Musings From The Edge: Revisiting The Coliseum of the Rich

Read Time:5 Minute, 13 Second


There are times when I wonder why we put forth the effort to do the things we do. There is a saying I once heard that goes something like, “you are born and you die, everything in the middle is just a bunch of crap.” Well I don’t exactly agree with that although I guess that depends on one’s definition of crap. Actually I think it should go something like you are born and, unless you happen to be born into a very rich family, everything in the middle is just a bunch of die. At a minimum you should be prepared to work your butt off for the rest of your life just to stay up with where you parents were, economically speaking. If you have a bit of luck and your parents had prepared well you might get a half a notch up a very long economic ladder. My observations of the human condition today are such that most of us are much like the little boy whose father nailed his right foot to the floor. That way he could only run around in circles and his father could tell everyone his son was a “wheel” who ran in the “right circles”.

During the era of the pre-sixties most of us were launched into the world with the ideas of working hard and achieving something better than our parents had. Why? Because our parents said that’s what they wanted for us. The achievement of such a lofty goal was centered squarely on the work ethic of our parents plus an added emphasis on more education and a drive to succeed. Additionally, teachers, coaches, friends, and others influenced us to keep striving to always improve ourselves. In my case the Marine Corps also put in their two cents worth. I am sure that veterans of other military services had the same experience. Depending on one’s starting point the expectations were to move a little higher and to continue to achieve. That seems to be the so called American Dream, but there is a problem where that dream turns a bit nightmarish for many. Our “circles of achievement” are largely for the folly and amusement of the rich and powerful as they sit and watch from their pedestals from above.

Picture if you will a coliseum with a very high row of tiered seats surrounding the top. There sits the rich and powerful who manipulate the vast sums of money and the power in what we call our democratic or republican government. There all of the rules are made and policies are set in such a way that they and their kind will always stay rich and in power. They also set the rules that keep the rest of us living in a relatively orderly manner and with avenues of very moderate achievement if we continue to grind it out every day. They also make it possible for a few to escape into the moderately rich category as a carrot dangling there for the normal populace. By and large the average American, until recent years, has simply been treading water and gaining a stroke occasionally. Over the last few years though, the ultra rich’s greed overwhelmed our monetary system and the bottom dropped out. All of the sudden those who had been treading water and gaining a stroke occasionally are now just barely treading water. Those who were just treading water are now drowning. Those who were rich and powerful are still rich and powerful and looking down upon us and they are no longer really concerned. Their first line of defense, the Republican Party has finally succeeded in putting our economy into a proper perspective to slow down the ascension of the middle and lower economic classes. This success rests with a familiar theme of Republicans; fear and manipulation of the tax system. Republicans have always used fear mongering toward whatever issues served their needs. Whether it be communism, socialism, terrorism, or financial crises they have are masters at scaring the hell out of the American people. At the present time it is the fear of financial collapse due to the budget deficit and the only way it can handle is through reduction of programs which primarily impact the middle and lower economic classes.

To some degree those among the middle class and lower class working stock are what make being rich so much fun. If not for us to do the mundane day to day chores the rich would have to do the work themselves, ergo, what is the point of being rich. Essentially they are saying that they should do something to help us poor bastards, but first let’s make sure we will still be rich and powerful if and when a substantial recovery comes. This is capitalism at its best.

I don’t know if this particular period is the worst of times since I am sure there have been crisis’s faced by every generation that seem to be worse than any other. Here again it depends upon your particular view of the situation. I would imagine if you are John McCain and now you suddenly know exactly how many houses you own this could be considered a really bad time. On the other hand if you happen to be Richard Shelby and the bankers are pumping money into your campaign coffers to battle the Democratic efforts to rein in the investment banking business it may not be so bad. What I do believe is that one day the American people are going to awaken from this rumbling dream they are having only learn that they have been duped by the fear mongers. It is sad that so many people who are among the Tea Baggers who are supporting the politicians who are doing the dirty work of the rich and powerful. They do not seem to understand that by aligning themselves with those who would keep them enslaved and marginalized economically they are but the boot lickers of the rich. They are locking themselves into an environment where they an there children will be receiving mediocre educations and only the rich and their hand picked few will be allowed to succeed.

About Post Author

Bill Formby

Bill Formby, aka William A. Formby, PhD, aka Lazersedge is a former Marine and a former police officer. He is a retired University Educator who considers himself a moderate pragmatic progressive liberal, meaning that he thinks practically liberal, acts practically liberal, and he is not going to change in the near future. But, if he does he will be sure to let you know.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anonymous
12 years ago

One of your most poignant posts. Very sad this all has to be said. But the truth does hurt. Shifting paradigms is painful. On a different note, nice illustration!

Reply to  Anonymous
12 years ago

This was a great post indeed.

12 years ago

It’s the coliseum of bread and circus, lazersedge. This post was written with your usual insight and brilliance.

The quote came from Juvenal “the people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now meddle no more and longs eagerly for just two things — bread and circuses.” (I’m addicted to satirical authors and Juvenal was one of the best.)

Jenny, you’re right: it certainly is one of the worst of times. It is the worst I can remember in my not so limited years. I wonder how similar these times are to the Depression.

lazersedge
Reply to  Dorothy Anderson
12 years ago

Thank you for the source Dorothy and the compliment. I don’t know how long it will take us to recover from this surge by the Republicans but it will be long and painful for a lot of people.

jenny40
12 years ago

It’s the worst of times………at least in my limited experience.

lazersedge
Reply to  jenny40
12 years ago

I agree Jenny. I can’t remember any time when greed and power have been so brazenly abused.

Previous post Amanda Knox NOT GUILTY of murder (VIDEO)
JP Morgan logo Next post J.P. Morgan involved in Occupy Wall Street protest?
6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x