The power of words

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The problems we have in America are a result of people in the top 1% exploiting the rest of us in varying degrees. The top down model does not work long term. It exchanges a nation's true prosperity for an unsustainable model of concentrated wealth in the hands of a few. This is unsustainable because the people will not continue to stand by long term, struggling to meet the basic needs of their family, while a handful of people hoard the wealth we are creating for them.  At some point, we figure out what is going on and that we don't actually have to put up with it anymore. 

Right now is a good time to start talking about these ideas. Our country has been bitterly divided mostly by the media that is owned by the top 1%. Think about it - if they can use the media tool to keep all of us fighting with each other, they can pull as much shit as they want while we are distracted. This is what happens, this is how our country has arrived where we are today. We've all heard of "divide and conquer," and this is exactly the strategy that is being used to keep us from turning our attention toward them. One of the oldest plays in the book - and it works like a charm.  

Look at how volatile everything has gotten over the past few years. This is much different than years past, where you could support one political party or another and it didn't mean you had to hate your neighbor or lose your friends over it. Why is it like this now? There are a lot of reasons, but the bottom line is if we (the people) get on the same page and turn our attention toward them (the billionaire class), their game is up. So - they use their resources to keep us from doing that.  The media (all forms) is arguably the most effective tool in their toolbox. It's not that complicated, really.  

So we have this system that is a product of a bunch of billionaires and corporate interests putting their heads together and figuring out how to manipulate everything for their benefit. The people are so used to this system that we continue to participate in it with no conscious thought as to how upside down it is. We have to try and see it from a different perspective than we are used to. It is a system flawed from the start, skewed to the benefit of a few and now way past its prime.  

Here are a few examples of what happens with a "business as usual" approach:

• Environmental degradation 
• The disappearance of a middle class, which societies need in order to thrive. 
• Loss of natural resources, 
• Starvation wage jobs, 
• Lack of equity/access in healthcare, housing and education for the people 
• Inability for people to meet the basic needs for themselves and their families 

 When the billionaire class is not properly regulated, there are many consequences - all of which are apparent in American society today. Some things to think about:

*Wealth Inequality - Society is reduced to rich versus poor, inevitably resulting in a disappearing middle class, starvation wage jobs, lack of basic worker benefits. The working people are viewed as “cattle” by the ruling class. A unit of production. The people of this country deserve more than this. Our lives should not be reduced to units of productivity on a spreadsheet.

*Monopoly Power - When all of the capital and resources are owned by a few corporations, these corporations are at liberty to hike prices on critical consumer goods and services (think healthcare/medications, internet access, food, housing) whenever they want to. And they definitely will! They are driven only by profit, and for the benefit of the shareholders. They do not care for the people of this country, except as a factor of their profit.

*Inequality and Social Division - These social problems manifest when the people do not have the resources needed to carry on their daily lives. The lion’s share of wealth, resources and power become concentrated in the hands of a few at the “top of the food chain,” which is what we are experiencing now. 

*Wage Slavery - Dictionary.com defines wage slavery as the state when “a person is wholly dependent on income from employment, typically employment of an arduous or menial nature.” This creates an environment where people cannot “get ahead” and find themselves running on a hamster wheel, counting the days until the weekend and watching their lives pass them by as they labor to boost the wealth of the ruling class.

*Environmental Destruction/Lack of Natural Resources - The defining issue of our time. No planet, no people.

 All 5 of the major world religions encompass similar pillars of faith. They share more common ground than people might realize. Here are 7 general tenets that show up pretty much across the board: 

1. Treat others how you want to be treated 
2. Look out for others less fortunate than ourselves
3. Make the most of the time we have available here on earth
4. Material “things” will not bring you happiness
5. Take responsibility for your actions 
6. Look within and make up your own mind
7. Sense of community

Who doesn't relate to these ideas is a better question.  One reason religion is divisive is because people in power, over the ages, have utilized it to their own advantage and to control of the masses.  We have to learn to talk about this stuff - to have a respectful dialogue about sensitive and potentially emotional ideas.