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.
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.
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.
I doubt we’ll agree on the solution, but we certainly agree on the 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.