From the Associated Press:

A publicist for George Carlin says the legendary comedian has died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jeff Abraham says Carlin went into St. John’s Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. PDT. He was 71.

Although Carlin’s prime may have slightly preceded my generation, I would be remiss to not mention the profound influence watching his old HBO specials had on the development of my own personal political consciousness. Carlin’s scathing critiques of American foreign policy, capitalist “freedom,” and religious dogma provided a hilarious and often profound respite from mainstream political dialogue before I discovered alternative media and other radical forums for interpreting and discussing our modern world.

Witness Carlin in a guest spot on Bill Maher’s Real Time perfectly dissecting what “choice” means in a capitalist democracy. (see video below the fold)

(Image courtesy of georgecarlin.com)

All of this back and forth and debate implies that there are really choices in this country. That we really have choices. “Freedom of choice.” It’s an illusion … let me say one thing about choice. There is no real choice. They say “freedom of choice.” You’re given an illusion of choice. Americans are meant to feel free by the exercise of meaningless choices … you know what the choices are in this country? Paper or plastic. Aisle or window. Smoking or non-smoking. Those are your real choices. You don’t get to choose anything in this country.