he tires of the
same old routine and wants to "be creative" but the paying public (the
government, tax payer,  Tube business, Tube audience) wants to see Z
jump through glass.  

But, yeah,
> Berger's got a point, though there's certainly complicity on Zoyd's part
> (and it's worth comparing this with how Frenesi and Flash have also ended up
> on the government payroll as well.)

Yup! 


> 
> But I don't really see this as a form of employment: it is only a once a
> year performance so that he will keep getting his "mental-disability check",
> which is pretty much the same as an unemployment benefit. 


OK, but Zoyd works for the government. 

More importantly, disability and unemployment are **not** the same
thing. 

Like unemployment insurance, Workers pay into an insurance fund and if
they become disabled, they can collect a benefit. The government merely
collects and disburses the money -- much like a private insurance
company would. 

A little history: 

Disability was not part of the the 1935 SS Act, but is a program that
began in  the 1950's. It was one of LBJ's babies. The great deal maker
got it passed, but making great deals requires compromise. 

Reagan wanted to gut it. 

The Congress didn't. 

Reagan used his **presidential powers**  to gut it. Putting thousands
upon thousands of mentally disabled people out on streets. 


http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/0302/0302ft5.html



I guess his yabbie
> sideline with RC and Moonpie out along Phantom Creek is something though.


Yup. Z has rackets like everyone else in the novel.