Homeless - 97

Fellow humans,

Have you felt a sinking feeling in your gut over the years due to personal finances? Have you noticed that the legal tender that you desperately amass is not as big a pile as it used to be? Have you noticed that the big raises that you enjoyed in the past are a remote dusty memory? Fear not, you are not alone in your musings. As grandma would say, things ain't what they used to be.

Some people have come to the conclusion that capitalism is dead. Well, the idea, spirit and practice of pure capitalism has been vacant in the U.S. since the '60's. I think that during that era it was discovered how easily the political system could be manipulated to alter the corporate landscape to maximize corporate profits at any cost and damn the repercussions. The idea has mutated into a reflection of the elite that ignore the rules of the social contract so that they may benefit at the expense of others. And yes, a pox upon them, too, for their uncaring greed.

The basic tenet that I remember form my collegiate economic courses was that the major foundation of a capitalistic system was that everyone prospered in some way. The main concept that I remember was voiced by one of those instructors; where she got it from, I have no idea but the ring of truth in it still stands. She told the class that the healthy life of a capitalistic system is dependent on the free flow of currency at all levels. She furthered the example to the flow of blood in the human body; if circulation is restricted or pooled, the entire organism suffered.

With clogged arteries in my legs, her point has more of an impact on me these days.

I had the rumbling of this idea for several months, that something was out of balance in the economic health of the U.S. population. The perspective of several decades of life yields a point of view, provided that an individual remembers and occasionally lifts their head out of the daily muck and looks around, seeing the increasing imperfections of our systems - political, economic, religious - all three elements of population control.

But back to our capitalistic system, one that seems to spreading its tentacles across the planet. Throughout my years I have heard on more than one occasion of how labor unions have increased the average cost of living by their 'exiorbrant demands on corporations. From what I have read, labor unions comprise a small part in our economy. Again, in my opinion, they held corporate excesses in check, providing more of the 'life currency' to be shared. These days, labor unions are an endangered species, less than ten percent of  the influence on our economy. Corporate upper management and major stockholders are reaping the benefits in terms of increased capital at the expense of the health of our economy. More of that 'life currency'  is flowing into their coffers while the rest of the population suffers, trying to get by on less, by increased budgeting, and maintain their standard of living despite declining labor costs. Again, the health of the economic organism comes to light.

Is the market economy the best alternative that benefits the country and the citizens? How will this condition impact global societies? How will governments adjust their stance regarding national budgets? What effect will this economic stance affect the coming generations that are not of the elite? What impact will these conditions have on the infrastructure and institutions of the U.S.? The planet? Is public perception the best execution of an capitalist democratic society where perceptions are shaped by a controlled media? Is it a more subtle form of tyranny, a more palatable form of injustice?

I don't know but it ain't looking good for generations to come.

Unless there is a alien mothership arriving to deliver us from the dark aide.

I do know that the current elite orientation reeks of greed and uncaring aspect for future generations every where.

I have heard the adage 'the rich keep getting richer and everyone else gets poorer' many times throughout the years. The times I have heard that, I had thought that that statement was made by idiots who were unaware of the opportunities that were present and/or were to lazy to pursue them or that they were evil socialists. Not any more - they were right.

I came across a news article that summed the situation up nicely -  'Wages Are Losing the Battle' by Steven Greenhouse. Helanie Olen is another journalist that has written on the subject. Steven's article is constructed with pretty graphs (I'm a picture type of guy) and numbers that support the feelings that I, and probably many of you, have had regarding the subject but were unable to quantify. Helanie's article is more focused on the finance industry; she has a book about to be published on that sector and it ain't exactly complimentary.

Ah well, now we know why our green pile is getting smaller while we are being fed from the other pile and being told that everything is fine.

Next time...