The Very Serious People in Washington are busy trying to find creative ways to cut Social Security and Medicare and take other benefits from middle-class and moderate-income families. The refrain here is that we just can't afford this level of generosity any more.
There are two parts of this story that should drive the rest of us crazy. And it is difficult to determine which one is the more infuriating.
The first is that we know that many people in this country are fabulously rich. And as Elizabeth Warren beautifully reminded us, none of them did it on their own. But Professor Warren is actually far too generous in her account.
While some number of the wealthy may have succeeded by working hard and being smart or creative, many of the very wealthy got their money directly or indirectly through the big hand of the government tilting the playing field in their direction. Their hard work involved rigging the rules to ensure that they ended up on top.
"Wall streeters" try desperately to get rules and laws that favor them but, they don't pass the laws and don't make the rules. Let's put the blame where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteAnd, if we force rich people to "pay their fair share" (whatever that means) what do you expect to get out of it?
Goldman Sachs and the other big-time investment firms contribute to (bribe) Congress and then rotate between those jobs and jobs in the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and other high ranking government positions. Then, point the finger at Congress if anyone complains about the lopsided laws and regulations. Congress KNOWS that no one can touch them and the circle jerk continues. Maybe voting will help. Okay, I made that last part up...
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