Wake up PEOPLE!!! Only thing happening right now is that we are finally realizing that we are NOT rich. We've been living beyond our means for years trying to keep up with the Joneses. All because we thought the Joneses were who we needed to be. And guess what? The Joneses made millions and billions off of us. When we couldn't afford it... they gave us credit... when we didn't have credit they implemented super creative strategies to get us the credit. And when we couldn't get credit... They said "FUCK OFF". These folks have been flawless in their execution.
The difference between them and us though, is that they can put their businesses in debt and still profit. We unfortunately don't have that luxury. And that's basically what's been happening. They have taken all our money... put it in their pocket... and ran their companies into the ground. If you don't believe me, ask former GM CEO Rick Wagoner about his $20 million dollar retirement plan. And before you ask him about that, ask him about how much he's earned at GM over the years. Ask the folks over at AIG the same thing (shit ask anybody in that top 5% of America's wealthiest). As a matter of fact, somebody needs to explain to me how a company can even afford to pay these salaries and benefits when they are taking losses in the first place. And, why they are allowed to do it.
The tables need to turn is what needs to happen... Instead of paying these top executives millions... we need to salary cap their ass... and start using the rest of that money to keep hard working american's afloat. EXAMPLE. If they have $20 million dollars to pay Rick Wagoner, then they need to take that money (not give it to him) and pay 400 employees they are going to lay off $50,000. And they need to do that across the board. They need to look at all of these executives in that top 5% (over $250k a year) and deduct from their salaries to help transition the folks they are laying off. How is one mans pockets worth the lives of 400?
Especially if our tax dollars are going into these companies. Taking our tax dollars to pay these fuckers these exorbitant salaries is a smack in the face. And instead of helping the rich get richer, we need to help those whom this situation stands to make poor. But, if our tax dollars must go to bail these fuckers out... taxpayers should at least see a dividend check on top of that money being paid back.
Yeah, rich folks el complain their getting poorer too... but I'm not so worried about a crack head mother as much as I am her children.
Then, we need to look across the board into healthcare and other areas of concern (because there is a lot more fucked up then just our financial instituition).
The system just needs a complete overhaul/ re-design. That, and I keep hearing about how so many people "care"... I especially love the adds featuring movie stars, professional athletes, and other millionaire icons talking about how much they "care" about whatever they're trying to raise money for... asking me for my money so they can continue to sit on theirs.
These people don't know the first thing about caring (unless they mean themselves)... cause I'd give my last breath for something or someone I cared about. So these other millionaires telling me they "care" yet are still millionaires have made themselves very clear. Actions speak louder then words... But obviously, we have let these people talk circles around us. And "caring" has become the new billion dollar slogan. Just another way to drain money out of the consumer. "Oh, the NBA cares...". And now I feel better about buying all that "official" merchandise, expensive ass concessions, and tickets... All so these fuckers can get RICHER. Then you want to complain about government not doing enough... well, there went 1.5 Billion in NBA player salaries for the year (if the team payrolls were only $50 million each... which they are not... they're more).
What we fail to realize is that we have made all of these people rich... the bankers, the executives, etc. If we didn't give them our money, they wouldn't be worth shit. And now that we are in trouble... look at'em... they just watch as our ship sinks slowly into the sea. This is nothing new though... This is the way it's always been. And over the years... nothings really changed. Yeah, it starts out as change... but as soon as the money changes hands... it's "business as usual".
We've given everything to the point where we have nothing left to give. Those we've given it to have cut bait and run. Yes, this is the thanks we get. Fired, foreclosed on, left out in the cold. And for those who have yet to feel that chilling breeze, they ain't gon do shit for you... cause they're too busy worrying about themselves... hoping they don't end up like you.
However, crossing our fingers IS NOT enough... And no, I'm not talking about a redistribution of wealth, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. But what I am talking about is making sure that we don't give those fuckers another dime. And that we begin to spend our money more wisely.
Support those who will support us back. And, in this time of crisis it's too easy to see that the people we've been supporting... don't give a fuck about us at all.
AI.
