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Curmudgeon
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Where Is All The Freaking Money? |
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Written by Johnny Curmudgeon
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Seriously people, where did it all go? I am certainly no financial guru - then again, who is nowadays - but how does the richest, most powerful country in the world get reduced to Pauperville in such a short amount of time? I am also not a U.S. Census worker - although I hear they are fine people - but I believe that there are roughly the same amount of folks living here now as there were a few years ago, give or take a few hundred thousand. So, I don’t think I’m being too naïve, or woefully ignorant for wondering what is really going on.
Wait! Before you click away, this is not a political commentary, rather more of a common sense offering, or so I hope.
Honestly, this whole “recession” thing is getting a little out of hand, don’t you think?
I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something rotten in Denmark. Nah, leave the Danish people out of it, something stinks right here in the good ol’ U S of A! Look, as far as I can recall, our country, as a whole, did not suffer a major catastrophe in the past few years, unless you count George W. Bush (and I do),
at least nothing that should have set us back to this degree.
Who has all the money? Bill Gates? Oprah? Bernie Madoff? C’mon. They’ve had tons of coin for many years now – by legal or illegal means – and yet, in the past there was still some left over for the rest of us regular slobs.
AIG, General Motors, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, et al. Sure they all let us down and contributed to an economic downturn…I’m not so naïve to think there isn’t one. Believe me, I have personally felt it. However, everyone isn’t suffering, in fact many are actually profiting from this situation. Hello bailout.
I’m just saying, think about it. The rich folks in America, celebrities, politicians, “top executives” etc., are not only still pocketing the fat paychecks, but very likely are pulling in even more during these “tough economic times”. How can this be?
Well, my crackpot theory is that there is a rich person’s conspiracy taking place. That’s right, you read that correctly. I believe the “powers that be” have coincidentally, or not so coincidentally joined forces to keep down the huddled masses. Think about it. If the fears continue – fear of losing your job, fear of not being able to find another job, fear of going broke and losing your home, like many have – then they’ve got us beat. If we continue to accept the reduced lifestyles, due to reduced wages, or no wages for many of us, then this vicious cycle will continue.
Do I have hard evidence to back this up? Eh, not so much. Which is why it’s a crackpot theory. However, I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to imagine that the type of grotesque bonuses that took place at AIG, post bailout, are also taking place at many, many other companies. Yes indeed, the greedy are getting greedier, while the have-nots have gotten have-nottier.
No, I haven’t seen the new Michael Moore movie, “Capitalism: A Love Story,”
so, this isn’t a lengthy promo for it. Although, I’m sure it’s quite a thought-provoking piece of cinema, one that I plan to see in the near future. No, I am just one “crackpot” acting alone.
However, I don’t have to be alone. Since this is an American citizen issue, my fellow tax paying Americans, would you kindly grab your torches and follow me up the hill. I have a big ol’ vat of tar, did anyone bring feathers?
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