Getting Past Stars and Swipes Forever

[marmar]

from Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality:


Getting Past Stars and Swipes Forever
June 29, 2013

Back in 1776, public-spirited patriots emerged from the ranks of colonial America’s privileged. But our corporate elite today seems to offer up only thieving, tax-dodging parasites. Why such a contrast?

By Sam Pizzigati


Almost ten generations have come and gone since 1776. Yet the giants of 1776 still fascinate us. Books about Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington still regularly dot our best-seller lists.

What so attracts us to these “founding fathers,” these men of means who put their security, their considerable comfort, at risk for a greater good? Maybe the contrast with what we see all around us.

Today’s men of means display precious little selfless behavior. Our CEOs, bankers, and private equity kingpins remain totally fixated on their own corporate and personal bottom lines. They don’t lead the nation. They steal from it.

So who can blame the rest of us for daydreaming about a time when a significant chunk of our elite showed a real sense of responsibility to something grander than the size of their individual fortunes? ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://toomuchonline.org/getting-past-stars-and-swipes-forever/#sthash.wxROlhsv.dpuf

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[graham4anything]

2. I disagree with the author's meme.

Because selfless people who give their working life to the public sector, could be reaping billions, but work for the good of America.

Until Bill Clinton left office, Bill never had a house to call his own.
Had very little money, now gives hundreds of millions to charity.

as an example.

Many others give tons of money in charity for many liberal causes, even those that some may not like their political view point.

Money is a good thing when used for good things.

But, just look at President Obama and his family, look at LBJ, look at Ted Kennedy- gave their who lives in public service

(and I would take LBJ over any of the founding fathers...who in actuality, didn't sacrifice all that much personally
unless one thinks there should be a new draft? Is that what the author is saying, to bring back the draft???

(maybe that can be expanded on- does the book in the OP advocate a national military draft?

[BumRushDaShow]

3. So who can blame the rest of us for daydreaming about a time...?

The same people who would point out to these "daydreamers" about how they ignore what had become THE biggest equivalent to corporate largesse of today, in their time. The Dutch East India Company, who obviously traded spices, gems, sugar, and slaves, and had no problem either eliminating or enslaving indigenous peoples in those areas that were the source of the goods they were shipping.



And the very bullshit of offering up slave-owners George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, supposedly "put<ing> their security, their considerable comfort, at risk for a greater good?" as something to emulate, is quite telling.

But folks can keep on "daydream<ing>" on about the "good old days".