The Main Gate

“The Main Gate” broadcasted by Man at the Microphone, details the atmosphere and architectural structures of Washington in a predominately negative light, even referring to it as “the greatest god damn insane asylum in the universe.” Much has changed about Washington since the time this was written; especially in the quality of its design and architecture. The essay discusses the lack of available housing and the poor conditions of those that were available. It also highlights the lack of available office space and additionally outlines the inadequacies and lack of Landry mats and restaurants. Obviously DC today is a bustling urban center with and abundance of restaurants, apartment buildings and office stapes. He also refers to a successful public transportation system as a “poe-esque fantasy”, which although currently still has its shortcomings, has come a long way from a fantasy. However there is much that remains the same about the city’s atmosphere many of the people and politics have remained the same. The city is still jammed with young federal employees who stay up to date on war gossip and political humor and feel the constant need to talk about their jobs and connections. Merit and experience does not always play as large of a role as it should and while the crazy quilt connections as the author refers to them are still rather significant. Overall, although times have changed and technology has advanced Washington is still often full of “confusion, conflict, contradictions, chaos, and crazy quilt connections” as the man on the microphone described it to be five and a half decades earlier.