The problem is a tradition of humans enslaving others. Today we have what I named "The New Feudalism".
Millions of people want a leader whose only claim to fame is being wealthy.
Millions of people worship wealth even though they have been doomed to never experience it.
Your reference to zip code funding of education is spot on. It guarantees that most people will stay in their parents class of society. We celebrate the Horatio Algers. But he is a rare bird in this jungle that keeps people in their place.
The answer? Justice in taxation. Justice in a redistribution of ill-gotten wealth. Nobody needs to be or deserves to be morbidly rich like Ellison, Bezos, Zuckerberg or Musk.
Time for a complete financial restructuring. Time for the richest nation in the history of the US to share its bounty with all its residents.
Time for a basic minimum income .
Time for universal healthcare and education. Time for universal food and water security. Time for affordable shelter.
Anyone who is willing and able to work hard at a job deserves no less.
Anyone who serves his/her country deserves a free education, no questions asked healthcare and a job.
And a two year public service requirement might help us unite and appreciate each other.
You're talking reason, compassion and equity - so you've lost half the population who just doesn't seem to care about fluff. And that is so sad.
You said, "Millions of people want a leader whose only claim to fame is being wealthy." I would add "and strong." Translation - a ruthless, corrupt, cruel, no-nonsense, bully to support like-minded people.
Is it half who don't care? I don't know. But I guess we will have a pretty good measurement of that by November 5th. And another measure when the House counts the Electoral College votes.
I believe there are more of us than them. If not, we are indeed doomed.
I read maybe a year ago that roughly 30% of Americans were significantly interested in what was going on politically in our country - about half conservative and half progressive. So that would leave about 70% to just vote like they always have. I don't think half are evil, they're either uninformed or brain-washed by truth spinners and their misinformation - 🦊
As I read your post, I found myself thinking more than once - "not really Pen" and yet after pondering your words each time concluded - you are right, it's just so subtle and an established part of our life here in the US - which BTW has the most thriving economy of any nation on the planet. It's just horrendously inequitable.
You said - "Solvable problems get kicked down the road from one group of politicians to the next while desperation rules the lives of tens of millions of the forgotten citizens of the wealthiest country in the history of the world." So true. Merely raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would solve countless problems but unfortunately no politician wants to risk losing the campaign contributions from the wealthiest Americans who would "suffer." Imagine if you weren't able to increase your income by millions each year.
As good as that may sound, there is alot of truth in Thomas Sowell's saying "the real minimum wage is zero." Minimum wage is supposed to be a temporary, supplemental, or teaching wage until you gain the skills, habits, and experience to earn more. The fact that some people don't rise above it in a market economy is a more complex problem with several interlocking factors, societal, political, and individual, that must be addressed. Until they are, simply dictating a certain amount serves as a ceiling, not a floor.
In a country where half its population thinks an election was stolen because they heard it a thousand times on their chosen news, we've got to keep things simple. Living wages help people survive and not be homeless.
And where the other half of the country thinks the Russian’s did it, simple is good. But we’re in the situation we are because many a “simple” solution turned out to be wrong.
Complex problems almost always demand complex solutions but we're dealing with a dumbed down populace who won't even believe what they've seen with their own eyes. I'm gonna sign off here but you get the last word if you'd like. Take care - I'm headed OOTown.
The problem is a tradition of humans enslaving others. Today we have what I named "The New Feudalism".
Millions of people want a leader whose only claim to fame is being wealthy.
Millions of people worship wealth even though they have been doomed to never experience it.
Your reference to zip code funding of education is spot on. It guarantees that most people will stay in their parents class of society. We celebrate the Horatio Algers. But he is a rare bird in this jungle that keeps people in their place.
The answer? Justice in taxation. Justice in a redistribution of ill-gotten wealth. Nobody needs to be or deserves to be morbidly rich like Ellison, Bezos, Zuckerberg or Musk.
Time for a complete financial restructuring. Time for the richest nation in the history of the US to share its bounty with all its residents.
Time for a basic minimum income .
Time for universal healthcare and education. Time for universal food and water security. Time for affordable shelter.
Anyone who is willing and able to work hard at a job deserves no less.
Anyone who serves his/her country deserves a free education, no questions asked healthcare and a job.
And a two year public service requirement might help us unite and appreciate each other.
OK, sorry, rant is over.
You're talking reason, compassion and equity - so you've lost half the population who just doesn't seem to care about fluff. And that is so sad.
You said, "Millions of people want a leader whose only claim to fame is being wealthy." I would add "and strong." Translation - a ruthless, corrupt, cruel, no-nonsense, bully to support like-minded people.
Is it half who don't care? I don't know. But I guess we will have a pretty good measurement of that by November 5th. And another measure when the House counts the Electoral College votes.
I believe there are more of us than them. If not, we are indeed doomed.
I read maybe a year ago that roughly 30% of Americans were significantly interested in what was going on politically in our country - about half conservative and half progressive. So that would leave about 70% to just vote like they always have. I don't think half are evil, they're either uninformed or brain-washed by truth spinners and their misinformation - 🦊
I doubt we’ll agree on the solution, but we certainly agree on the problem.
That is such an important aspect of the entire, huge problem.
As I read your post, I found myself thinking more than once - "not really Pen" and yet after pondering your words each time concluded - you are right, it's just so subtle and an established part of our life here in the US - which BTW has the most thriving economy of any nation on the planet. It's just horrendously inequitable.
You said - "Solvable problems get kicked down the road from one group of politicians to the next while desperation rules the lives of tens of millions of the forgotten citizens of the wealthiest country in the history of the world." So true. Merely raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would solve countless problems but unfortunately no politician wants to risk losing the campaign contributions from the wealthiest Americans who would "suffer." Imagine if you weren't able to increase your income by millions each year.
As good as that may sound, there is alot of truth in Thomas Sowell's saying "the real minimum wage is zero." Minimum wage is supposed to be a temporary, supplemental, or teaching wage until you gain the skills, habits, and experience to earn more. The fact that some people don't rise above it in a market economy is a more complex problem with several interlocking factors, societal, political, and individual, that must be addressed. Until they are, simply dictating a certain amount serves as a ceiling, not a floor.
In a country where half its population thinks an election was stolen because they heard it a thousand times on their chosen news, we've got to keep things simple. Living wages help people survive and not be homeless.
And where the other half of the country thinks the Russian’s did it, simple is good. But we’re in the situation we are because many a “simple” solution turned out to be wrong.
Complex problems almost always demand complex solutions but we're dealing with a dumbed down populace who won't even believe what they've seen with their own eyes. I'm gonna sign off here but you get the last word if you'd like. Take care - I'm headed OOTown.
Good chatting with you. Have a Happy Easter.
You as well - Happy Easter.