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It's my personal soapbox, a place for me to express thoughts and feelings, musings and rants, reflections and recollections; to have fun with words -- about things spiritual, environmental, social, political, economic, and, from time to time, personal. And of course about peace. Soapboxes are in public places (as London's legendary Hyde Park) on purpose, and so I invite conversations with you, for it is through civil discourse that we can gain some perspective on the seeming chaos of these changing times and learn together how to shape a positive future for ourselves, our communities, and the generations to come.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Heads in the Sand Get Drowned

Two items in the New York Times yesterday and today are further examples of the increasingly egregious greed-based mindset that is stretching the income-distribution gap in this country to the breaking point.

In an editorial yesterday entitled "The New Resentment of the Poor," the New York Times opined that:

"In a decade of frenzied tax-cutting for the rich, the Republican Party just happened to lower tax rates for the poor, as well. Now several of the party’s most prominent presidential candidates and lawmakers want to correct that oversight and raise taxes on the poor and the working class, while protecting the rich, of course."
The editorial pointed out that "The real problem is that so many Americans are struggling on such a small income, not whether they pay taxes."

Then, in an article in today's Business section  entitled "Where Pay for Chiefs Outstrips U.S. Taxes," reporter David Kocieniewski reports that "At least 25 top United States companies paid more to their chief executives in 2010 than they did to the federal government in taxes, according to a study released on Wednesday."

We are already seeing signs of increasing social disorder in this country. Refusing to see the causal connection between this supposed "free-market" behavior (which is actually a perversion of the free market) and its socioeconomic consequences of poverty and economic desperation, which are very much acts of violence, while insisting on staying the course with an outmoded (if it ever was moded!) set of values is a prime example of the culture of violence that predominates in our society. It is also an instance of denial akin to pretending global climate change is a hoax and is not already underway.

Heads thus buried in the sand are only begging to be drowned in a rising tide of desperation and resentment.

DISCLAIMER: The links to these NYT articles were forwarded to me by a friend. I don't actually regularly read the New York Times myself -- maybe I should.

1 comment:

  1. There are 2 major forces at work today.

    Fear,
    led by, Greed, Anger,Lust(for power),Sloth, Gluttony, and Envy....those who suffer these afflictions are trying to rationalize their life around these "deadly sins"

    The other more positive force is Love,
    led by the virtues of Liberality( against greed), Humility, Compassion, Patience, Graciousness, Sharing, and Happiness.

    Transformation time is here!
    Which choice will you make?

    ReplyDelete