The World Keeps Turning As Wealthy Wall Street Fat Cats Party & Justice A Joke
Posted: Saturday, January 14, 2012
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
The world is not only turning, it is spinning in a vicious circle of unfairness; America is becoming a land where justice is warped, crime is looked upon as entertainment and morals are a joke. Even though I am a real “pollyanna,” I am finding it more and more difficult to see a positive spin to the way our country is going.
Every night as I view the news with Jim, my husband, we talk about whom we would vote for and if, indeed it will be of any use to vote. We have always gone out and voted, even if we have to choose the less of two evils, but it is getting harder and harder. Just this week, I guess the stops were pulled out and now all the nasty, blaming and lying ads for those who are running for office have begun. In my opinion, this very act discourages voting.
I see the unfairness of it all every time I go to Walmart and see children begging for cookies their parents cannot afford and at the same time, I see parents hunting for the cheapest brand for soup or ground beef. These parents are clad in their work uniforms and will go home and prepare for another day of hard work.
“I see the unfairness of it all every time I go to Walmart and see
children begging for cookies their parents cannot afford and at the same
time, I see parents hunting for the cheapest brand for soup or ground
beef.”
A huge share of the nation's economic growth over the past 30 years has gone to the top one-hundredth of one percent, who now make an average of $27 million per household. The average income for the bottom 90 percent of us? $31,244 .
Think what a family could do with $31,244 a year but more to the point, think what a family cannot do with 31,244?
What about those who are receiving minimum wage? Here is more sobering information:
Increase in real value of the minimum wage since 1990: 21%
Increase in cost of living since 1990: 67%
One year's earnings at the minimum wage: $15,080
Many Americans are only a paycheck away from being homeless. They are weary of broken promises and explaining to their children that they cannot afford cookies this week. Their cousins and uncles have served in the military and fought for this country, yet the people who are awarded with financial gain are many times, the very people who have caused this recession because of greed. It not only feels like the knife has been plunged into our guts but that the knife is even turned, as they venture out on their jet set lives and “pity” the little guy.
As a writer, my responsibility is to submit an idea of what could be done to improve this situation. I have to admit that I don’t have any answers.
I do think that we (as a country) are waking up and realizing what is happening. I applaud the movements that are going on in our country now.
"It it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest?"
Milton Friedman
“Urban poverty is a rarely discussed issue in Washington, one that has no voice or political spearhead behind it. Until the pangs of the hungry begin to forge our moral platitudes into political "will" that structurally develops effective, radical urban policy that understands poverty as bad business and a sin, the cycle of poverty will continue and our children will go hungry for yet another summer...fall, winter and spring.” Reverand Gregory Seal Livingston from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.
Sources:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattanroad_warriors_V1XUpQ18au76hnBSfRvDyK#ixzz1jYisve3K
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/
This Article has been viewed 471 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)And let's not forget the travel expenses of the Obama's vacations on the taxpayer dollar that we have paid for via taxpayers:
the daily mail . com uk has article of costs exceeding 10 million for Obama vacations.
These numbers don't look like cut backs in a recession to me.
Not including the 4 Million dollar Hawaii vacation over Christmas..the link that has kept up with US News and World Reports of expenses and posted them in this article.
Yes, corporate fat cats get too much money, but at least most provide jobs....so when we run them all into overseas bank accounts and all mfg is in third world countries with their money...and the goverment is the main supplier of jobs; the hippies of the sixties will have their Utopia of all are equal=POOR
We have all been sold a bill of goods, it isn't the 1% against the 99% or vice versa, it's all politicians are liars who take the 'CORPORATE fat cat donations" LEFT AND RIGHT, at the same time trashing their reputations in a cycle of proclaiming we are taking care of you, when actually politicians on both sides are taking us for a ride, and serving some dangerous KOOLAID.
A house divided against itself cannot stand, and America needs both the corporate fat cats, and the disappearing middle class to survive....Jesus said "the poor you have with you always". I have never gotten a job from a poor man. I do know a divisive politician when I hear one, and the Bible tells us to 'warn a divisive man once or twice and have nothing more to do with him"
I look at both sides and watch them play this election game, and see our country divided against one another, while no one holds these people accountable for the lies they make at the podium while asking for our votes. Someone should write down all they say, and then watch while they do just the opposite of what they promise, and I've been keeping a mental list.
I do not like what I see...and I don't see any candidate I can jump up and down to vote for in 2012 yet!"I look at both sides and watch them play this election game, and see our country divided against one another" Yes, games are being played, while our country gets deeper and deeper into trouble.
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Who do we vote for when they all seem to be liars? Do we vote for the lesser or two evils?
Thanks for your sincere and intelligent comments on this article, Elle.In the past it has been occasionally the lesser of two evils.
Today, we are facing some changes of Biblical proportions that I believe will NOT be what so many thought at the onset, and there will be no going back.
For America to fit into a UN global gov't it must be no better than any other country there, and certain persons intend for that to happen, no matter what we want...it's called leveling the playing field.
There was a joke circulating in the last election:
"A man is trying to decide who to vote for, so one takes him down to hell and shows him one great party, and there is music, food, and lots of alcohol and drugs....then he goes up the elevator to heaven and he sits around on a few clouds with St Peter. Finally he decides to vote for the other guy with the party. Then after voting he wakes up the next day and Satan comes to collect, and when they get off the elevator in hell, there are people in rags cleaning up a mess, with old clothes and no food anywhere, and no A/C.
The guy says to Satan, but you promised partying, food and good times...the devil laughs and said "Yesterday we were campaigning, today we are in control"
That's about the truth of election promises.This joke seems pretty close to reality! Thanks, Elle You are right, certain ones will try and "level" our society....maybe they already have!
You make some great points, Fran. Personally I believe that there are just a few changes to our system which would turn things around: term-limits, campaign finance reform so there isn't pay-for-play, regulations which ban conflicts of interest with our politicians and enforcement of laws already on our books which would / should have prevented the financial meltdown that occurred in 2008. Yet many are staunchly opposed to these common-sense, proven ideas.
I believe what is happening is that America is at a crossroad, change is inevitable and we are being forced to finally have the conversation about what kind of country we want ours to be. For me, this conversation can't come soon enough.
There isn't any going back, no matter how many want to. There is only forward.Bruce, I also believe that there are changes that could turn things around, but how can we see these changes occur if no one who is running for office will have a platform for positive changes?
How could we inspire a politician to do the right thing?
Thanks for your positive spin on this. I guess things had to get worse and people have to wake up before they could get better.
There are real fat cats. I often joke that I lost my job at Travelers due to layoff because Travelers was bringing in Primerica and the head dude (I will not ever mention his name) was getting $92 million salary. So I was laid off along with other higher level traders and financial analysts. Yuck!
Having said that, I think it's obscene how the head honchos get mucho dollars, in outrageous difference to the other workers. That's not to mention the perks. But at least the corporations provide jobs.
I think it's obscene how much people in entertainment receive. Downright obscene!
I think it's obscene how much people in sports get. And that gets me into foaming fury. Most of them are creeps.
And just how much do they give back or employ how many people. Obscene.
Lets look at Congress. Some of these creeps get in there and make a lifetime of "giving for their constituents." Giving my foot. I feel they have no right, NONE, to Social Security or Medicare. They don't contribute. So give it up! Nor should they get the outrageous pensions they get. And lets not even talk about the crappy Obamacare crappy crap. The congressional types can get the same healthcare their "boss" wants to give us. Not their own special insurance. Grrrrrrrr
All this - BUT YOUR ARTICLE IS GREAT. IT JUST BROUGHT OUT MY NERVES. Life isn't fair and has never been fair. I do pose a question. How many of the poor are working to get somewhere. Just somewhere. Are they contributing to their poverty but inaction or apathy. Are they content with handouts. Expect them perhaps? There are so many problems related to rich and poor these days that I don't know where to begin. I certainly would have no answers.Heidi, "Obscene" is the choice word for these people - I like that! I am with you on the sports thing. Jim and I can only afford to take our grandson to maybe one Rays game a season, if that. All the Rays talk about is getting a new stadium. The well-paid players think that is the present stadium is torn down and they could relocate a few miles away, they would sell more tickets and have more money in their pockets. News Flash: It isn't the location of the stadium, it is that it cost a fortune to go to a game! So sad! (You got me going - now I will have to write an article about this!)
As for the politicians- I think they are all from another planet and haven't a clue what goes on beyond their world of power and money.
Thanks for your excellent contribution!
You can tell that your article got me going, too.
I do hope you'll write the other article. In addition, you can even do a followup on this one. Also, another about the pros and cons of getting another stadium built.
Our politicians suck. Democrats and republicans both have had it ingrained that they are special and they can skate by and have their ego massaged and their bank accounts enhanced as well. I just saw a newly elected politician making the cable news rounds last week. His teeth were so white from bleaching and he flashed his smile so often that it was plain to see his agenda was ego driven.They need motivation to do quality work for us. We need to hold them accountable and tell them how we feel. Sometimes it amazes me who we elect, so I feel we need to see through the cons and vote for good ones--but that is easier said than done. We need manufacturing back in the U.S. now and we need the economy rolling. We need a leader or leaders who will make it happen, not just talk about it and hope for a recovery and make sure their teeth are bleached enough. You have helped by simply writing about the subject Fran.Steve, I am honored that you would comment on my article because I feel that I know so little about politics but then again, I guess most anyone could figure out what is going on.
Bleeched teeth and other outside appearances are definitely ego-driven. I just saw the mug shot of John Edwards and he was all smiles - it was as if he was doing marketing for a movie. These politicians are amazing and I don't mean in a kind way. They are like aliens from another planet because they don't seem to know what is going on in the world. Maybe it is just a certain type of person that wants to get into politics and is hungry for attention!
I just hope someone runs who would forget about being popular and powerful and trys to get the ball rolling.
Thanks, Steve
It is always terrible to see people starving and begging for food anywhere. It happened in the Soviet Union, it is happening in U.S.A. and it is happening in Somalia and in India. People may find it weird if I say the cause for all of this is the monetary system. It is been thumped into our minds that money making is the only way to survive and exchange goods. But not so. I always believed it. When America has such a great scientist like Jacque Fresco who has developed the Resource Based Economy, and designed 'The Venus Project", I think it is high time people start looking at a new system without money circulation, with cleaner energy without petroleum and nuclear radiation. World without money doesn't mean no work. There will be enough work and only thing is, it will be a system without competition and greater opportunity for learning with free education, more hospitals and wonderful medical care which will be available equally for everybody and you won't be cheated by insurance companies, and no bureaucracy. Above all, there will be no corruption. It does sound ridiculous, but man must have enough freedom to be self-sufficient and have all the freedom he needs to live on this planet. It can happen only when monetizing the basic needs for survival is brought to an end.DM, That is brilliant! It is honest, bright people like you who should be running for office and not those "fat cats."
This reminds me of my son-in-law who is hard-working and very creative. For years, he has been swapping with other businessmen. It is a win-win situation because many times he doesn't have the cash to purchase something. He has accumulated boats, etc. that he would fix up and perhaps trade for a larger boat or sometimes sell. The swapping obviously works for both parties who do not have the cash but could make a fair swap.
Maybe what you suggest could come to pass but I wonder if it will be in my lifetime. Maybe we have to get all the way down to the bottom, as far as morals, corruption, lack of money, etc. It seems to me like we are pretty far down right now!
I appreciate your comment and wonderful outline of what it could be.
Best to you ......Fran
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