Most of us have no concept of true wealth. Imagine never having to worry about when your next meal might be, how you'll pay the rent,utilities,and other necessities. More now than ever, people are working harder and longer hours with less buying power. The rich are growing richer and the poor are becoming ever more impoverished. The division between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is the widest it's ever been in U.S. history. Simply put - capitalism has failed us and only the upper 10% are truly benefiting and likewise only the upper 1% are truly wealthy.
Every day that goes by we get closer to becoming a modern day rendition of the serfs and the vassals. It's essentially economic slavery and it's been in the works for quite some time. It's now seen as a crime to be poor. The better paying jobs are long gone and what few jobs remain are mostly in the service industry which pays unsustainable wages - even at full time employment. It's not unusual for many young people (and a growing number of middle aged and the elderly) to have to rely upon family,friends,and what little government assistance that's still in existence.
Is it any wonder why the "Occupy Wall Street" protests are popping up everywhere? It's no longer just the wino or the slacker that finds his/herself with a back pack hitching rides from town to town just to find work. It's moved it's way up the pyramid so to speak. Even jobs that pay significantly above the federal minimum wage are no longer enough to support a family. People have little option but to hoard ever more of their income just to make ends meet.
"The One Percent" is a great documentary that goes further into detail about the growing rift between those with plenty of money and those lacking it. It's well worth the watch. Contrary to what Fox news would have you believe - the free market economy ain't free and one's ability to work themselves into a higher income bracket is an outright lie and a very cruel one at that. It might've worked in times past but without the right connections you're basically screwed with no hope of ever having the secure life your parents and grandparents enjoyed. Even the poorest of the poor could afford housing,food,entertainment,savings,and a family. That was then. This is now.
Most people aren't ready to face the facts and acknowledge what's truly needed to remedy the current socioeconomic crisis we're undergoing (which will probably worsen over time). It flies in the face of both the right wing conservative types and the left wing libtards. The best we can do is stop buying into the false left-right paradigm and do our own research.It's the best any of us can do for the time being.
Great post! You're right about the division between the "haves" and the "have nots" widening. It's what they've planned all along. We're going back to the days of the serfs and the vassals .... or perhaps worse. The movie "Free Jack" comes to mind. The disparity of the common people was vast while the few elites lived in gated cities living lives of opulence.
ReplyDeleteI despise capitalism. It ain't working and I ain't ashamed to admit that I'm a socialist either. This is bull crap! People are getting poorer while the elites grow richer by the minutes. It's wrong. They're not gonna be happy until they house us all in barracks where we work 12 hour days,7 days a week for our mere sustenance. The book "1984" describes it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAwwww come on Rickster! Don't you know? Jesus is a republican and couldn't care one iota about the poor and downtrodden. lol
ReplyDeleteThe Jesus that the Tea Partiers and Fox News views follow ain't my idea of the true Jesus archetype. When I think of the J man I think of some cool revolutionary type with a bit of a Buddha bent to him. Some some uptight Republican dude with a polo shirt on and a short white walled haircut. Lol
ReplyDeleteJesus was a man's man and not some wimpy fella. He didn't take crap off no one and he preferred the company of other males over a woman. Sounds like my kinda guy. Whoo hoo. I'm gay and proud and if you have a problem with it then you can take Flo's advice from the classic t.v. show Alice and just kiss my grits!
ReplyDeleteHere's to you Lonnie Flowers - Yuck! Barf! Okay I feel better now that I just threw up.
ReplyDeletelol Okay now. We're all entitled to our opinions. Thanks for the comments everyone. It's much appreciated it.
ReplyDelete