Socialism, American style
April 8th 2008 02:54
Privatize the profits, socialize the losses - that's the way big business works in America it seems. The latest example comes from the testimony of oil industry executives in front of Congress. Big oil stuck by their guns, claiming they were doing what they could to help ease oil prices and find new energy sources. They also want the tax breaks given them by Cheney and company to continue. For Exxon, it's about 18B over ten years. The same company that made more than any corporation in the history of the world last year. Yea, that's the one.
The quick bail-out of Bear Stearns is yet another one. Companies that knew full well they were taking risks and pushing bad loans in a near Ponzi scheme are looked after, as long as they are big enough and they are significant in their "contributions." What it means to get into financial trouble in America is far different for those who are part of the club. And if you are a CEO, there is virtually nothing that can happen to keep you from millions.
When big companies fail, the CEO's always seem to walk with millions and/or another cushy job. The rank and file walk with pensions, health care, and job security all gone like blossoms in the wind. How is it that a company that goes bust (supposedly bankrupt) has more than enough funds to secure the fat bank accounts of it's executives? Why should they walk with a dime? If the leadership of a company drives it into the ground, that leadership should be the very last to get paid. That should be the bottom line, always.
We're upside down in America. We have a mindset that favors and rewards greed and avarice. Hard work and talent take a back seat to unscrupulous and manipulative. Teachers aren't paid nearly enough, while their students think the best thing they can be is a Paris Hilton or Britney or a 50 Cent. Pretty much every other industrialized country is educating its students for the jobs of tomorrow, we have dismal graduation rates, skyrocketing college costs, and far too many kids who think science is "just a theory." In Norway, for example, the high school graduation rate is over 98 percent and college is free for those who want it. OK righties, what is wrong with that?
One of the biggest failings of conservatives in America is the absolute inability to look at any problem through anything but red, white, and blue glasses. The beginning of the argument is that "America is #1" and the end of the argument is the same. Critical thinking isn't part of the equation at all. If some of us ask why we can't see the obvious need for universal health care the conservative mind says "America has the best health care in the world!" Regardless of conclusive evidence to the contrary. Instead of realizing how we could benefit from sound public education we allow homeschooling that sometimes teaches the world is 6.000 years old.
Point is, there is nothing wrong with a society that values the people instead of corporate profits. The time of "I have mine, screw you" needs to be put behind us forever. We need to be the best at more things than just weapon systems. It is high time that we think about our fellow citizens, our children, our elderly, our ill. I think we will find our corporations will be able to muddle through just fine.
The quick bail-out of Bear Stearns is yet another one. Companies that knew full well they were taking risks and pushing bad loans in a near Ponzi scheme are looked after, as long as they are big enough and they are significant in their "contributions." What it means to get into financial trouble in America is far different for those who are part of the club. And if you are a CEO, there is virtually nothing that can happen to keep you from millions.
When big companies fail, the CEO's always seem to walk with millions and/or another cushy job. The rank and file walk with pensions, health care, and job security all gone like blossoms in the wind. How is it that a company that goes bust (supposedly bankrupt) has more than enough funds to secure the fat bank accounts of it's executives? Why should they walk with a dime? If the leadership of a company drives it into the ground, that leadership should be the very last to get paid. That should be the bottom line, always.
We're upside down in America. We have a mindset that favors and rewards greed and avarice. Hard work and talent take a back seat to unscrupulous and manipulative. Teachers aren't paid nearly enough, while their students think the best thing they can be is a Paris Hilton or Britney or a 50 Cent. Pretty much every other industrialized country is educating its students for the jobs of tomorrow, we have dismal graduation rates, skyrocketing college costs, and far too many kids who think science is "just a theory." In Norway, for example, the high school graduation rate is over 98 percent and college is free for those who want it. OK righties, what is wrong with that?
One of the biggest failings of conservatives in America is the absolute inability to look at any problem through anything but red, white, and blue glasses. The beginning of the argument is that "America is #1" and the end of the argument is the same. Critical thinking isn't part of the equation at all. If some of us ask why we can't see the obvious need for universal health care the conservative mind says "America has the best health care in the world!" Regardless of conclusive evidence to the contrary. Instead of realizing how we could benefit from sound public education we allow homeschooling that sometimes teaches the world is 6.000 years old.
Point is, there is nothing wrong with a society that values the people instead of corporate profits. The time of "I have mine, screw you" needs to be put behind us forever. We need to be the best at more things than just weapon systems. It is high time that we think about our fellow citizens, our children, our elderly, our ill. I think we will find our corporations will be able to muddle through just fine.
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Hey, this reminds me of a run-in I had with a conservative a little while back where he claimed that the rich are a minority in need of protecting from the hordes of greedy, selfish poor who want to steal their money without actually earning it.
And no, he wasn't a rich executive. He was a New York City fireman. The problem is when even the working class see themselves in this manner, how on earth is this mindset to be overcome?
Comment by Jeff Musall
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Hence, the outrageous libel suits you have in America where people will sue over the most ridiculous thing. There was this case recently where this young Aussie guy who was on a working holiday threw a snowball at a colleague and she had him arrested and sued him. The poor guy was dumbfounded. She lost thankfully. But had she won, well then she would have been in the ranks of the rich and thus her actions would be justified.
Sorry, I am rambling.
But yeah, like you said in another post -it's an unholy alliance between those that worship God and those that worship Greed.