Republicans Still Taking The Focus Off Real Issues Using Reagan's Bible of Distress

 

                                                                         DG Farnsworth

The Republican uses the same old Reagan/Bush strategy today trying to tap discontent wherever possible.

...just like the Kentucky Republican congressman in BOMBASTIC GADFLIES.

Bombastic Gadflies

Incontrovertibly, the Reagan Bible of Distress reflects the watershed moment in US politics of the tactics Americans experience today: taking the focus off the real issues...that forever changed our country's politics--leading to what turns so many people off about our present political culture. This mode of political play established the real turning point. Of course, mudslinging, name-calling, evoking fear, and the like always existed in politics. However, the Reagan Bible of Distress legitimized the practice--portrayed it in a noble, glamorous light. This right-wing movement rejects modernity. Of course with Ronald Reagan, anti-communism remained the glue of his movement. And religion (the loosening of the country's morals) played a paramount significance in the rise of this Bible of Distress.

The Reagan Bible of Distress presents the candidate as an authorized ideological transformer and hard-edged partisan Republican. This strategy indoctrinated by Ronald Reagan reflects the same campaign that won George Herbert Walker Bush the presidency. A litany of subsequent Republican candidates since its inception have stood upon the model Republican agenda adapted to their state. All social issues pulled from the Reagan Bible of Distress rouse an impending pain...danger...fright (fear). (Remember, Ronald Reagan argued famously that Medicare meant the end of American freedom.) If the Republican candidate wins, he intimates he would try to outlaw abortion by signing a bill (if the Supreme Court allows it). About established resource centers for the family (like in Kentucky’s 1990 Education Reform Act) the candidate admonishes unwelcome social experiments that come into direct disagreement with the traditional values.

Like the Reagan/Bush strategy, the Republican candidate tries to tap discontent wherever possible. He may go after their state's working class, the sulky dissatisfied voter (blue-collar Democrats). After a candidate's spill about taxes way out of reach (even though Reagan ended up raising taxes and vigorously pursued deficit spending) he further emphasizes people remain without decent jobs--as a result of the state giving too much money to large unions. The Reagan Bible of Distress candidate eyes those who contributed to his campaign—BUSINESS. Hence, the Republican candidate proposes a weakening of environmental laws. Simply, if businesses would rally around the campaign...contribute those dollars, their administration would open the doors to their needs. Talk often abounds like pushing the state’s tourism...or maybe pressing for an acceleration in the state's timber industry. (However, that remains typical political idle talk.)

In short, like Reagan/Bush, the model-Republican candidate tries to tear away business...dislodge people frightened that the family is coming apart...tear away those thinking taxes are to the roof....and extract those with bad jobs. The Reagan Bible of Distress candidate believes if he can move all those elements--tear them away--toward him, he can be victorious. The candidate attempts to show he has substance....obtains the lofty road on moral principles, ethics...and tries to portray the Democratic candidate as simply one more shifty-eyed liberal Democrat. He may also spout the need to take the FOR SALE sign off the Capitol—to clean house.

Reagan felt the American way of life, the family, and individual rights were threatened by liberals. Reagan's movement formed a revolution that enlisted religious conservatives in the fight against abortion, gay rights, and crime, along with assorted social issues. The 40th president's major rival, Richard Nixon, in an internal memo, succeeds in representing and describing how so many folks viewed Ronald Reagan: "Reagan's strength derives from personal charisma, glamour, but primarily the ideological fervor of the Right and the emotional distress of those who fear or resent Blacks, and who expect Reagan somehow to 'keep him in his place' or at least to echo their own anger and frustration" (Longley, Mayer & Schaller, 2007, p. 76). 

Bombastic Gadflies Kindle Edition

Roman a Clef - BOMBASTIC GADFLIES: Exposing the Root of America's Money-Fueled Politics

                                                         
                                                                       

  

                                                           

         

 

                                                            
                                                    DG Farnsworth

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men
— John Adams

Bombastic Gadflies
Author Page

My first novel (published second)--"Bombastic Gadflies"-- demanded to be written. At its root is the inception of the chaotic, degrading money-fueled political climate Americans are trapped in today. "Bombastic Gadflies" is a roman a clef (actual persons/events disguised as fictional) about the protagonist's relationship with the daughter of a corrupt Republican US Congressman -- once the third-ranking member of the Armed Services Committee -- who pocketed the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress: free to take his campaign chest by running for Kentucky governor.

Foremost, I couldn't believe what I saw, heard, and experienced in regards to my life growing up with the daughter of a US Republican congressman and her family. And I couldn't help but wonder if I were seeing all this inequity...this corruption, these lies...this self-serving behavior--much for the congressman's financial gain...how many other public officials--congressmen in particular--were like this? Unfortunately, I felt the need to allow some of those involved that I based my story on to read the book pre-publishing before I planned to be interviewed on a local TV noon news show. I scrapped the interview and book since I lost life-long friends when they read it....got a lot of grief from folks, including family members. So, I figured it wasn't worth the hassle. Hence, this book set on the shelf for well over 10 years. Had the book been released at the time I wished it could have shed light on the inequity in the political climate. For example, this congressman who ran for governor of Kentucky in order to pocket $700 thousand (through a loophole, since changed) helped expose all the holes in the primary election system--the haphazard manner in which votes were counted...the total lack of knowledge about rules regarding "official" counts, etc...which may have had an impact on the 2000 election where "chads"...and the whole fiasco in the problematic Florida vote count monumentally affected the national presidential election. The Kentucky congressman I based my book on said George Herbert Walker Bush urged him to run for governor...and he used the same "Reagan Bible of Distress" that helped George Herbert Walker Bush win the presidential election: these are all the tactics, mudslinging, etc.--taking the focus off the issues--that we now see in politics today. (I explain in detail what the whole "Reagan Bible of Distress entails that changed politics forever in the US.) Certainly, it was this watershed moment over 20 years ago that mirrors the "new politics" we see today that turns so many folks off. But don't let the politics turn you off in this book; it's merely one storyline--a backdrop--of my entertaining story of related characters.

Bombastic Gadflies reveals political history and presents real historical figures alongside fictitious characters. What makes the novel most noteworthy and newsworthy: this congressman pocketed the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress, free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. In the House probe of check writers, the congressman remains among the worst abusers of the House Bank overdraft system scandal--guilty of 83 bad checks. The book blends imagination to portray ideas, attitudes, and tendencies of my life with a US Republican congressman and his daughter. And while "fiction" I maintained the truth throughout...

Congress in November of 1989 prohibited House members from pocketing any campaign money when they left office. However, there was a loophole: those in the House since January 8, 1980 could keep the money if they left Congress by 1992. Carey Lucas’ term runs through 1992. He was first elected in 1978. Most of the money was derived from special-interest contributors--those that would gain/lose from federal legislation. All during the campaign Lucas gave his word that he would not keep the campaign money for personal use...and to those questioning the former congressman about it, he quipped, "My word is good enough to dispel doubt." Taking money became an "option" when he decided he wouldn’t seek reelection to Congress...then, ran for Kentucky governor.

I had been reluctant to release this book (from personal perspective). Though "fiction" it reflects a great deal of my real life. I wrote this novel before I wrote my second book---the more creative, imaginative Superstar Passage The Reincarnation of Karen Carpenter. Basically, "Bombastic Gadflie"s reflects more "autobiographical"...and yes, imagination comes into play. But this book's more "imaginative" stringing events of my life--and the Kentucky gubernatorial race between my (former) best friend's dad (US congressman) and the millionaire horse breeder--to make a cohesive, entertaining piece.

I wrote this book over 10 years ago...rewrote it at least four times--until the recent final edit; where I removed a great deal of the book....re-arranged it from top to bottom...and added more prose. In the past, I felt reticent to release the novel due to its uncomfortable, painful, personal nature. However, I did allow my best friends from high school (whose opinions I respect) and a select few others to read it. They really liked the book and encouraged its release.

SYNOPSIS
The menu needed altered severely. Not fit to consume or eat: that's how folks viewed the politics served to them in Kentucky. Candidates didn't level with the people. Dishing out negative advertising throughout the campaign sickened voters. Forking over the most massive helpings of money—the key ingredient—enabled a Carey Lucas and Hayward Thomas primary victory. A diet of deceit and greed--consumed by the congressman and his daughter, Myra (the apple does not fall far from the tree). The congressman's daughter and best friend, Royce VanArsdale, lead exciting, rich, tumultuous lives in the Bluegrass' thoroughbred racing world. Royce VanArsdale and Leila Nichols share a rich lifelong history of eccentric, family secrets among the Bluegrass elite. Their friendship tears apart as the congressman's daughter weaves a web of deceit and lies. US Congressman Carey Lucas pockets the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress--$700-thousand--free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. Corruption of the Highest Order. Congressman Carey Lucas' actions reflect one of the reasons why the public holds Congress in such low esteem. It validates their concern that there are a lot of people who get into politics to benefit themselves financially. The money was not supposed to be a special interest pension fund, but was contributed to the Lucas election campaign. By running for governor against the millionaire horse breeder, Congressman Lucas could pocket that money (by not seeking another congressional term). The US representative broke that promise he made while running for governor—to "not keep any of that money." He put into his pocket what remained in his congressional campaign fund...bad politics, bad taste, and bad for the Republican party. The congressman misleads the public with press releases--including remarks about the Persian Gulf War (used to benefit his campaign). Protagonist Royce VanArsdale, along with others, fight anorexic behavior--struggling to tame their fight for perfection, demanded by extremely wealthy and successful families who often expect too much. The politics, itself—along with substance--is purely anorectic…

REVIEW: Université de Montréal, Psychiatrie, Faculty Member Vincenzo Di Nicola's Book "The Unsecured Present"

 

                                        DG Farnsworth

 “We see ourselves in others, you express someone else’s opinions, your partner acts out a neighbour’s desire. We live each other's lives.”

REVIEW: Vincenzo Di Nicola's Book "The Unsecured Present"

"You will be in good company as a reviewer ... with Maria Bosio, an Italian filmmaker from Rome who teaches at Harvard and Judith Balso, a French philosopher who teaches in Paris and in Switzerland."  - Vincenzo Di Nicola
The Unsecured Present
Vincenzo Di Nicola's Blog

“After Fernando,” the opening novella of “The Unsecured Present,” resonates with the provoking bipolarity of memory – that memory is a betrayal: When you try to remember, you have to betray either the person you were or the person you’ve become. Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa (living in fear of insanity) grasps for other ways of seeing – unable to trust his own memory and most fundamental cognitions. And although both novellas and the poetry in the book stand on their own, one may read the literary fiction and poetry (sandwiched between novellas) as a singular unique effort. Pessoa remains a familiar manifestation in the author’s work. The parochial connections that incorporate progression and perspective align the composition in a collective manner; so the comprehensive influence is much larger than that of the individual pieces.

“After Fernando” recognizes universality in the conflicts of the iconic outsider. The life of Ophélia Queiroz (former lover of Pessoa) unfolds in an imaginary dream “where she has constructed her perfect day by winnowing out the chaff of her life’s memories ...” The novella progresses in a talkative manner as the author vividly illuminates and reveals characters’ conflicted souls through those that surround them. The fragmented polyglot poet, who didn’t appear to touch the floor when he walked, incessantly suffered for his ability to see himself from the outside. He reveals that “countless lives inhabit us” – lives that often carry a greater sense of drama and action than our own lives seem to have. Obviously, Vincenzo Di Nicola remains cognizant that “the world is not yet done with Fernando.”

Commensurate with Fernando, the author weaves literary fiction and poetry together much “like a secret orchestra that must work together in harmony to create a symphony.” He alerts reader sensibilities and expands the limits of imagination. Poems (or “conversations”) exploit a language passion with meticulous detail, illustrating a collective richness throughout – whether playful, anguishing or dissonant. The Collective as the last stage towards supreme consciousness presents an enlightening, different view of a richer, fuller life in the novella “Crowd Theory.” Is the individual dead? As bees hive, sheep herd, geese gaggle and fish swarm, people crowd to form The Collective.

A recurring theme reflects seeing ourselves as others sees us on our way to evolutionary unity, which promotes that there is no existence without co-existence. “We see ourselves in others, you express someone else’s opinions, your partner acts out a neighbour’s desire. We live each other's lives.” Again, these ideas vex the audience’s thoughts and beliefs – often with the result of altering or changing a reader's perspective on life. The questions plaguing the central characters here reveal truths that offer the reader a deeper life understanding. The book examines the human condition, stimulating the audience towards some type of change, while the unsecured present flutters and remains in an irresolute or uncertain state of what could have been and what may yet be.

“The Unsecured Present” doesn’t actually fall in a commercial category where the plot often occurs above the surface. Instead, plots take place beneath the surface and in the minds, desires and hearts of the characters. Social expectations and cultural issues influencing character actions furnish another stratum. Most imperative are predilections, ideas and character motivations – along with underlying cultural and social threads that act upon them. What occurs in the world is not as noteworthy as what’s going on within the characters’ minds. Hence, the novellas’ climaxes may merely mirror something as simple as a new conviction or decision.

Vincenzo Di Nicola’s decision to focus more on writing style and ideology with more psychological depth which appeals to a more intellectually-minded audience reigns paramount. His talented writing technique stitches together “from all the fragments, the absences, the disavowals, the gaps, the erasures and the corrections—just one connected, complete and very personal, perfect day” with the poet called Fernando.

—DG Farnsworth, American freelance journalist, writer, and researcher
Author of “Bombastic Gadflies”

 

You Expect Truth When You Learn History: An Historian's Subjective Feelings Might Distort Presentation of Objective Events

                                                     DG Farnsworth

When you first learn history in grade school, you expect the truth. At times a version of history may not be fair because the historian favors one description of the event above the others. The reason for the history scholar's misleading account might be because it's consistent with his own system of beliefs. In other words, his subjective feelings might distort his presentation of objective events.

Cultural Bias

Cultural bias can affect a historian's objectivity. English historian E.H. Carr suggests that a reader should first examine a historian before studying his version of past events. For years a number of schools in the South downplayed the cruelty of slavery; they declared that slave owners acted kindly toward their human property. Slaveholders' misleading accounts of reality were a product of their cultural bias. Even in 2012 a Tennessee Tea Party group demanded that state lawmakers change textbooks for school curricula. The group insisted that history's portrayal of minorities doesn't veil the contributions or involvement of the Founding Fathers.

Religious Beliefs

Biblical historians may strive to influence your conduct today -- by changing past impressions. These history authorities let religious beliefs and moral opinions about life contaminate objectivity. For example, members of distinct religions desire people outside their culture to view Jesus Christ's dying on the cross from their own perspective. Their own cultural bias of history expects others to revere and glorify him. In 2010 the Texas State Board of Education, headed by conservative fundamentalist Christians, revised their textbook history policy. The board struck down amendments that emphasized teaching the usefulness of the separation of church and state. Submitted textbooks for Texas public schools are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. A watchdog group tracking fair-rights issues discovered religious bias in social studies textbooks. Inaccuracies include that Solomon and Moses influenced America's democracy; and that the Jewish people consider Jesus Christ a prominent prophet.

Impressionistic Political Views

Trying to affect your behavior by redefining history can be applied to political and social issues. A history scholar's fundamental beliefs can also taint fair or objective explanations, interpretations and descriptions from a political and social perspective. For example, in What Things May Affect a Historian's Objectivity, C. McCullagh states that a Marxist historian may characterize a revolt as a class struggle; yet, classes were not a factor in the revolution in any way. But the Marxist historian might view all historical revolts as class struggles, even if class weren't a factor -- just as a fundamentalist Christian might conceive the Earth as only 6,000 years old, contrary to geological evidence. Controlling the tendency toward a subjective viewpoint is difficult for historians.

Misinterpretation of Facts

Philosopher Neil Munro -- Pathways to Philosophy website -- suggests subjectivity is opposite of objectivity. A subjective approach requires historians to access the minds of those whose history they write. When a historian tries to realize how someone from another era thinks, he makes far too many cultural and language assumptions. Objectivity is easily lost in translation and misinterpretation of customs from another time period.

Gender relations are subject to interpretive assumptions by bias historians.This includes the idea that patriarchy is the natural human arrangement. Historians may dismiss any evidence of ancient female-led societies -- assuming that male dominance is biological and male-structured societies are the norm. Munro suggests historians who emphasize that their job is not simply to record facts but interpret them, are by definition adopting a subjective approach. McCullagh warns that historians often lose sight of objectivity through misinterpretation -- particularly evidence. He says a history writer may bring up evidence inferring a particular incident happened, but omit important facts proving it's impossible.

Wesleyan University: What Things May Affect a Historian's Objectivity: C. McCullagh; January 2011

http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/iakh/HIS4010/h11/undervisningsmateriale/HIS4010_McCullagh.pdf

Pathways to Philosophy: Objectivity in History; Neil Munro; November 2014

http://www.philosophypathways.com/essays/munro1.html

USU 1320: History and Civilization: History and What-Really-Happened; Damen; 2013

http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320hist&civ/chapters/01HIST.htm

Huffington Post: Tea Party Groups In Tennessee Demand Textbooks Overlook U.S. Founder's Slave-Owning History: Trymaine Lee; July 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/tea-party-tennessee-textbooks-slavery_n_1224157.html

The Washington Post: Proposed Texas textbooks are inaccurate, biased and politicized, new report finds; Valerie Strauss; September 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/12/proposed-texas-textbooks-are-inaccurate-biased-and-politicized-new-report-finds/

DeColonizing Our History: The Myth of Ancient Patriarchy; Mimi Yahn

http://decolonizingourhistory.com/histories-2/half-the-human-race/myth-of-ancient-patriarchy/

No Female Characters in Movies Today: Only Men's Ideas of Them

                                                   DG Farnsworth

The Only Female Characters in Movies Today Are Men's Ideas of Them

Isn’t it sexist to say “strong female character?” What makes any character compelling are flaws. To add the word “female” infers a distinction between strong female and male characters. A strong female character entails curiosity, goals, intention, and strength in vulnerability and flaws. Angelina Jolie frequently appears so tough and sure of herself that it becomes banal.

The strong character attempts to take an active role and control her life. The female isn’t a victim of circumstance but the story’s driving force, and doesn’t sit back while another takes charge. The strong character possesses something intangible, making her strong.

Annoying writers try to develop strong female characters by masculinism: putting the woman in a male stereotypical position, combined with a bad ass attitude (for example, Megan Fox’s character is a sexy mechanic specialist; or, the woman outdrinks the male).

Love interest and damsel in distress characters regularly remain solely to motivate the primary male characters, possibly to propel the plot. There’s nothing wrong with a strong female character caring about her hair or being a girlfriend if she retains a strong inner characteristic. Making a female character strong just so that she’s a greater prize in the end for the story’s male hero is never appropriate. 

Sometimes men in movies fear their power can be diminished by women who are independent, successful, and ambitious; and will avoid their type to not appear weaker or less significant. Manufactured strong female characters tend to settle because of an inability to find an equal male desiring their company. Supposedly strong female character Megan Fox in “Transformers” with hot model looks and wonderful in every way ends-up with unemployed loser Shia La Beouf. Why?

Amazon: DG Farnsworth Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, etc.

HISTORICAL FICTION: Bombastic Gadflies by DG Farnsworth

                                                        DG Farnsworth

                              HISTORICAL FICTION: Bombastic Gadflies

Bombastic Gadflies

This well-researched novel falls in the category of historical fiction: it reveals Kentucky political history and presents real historical figures alongside fictitious characters. What makes the novel most noteworthy and newsworthy: this congressman pocketed the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress, free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. In the House probe of check writers, this U.S congressional representative still remains among the worst abusers of the House Bank overdraft system scandal -- guilty of 83 bad checks. The book blends imagination to portray ideas, attitudes, and tendencies of my life with a corrupt U.S. Republican congressman and his daughter. And while "fiction," I rarely stray far from the essence of the truth observed, myself, or experienced from the mouth of the congressman's daughter...

Congress in November of 1989 prohibited House members from pocketing any campaign money when they left office. However, there was a loophole: those in the House since January 8, 1980 could keep the money if they left Congress by 1992. Carey Lucas’ term ran through 1992 -- first elected in 1978. Most of the PAC money was derived from special-interest contributors -- those that would gain/lose from federal legislation. All during his Kentucky gubernatorial campaign, Lucas repeatedly promised he would not keep the campaign  PAC money for personal use...and to those questioning the former congressman about it, he quipped, "My word is good enough to dispel doubt." (Taking money became an "option" when he decided he wouldn’t seek reelection to Congress...then, ran for Kentucky governor.)

The Kentucky congressman who inspired Bombastic Gadflies repeatedly reported to the public that George Herbert Walker Bush urged him to run for governor...and he used the same "Reagan Bible of Distress" that helped George Herbert Walker Bush win the presidential election: This political period reflects a watershed moment in America's political history; where we witness the inception of the tactics, mudslinging, etc. -- taking the focus off the issues -- that currently remain the norm in politics today .Personally, I had been reluctant to release the book. As a  roman à clef -- or autobiographical fiction -- the novel mirrors much of my life. I wrote it before I wrote my second novel -- the more creative, imaginative Superstar Passage The Reincarnation of Karen Carpenter. Basically, Bombastic Gadflies consists of  more "autobiographical" material...and yes, imagination comes into play. But this book is defined as more "imaginative" by the stringing together of my actual life events -- and the Kentucky gubernatorial race between my (former) best friend's dad (US congressman) and the millionaire horse breeder -- to make a cohesive, entertaining "fictional" portrayal...

I wrote this book over 10 years ago...rewrote it at least four times. In the the final edit, I removed a substantial portion of the novel -- re-arranged it from top to bottom. The final edition maintains an anorexia nervosa theme -- modeled after the Anorexia Multiforme research of Montreal mentor psychiatrist Dr. Vincenzo Di Nicola.

SYNOPSIS
The menu needed altered severely. Not fit to consume or eat: that's how folks viewed the politics served to them in Kentucky. Candidates didn't level with the people. Dishing out negative advertising throughout the campaign sickened voters. Forking over the most massive helpings of money -- the key ingredient -- enabled a Carey Lucas and Hayward Thomas primary victory. A diet of deceit and greed -- consumed by the congressman and his daughter, Myra (the apple does not fall far from the tree)...

The congressman's daughter and best friend, Royce VanArsdale, lead exciting, rich, tumultuous lives in the Bluegrass of Kentucky's thoroughbred horse-racing world. Royce VanArsdale and Leila Nichols share a rich lifelong history of eccentric, family secrets among the Bluegrass elite. Their friendship tears apart as the congressman's daughter weaves a web of deceit and lies. US Congressman Carey Lucas pockets the largest pool of money of any departing member of Congress -- $700-thousand -- free to take his campaign chest by not running for office. Corruption of the Highest Order.

Congressman Carey Lucas' actions reflect one of the reasons why the public holds Congress in such low esteem: it validates their concern that there are a lot of people who get into politics to benefit themselves financially. The money, contributed expressly for a congressional election campaign, was not deemed to be a special-interest pension fund. By running for governor against the millionaire horse breeder, Congressman Lucas was able to pocket that money (by not seeking another congressional term).

The US representative broke the repeated promise he made while running for governor -- to "not keep any of that money." The former congressman -- at one time the third highest ranking member on the Armed Services Committee -- pocketed what remained of his congressional campaign fund...bad politics, bad taste, and bad for the Republican party. The congressman misleads the public with press releases -- including remarks about a missing Lexington pilot in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War (misinformation used to unethically benefit his campaign).

Protagonist Royce VanArsdale, along with assorted characters, fight anorexic behavior -- struggling to tame a fight for perfection, demanded by extremely wealthy and successful families who often expect too much. The politics, itself (along with substance) is purely anorectic….

Is So Much Swearing in Novels Necessary?

So often in literature today swearing is somewhat lazy -- the easy way out -- and intended to sensationalize. Of course in Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" swearing proves realistic during a war. But then one could argue that it's not all about a writer's word choice but realizing his characters and situations well -- which indicates the language they use. The writer can't make choices about character expression independent of the character's own reality. Swearing in context can enhance a novel and give it the intended reality of the author. But can't one describe the faces of their characters, or depict the hatred of one character for another, and make a clear indication how insulting a fight/argument is between characters without swearing? A writer can offer a description of a character as dirty-mouthed without spelling out the swear words in a given situation.

A reader finds the C-word in D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover." But he employs the word in a manner that makes it a good word. Lawrence isn't trying to provoke the reader with the word...be negative about it...but illustrate how characters using the word revealed their sexual passion. Swearing has to reflect the tone and voice to be necessary. While a writer needs to use some self restraint with swearing in novels, he can't back away from the reality people swear, either. Isn't word choice and diction a totally imperative element of style? I just don't think one can reach literature's higher heights with swearing.

Isn't swearing the likely initial resort of the inarticulate?

I suppose it is a universal concept that so many find swearing offensive. Otherwise, it wouldn't be blanked out so often in assorted media. And yes, swearing may prove useful for strong characterization if appropriate--along with reflecting one more facet of man's character, which all relate to. Literature is about telling the truth. It sort of comes down to common decency: consideration for the sensitive folks (you really don't want to upset those folks turned-off by swearing in print). Although we all agree vulgarity for vulgarity's sake merely offers cheap shock value, the writer still retains the freedom to express himself however he wants.

Swearing basically involves a writer's diction choice and in reality has nothing to do with offending someone or not. It's okay if the writer uses the diction (swearing) appropriately to get his meaning across. In essence, a writer doesn't want to create reader displeasure with swearing's mere shock value. But he also should not totally avoid swearing if deemed appropriate to the subject...unless writing escapist literature. Or for the sake of argument...would it really even be about "escapism?" Maybe literature without swearing reaches the higher heights of literature by designing something greater than duplicating every detail of daily life. Personally, I think the real optimal idea behind good literature is to allow the reader a view that reaches beyond daily life. Perhaps a writer should give his characters much more than realism--an imaginative realism that makes them a lot more real than real. Doesn't that make good art?