The End of the Beginning of the End by Will Pitt

[sinkingfeeling]

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/16593-the-end-of-the-beginning-of-the-end

A report released early this year by the organization Oxfam International revealed that the combined income of the richest 100 people in the world is enough to end global poverty four times over, and that the gap between rich and poor has exploded by some 60% in the last 20 years. Rather than hinder this division, the recent global economic crisis has exacerbated it. Money does not disappear, you see, but tends to be translated up the income ladder in times of financial distress.

The recession being endured by the American people is becoming more a thing of fiction every day. The so-called "job creators" are doing just fine, thank you very much, but they don't seem very interested in using the money they've hoarded to expand the job market. According to an analysis of some 2,300 companies by Bloomberg news, hiring by those companies has risen the least amount since 2010. At the same time, however, those companies are sitting on a cash stockpile of $1.73 trillion.

Occupy was only the beginning, but may very well have been the last manifestation of peaceful resistance against the ever-widening chasm of inequality and desolation. The noose is tightening around the necks of average people, and more become radicalized with each passing day. The wealthy would do well to take note of this, and voluntarily move to square the savage imbalance that drives billions around the world into furious despair. It does not have to be this way, and if it continues in this way, eventually the dam is going to break. When that happens, woe be unto those who believe their wealth keeps them safe and cozy. On that day, the rock will not hide them, and the dead tree will give no shelter.

If it does not happen in my lifetime, it will happen in my daughter's. I shudder to think what she will see.

[longship]

1. A big DURec and kick for Will.

Who must be busy with his new daughter, as this article shows.

You're the real deal Will. We all love you.

[LiberalLoner]

2. +1

[gademocrat7]

3. K & R

[phantom power]

4. ... and the engine of industry barely burped.

[AndyA]

5. What's particularly sad is that the wealthy would do better if the poor and middle class did better

The poor and middle class, if they had more money, would spend it. This would drive the economy, increasing sales and demand for virtually everything. Ultimately, this demand would trickle up and make even more money for the wealthy, who seem to have their fingers in every pie.

Greed prevents them from seeing the reality of contributing their fair share now, which would make things better for all down the road.

[xtraxritical]

15. Austerity...

Austerity is a hoodwink proposition foisted by uber capitalists to take over government assets at fire sale prices. It's a .01% scam.
The economic situation we're in now is EXACTLY equivalent to the great depression of the 1930s and has the same causes and the same solutions. Hoover's austerity was a complete bust.

[JDPriestly]

41. The budget surplus in California is the proof that austerity is a complete bust.

We raised taxes. Prior to that we cut expenditures. Hopefully, now that we have a surplus we can spend a little more and then save a little more while paying debts.

Raising taxes, primarily on the rich, was our secret. And that is what we should be doing as a nation.

[Blanks]

16. It's not enough that I succeed, but everyone else must fail. eom

[rhett o rick]

6. Well said. A comment

"The wealthy would do well to take note of this, and voluntarily move to square the savage imbalance that drives billions around the world into furious despair." The problem is that the wealthy strive to become more wealthy. While individually they may realize that they need to tone it down, to just barely rape us, but none will want to be the first to back off. We are seeing the endgame of capitalistic greed. It can not end without disaster. The capitalistic economic system cannot regulate itself. It will continue until it implodes.

I think you may be correct about Occupy being possibly the last attempt at peaceful reasoning with the greed monster. Occupy, if nothing else, showed the masses the extent that the Ruling Elite are willing to go to stamp out protest. I believe we should follow Gaundi and MLK Jr. but I am afraid most Americans wont.

If we do nothing we will end up looking like Haiti.

[fasttense]

7. No truer words were ever said, er written

"We are seeing the endgame of capitalistic greed. It can not end without disaster. The capitalistic economic system cannot regulate itself. It will continue until it implodes."

Capitalists gone wild is what we have right now. The governments throughout the world wont or can't control or regulate them. Capitalists have no self control, no regulation, no ethics or morale discipline, no patriotism, no shame, no conscious except to make more profit. This will end badly.

[Arugula Latte]

8. "The noose is tightening around the necks of average people, and more become radicalized with each

passing day."

Do you think that is true? I hope so, but I still see a lot of complacent people who don't appreciate people who "rock the boat" or get "too political." They think you're just being negative when you point out things like wealth disparity.

[Doctor_J]

20. Nah. It's wishful thinking

The rich have such a complete propaganda apparatus in place that a large percentage of this country quite literally doesn't have a clue what's going on. This is the Hate Radio/Fox "News" brigade, who have been getting dumber for 20 years now (as a group). The group that's more disturbing are those who think that since 2008 things have been getting better, that the president is really a populist. If you don't cheer Heritage Care, or if you complain that the DJIA isn't translating to jobs for those who want to work, you're a "hater" and probably a racist. So between the Fox Idiots and the "this is as good as we can do" Dems, a comfortable majority are pretty darn happy.

[colsohlibgal]

9. Maybe So

The Papa John's owner is a perfect example of what's going. Not a fan of "Obamacare" he came out and said if he had to operate under this he'd have to raise the price of his pizza. This was a guy with an enormous mansion including even a moat but his first instinct was to further pinch everyday people, not to ever so slightly dent his massive fortune. Just one of the guys Gordon Gekko would love in this day and age.

If you're on the fence wake up - the problem isn't a few welfare cheats, it's the plutocracy robbing you blind. Read and pay heed to the recent words of Sam Elliott, you are getting played by billionaires and mouth breathers like Sean Hannity, people who know how to push your buttons.

[patrice]

10. Can someone tell me, please, what it is with these people who want to post here, but don't want to

post here?

[mac56]

11. Good post.

As someone wiser than me said, would you really want to be the last rich person in a poor country?

[AAO]

12. When their body guards refuse to shoot at the hordes of everday people

- friends and family, women and children - that will be as far as the rich folks riches will take them. I've said this for years. When the great masses have nothing, have no home, food, income, or hope, they will naturally turn on the rich. No offense to the rich people, but it's just a fiscal and historical fact.

And it will not be pretty. I hope the rich and powerful reverse their course before they are hunted down by angry mods and lynched in the public square, like Mussolini and his ilk.

[rhett o rick]

29. None of the wealthy want to be the first to sacrifice to the masses.

The wealthy have their own problems of getting ahead of the other wealthy people. They dont give a shit about us.

[yurbud]

38. yep. the rich will divide and conquer until the fraction left that supports them is so small...

they realize no amount of money is worth losing your freedom or life by defending the losing side of history.

[JDPriestly]

43. Look at the history of revolutions, especially revolutions and revolts

due to extreme poverty. French history is replete with these events. Peasant revolts. Marches.

Most of the aristocracy, the landowners, the wealthy survived the violent episodes intact. A few actually succumbed. The "French Revolution" changed things -- for a while. But in general, the rich suffered setbacks only to return and rule again.

My point is that revolutions do happen. But they are really horrible affairs. And usually pretty ineffective when it comes to achieving justice.

Repeating the lament that things are bad and people are bound to rise up is just as ineffective, sorry to say.

We have a voice. Americans have not yet lost the right to vote. Our current state of injustice in the world could lead to revolution. True. But revolution is unlikely to change much.

What is needed is people who understand what is going on getting out and peacefully talking to voters one by one. We have to explain to people that they are voting against their interests. We have to be the rational ones.

Occupy was good because it attracted attention to injustice and united like-minded people. But real progress is not made by just sitting and commiserating among ourselves. Real progress is made when wise people find good candidates to run for office and then work like the dickens to persuade people to vote for their interests.

We can have real change without violence or revolution. And change without violence or revolution is the only kind of change that really improves people's lives.

One thing that is forgotten about the American Revolution is that it occurred in a country in which most of the land was not farmed or developed and in which there was almost no industry. Ours was truly a land of infinite possibilities and no aristocracy at that time. That is no longer the case. Yet Americans are made to feel like losers because they can't just go out and homestead and make it without much social and infrastructure support. Nowadays, nobody makes it without social and infrastructure support. Steve Jobs didn't. Bill Gates didn't. They got a boost from friends and/or family. We all need that. We all need to help each other.

The great danger today is that we are gradually forming an aristocracy. We had the Bush presidencies -- father and son. A very bad omen. Now we hear of having another Clinton presidency. Leaving aside whether Hillary Clinton would make a good president or not, the idea of developing even the hint of dynasty in the White House should be repugnant to every American.

We need a people's government and a people's president. That does not mean socialism. It means electing representatives and a president who are strong enough to stand up against the very wealthy as well as the crazy, extremist, self-styled but mistaken reformers. We need people who will dare to move to implement new ideas and require the wealthy to obey the laws that everyone else obeys.

It's that simple.

If you read the history of wealthy men in America, you will note that many of them cheated, bought politicians and undercut their competition in order to create monopolies that harmed our economy and obtained special favors from the government. Those who became wealthy really because they were smarter, wiser than others without some cheating or taking unfair advantage are rare.

Some of the wealthiest Americans in history used law enforcement to protect their wealth and harmed others in the process. The list of wrongs that created wealth is very, very long. Just study the building of the railroads, the history of mining, the story of the steel industry. Cut-throat, ruthless competition was not unusual. And as a result a lot of ordinary people suffered.

But violent uprisings only very rarely improved things. Quiet cooperation and wisdom can save the day.

We who post on DU and others like us who see the great need for real change have insight into what could be done differently. We have the power to change the world in the gentle, firm way that it needs to be changed without useless violent revolution.

Just talk to your neighbors. Don't argue. Just state what you believe and why. Let it sink in. Don't excite the defenses in people. Just speak to their common sense. We all have to do this. Extremism works for a while and then fails. But acquiescence to injustice is dangerous.

At the same time, let's admit that sometimes we are wrong. The wonderful thing about democracy is that through the lens of diverse thought and expression, freedom of speech, freedom of communication, bad ideas can be held up and criticized (we all have them once in a while) and good ideas can rise to the top. But we have to do our part by holding reasoned conversations with each other and with our families and friends, neighbors and acquaintances. We need to do it in a spirit of good will, however and not from one of despondency or anger.

Sorry for the long rant. I don't expect very many people to read to the end.

[AAO]

49. I read your post, but I don't think you will be found correct in the end

Our "vote" has been diminished through gerrymandering, citizens united, 24/hr propaganda on most channels (not just Fox) and an increasingly uneducated and worn down electorate. I agree that what I predict may not be very pleasant, or effective, but I'm stating a fact that the rich folks must consider.

[JDPriestly]

50. As I point out, the rich folks usually prevail in revolutions. Beware.

We have to use the tools that we have AND THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC IN NATURE.

Sorry for the all caps, but read your history.

France is not the only good example. So is Russia. And then there is England although the common law and habeas corpus guaranteed the most fundamental rights preventing some of the worst excesses (except in the colonies including Ireland).

[AAO]

51. I'm not saying I WANT it to happen - I don't.

I'm just saying that at some point if things don't start to reverse course it will happen.

[JDPriestly]

52. It's hard to disagree. If things continue as they are, I do not know what

really poor people are supposed to do.

[AAO]

53. But they certainly won't just lay down and die.

Hopefully some people will come to their senses before it gets that far.

[bvar22]

13. DURec.

If it does not happen in my lifetime, it will happen in my daughter's. I shudder to think what she will see. "

Wealth gap widens as labor's share of income falls
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/wealth-gap-widens-labors-share-income-falls-1B6097385

As the Economy Recovers, the Wealth Gap Widens
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/03/11/as-the-economy-recovers-the-wealth-gap-widens

Top One Percent Captured 121 Percent Of All Income Gains
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/top-one-percent-income-gains_n_2670455.html

Corporate Profits Hit Record High While Worker Wages Hit Record Low
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/12/03/1270541/corporate-profits-wages-record/?mobile=nc

The above ^ doesn't happen by accident.
At one time, in my living memory, The Working Class had a voice in the Democratic Party. This is no longer true.

Our neighbors in Latin America have given us the Blue Print for "change",
but you won't find it on your TV.

VIVA Democracy!
I pray we get some here soon!


[font color=firebrick size=3][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[rhett o rick]

30. And the current Democratic administration is doing little to combat this trend. nm

[dotymed]

40. Sure they are...

"They" have been assimilated, IMO, long before "they" were elected.

When you are elected POTUS, replacing the worst president in history, you do not continue his policies.
You do not keep the same people working for you if they were policy wonks.
With incredibly corrupt corporations destroying the country, you do not allow them to codify their rules.
You do not have your main advisers come from the greedy wall street boardrooms, directly to run things in the Whitehouse.
Reality check on aisle 9 please.
I have no intent to be rude, "we will know them by their actions" is a common sense quote. Sadly, we have watched these actions and the very worst of the lobbyists for the elite are being allowed to write the "new (and improved) banking regulations" which got us in to this mess.
Simply, we live under a fascist regime with the oligarchs making the rules, which are intended to keep us down while they prosper.

[Martin Eden]

14. "more become radicalized with each passing day"

Unfortunately, some of this radicalization is to the extreme right.

The Tea Party, libertarianism, and various rightwing hate groups are manifestations of this movement to the right by a significant minority of the American public. Most of these voters may be woefully ignorant, but they're smart enough to sense the real decline in our standard of living ... and dumb enough to be manipulated by the rightwing noise machine that blames it all on liberals, ethnic minorities, and Barack Obama.

As long as the true elites of wealth and power can sustain this contrived polarization of the American people, our government will not be responsive to the needs of the 99% and we'll stay on the path towards the dystopian collapse you fear your daughter will experience.

Our best chance for saving the American dream and a better future for our children is to knock down the walls of fear and ignorance that keep average Americans divided between right and left. The two biggest obstacles to reviving our democracy are the influence of the 1% and our own propensity to ridicule our fellow citizens who've been taken in by the propaganda.

We need Red State America on our side -- on the side of the 99% -- because without them we remain a House Divided, and conquered by the oligarchy. When enough people are radicalized to the left, representative democracy has a chance to turn things around for the better.

[rhett o rick]

18. Very well said and very important. The 99% must unite.

Until we do we will be distracted while the Ruling Elite steal everything.

On Edit. The problem we face can be seen right here in DU City. We cant even get the left and center to work together.

[Doctor_J]

21. And do what?

Once we unite what will we do? OWS is a nice entity but hasn't had any effect on the trajectory of the country. I actually have some specific and what I believe will be very effective ideas. Unfortunately they aren't publishable on DU and would require most to go far outside their comfort zones. We'll see if it comes to that. I am hopeful but the signs point to more inactivity.

[Martin Eden]

23. When the majority of the 99% (red and blue) unites, we VOTE our common interests

instead of the interests of the corporatocracy

[Doctor_J]

33. I don't think that's going to happen though

The idiots in GlenBeckistan actually believe that we're in a recession because of "too many regulations", that Obama wants to confiscate all weapons, and so on. So you are never going to get any of them to vote for a populist (SP health care, huge infrastructure spending, etc.) which is what is really needed. They are so stupid that they think "government regulations" are keeping them poor. They're so ignorant that they are miles from even being functional as citizens.

The 53% that voted for Obama in 2008 are as close as we'll get to a voting bloc. But the president, pelosi, Reid, and the rest of the party "leadership" squandered that very rapidly in 2009. I think if we want this to happen in time to save the populace, voting isn't going to do it.

[Martin Eden]

37. Voting is the ONLY thing that's going to do it.

IT being the salvation of our representative democracy and the future of our country.

IT won't be easy, and it won't be quick. But the old pass away, and the young, if we help them, will help themselves and the rest of us.

BUT we have to start treating the people on the "other side" like human beings and like our natural allies -- because that's what they ARE, on both counts. Our interests are much more in common with each other than with the corporate oligarchs. It's very easy and it can be oh so satisfying to ridicule the people in GlennBeckistan, but they are victims of cynical propaganda in which their greatest fears and cherished faith are exploited and manipulated by professional charlatans on the payroll of the One Percent.

They have been duped into voting against their own best interests, and that is what we need to change. Without a doubt, many of them (especially the older ones) are beyond the possibility of change. But not all, and not young people who are just beginning to become politically aware. They're young, they have a lot to learn, they're susceptible to the wrong influences, and they'll spout some foolish nonsense. Don't ridicule them; don't alienate them, and don't push them away into the confines of the rightwing bubble.

Time is on our side, but WE need to be on our side too -- and on the side of those who are our natural allies even when they fail to see it.

[rhett o rick]

44. Problems with relying on voting are 1. The Ruling Elite own the voting system.

2. They own the propaganda machine

The only way to possibly vote in true representatives would be to get the voting system free and fair. The Ruling Elite own Congress and they arent about to fix the voting system unless to make it easier to manipulate.

Massive civil disobedience is the only answer. We must convince the Ruling Elite that their life will be better w/o massive civil disobedience. Otherwise they will rob us blind.

[Phlem]

27. I would venture to guess that

some of us have been out of our comfort zones for a while. As a person with PTSD (from my stupid fucking alcoholic, abusive, ass whole, of a republican stepfather), one might think debating politics would drive me over the edge. It does but I deal better with it everyday. I will never "alert" anyone, the world needs less lert's, and take what people give.

Everyone have valid points and for me, nothing can be more cuckoo than what's been coming from the conservative side. Put your ideas out there bud! You never know who might share your views. I wouldn't keep things off the table at this point.



-p

[rhett o rick]

28. Advocating for third party would be a no-no, as an example of what he may not want to

put out there.

[Phlem]

31. True

but our party isn't anything to brag about. We caved 1 less few times this quarter, woo hoo!

I believe we can get a handle on this but past history doesn't point to anything promising. We need a foundational shift in our party and I'm still waiting.

Seems all we've done ls lean to the right.

-p

[rhett o rick]

32. We've allowed disgruntled Republicans to slither under our tent. We need to kick their

asses to the curb.

[Phlem]

34. I hear that!

we won't name names here but yea, spot on!

-p

[rhett o rick]

35. We need to all put them on ignore. nm

[DhhD]

47. IMO, OWS was mostly made up of people, not established in a job or major responsibility.

Others of us need to do our part. Let's brainstorm several strategies.

Others of us need to organize public boycotts just to get attention that we have power and a voice. For instance, lets say you go to Wallyworld four times in a month. By spending 25% somewhere else for a month, it would get attention only if it was an organized and well publicized boycott with great support. Lets try dividing up the alphabet in to four parts so generally you boycott the week that corresponds to your last name.

Another movement could be a folding chair movement for waiting in line to vote. The city would have to bring in portable sanitation facilities and water fountains for such a large assemble. Instead, officials may decide to have early voting for much longer periods of time and on week ends.

In setting up these boycotts, We the People will get out the message of voting based on your needs instead of the needs of the 1%. The goal here is to move the right, center and left to the Left of the Corporatist Coup.

[Martin Eden]

24. Frustration & Anger

Passions run high when people really care about where our country is headed, and unfortunately all the frustration & anger breeds intolerance of opposing viewpoints and animosity towards those we view as being on the "other side."

The Powers That Be understand this very well, and deliberately fuel these animosities to keep average Americans bitterly divided.

We need to be smarter, and follow our own principles. I think everyone here would agree what's needed is a fact-based logical debate of IDEAS, but it's all too easy to lose sight of that when frustration and anger flare up.

[dotymed]

42. IMO, if Obama was on the side of the 90%

he would immediately appoint someone to the FCC with instructions to REINSTATE THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

If we had a true 4th Estate ( MSM) whose mission was to report accurately, the real news and to expose corruption, instead of creating and maintaining wedge issues (like pot legalization, gay marriage, etc..) to keep the neo-cons from joining with the left to battle the real enemies like wealth, greed and corruption, we could advance equality.

Honestly, the propaganda that is called the media is "their" biggest tool. If Obama really wanted to improve the plight of the majority, he could "let the sunshine in." If average Americans were informed about the real travesties that destroy our country, daily, and free air time given to all sides. It would not take long before everyone united and said "no more."
All it would take is a new head of the FCC, reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. It won't happen, because real journalists, allowed to inform the populace without fear of reprisal, on a daily basis during prime-time, on all channels, could turn this country around in short order.

[rhett o rick]

46. And now back to reality. The President is more concerned about putting

medical marijuana dispensers in prison than the thieves in Wall Street.

Penny Pritzker, the Democrats version of Mit Romney.

[Doctor_J]

48. There were a lot of things he could have done

to try to save his presidency and the country. That would have been a huge step. You are absolutely right that Big Media is the far right's major weapon. When we decide to fight back, it's going to really suck to be a Hate Radio host.

Another step for the president would have been to prosecute the Bush administration. And pardon Don Siegelmann and investigate the political prosecution that sent him to jail. Despite what the apologists say, many things could have been done unilaterally to put the Repukes on notice that their days of fucking us with impunity were over. He turned out to be a fraud, and anyone who is looking to him for any help at all getting out of this mess is as nutty as the teabaggers.

[Hekate]

17. KnR. Thanks for the post and link.

It's grim. I wrote a lot of reflections and decided to delete them -- I think Will said it all.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. "Money does not disappear"

It effectively does when it's taken out of circulation. That's the unspoken outrage the talking heads refuse to say. The GOAL is to play the "supply and demand" game with currency world wide.

They believe if money is rare for us it increases the value of their own stockpiles.

Therefore they put as little as they can into payroll and grin at the sight of someone working their ass off for a pittance.

[yurbud]

22. I think those at the top know what's coming better than we do and are hoarding...

to make it harder and take longer for us to claw it back.

But the relatively free exchange of information on the internet along with leaking and hacking their secrets, make it impossible for the very wealthy to maintain their advantage forever, anymore than royalty and nobility could survive after the industrial revolution.

[felix_numinous]

25. What is crazy to me

is that 'the 99%' honors this rigged money system instead of just turning our backs on it.

Why can't we walk away from the idea that money is more valuable than life? Start printing our own, start growing our own food, re-planting the forests, making our own power, and demand accountability of corporations and banks?

Is it a crazy idea to walk away from a sociopathic system that is not working out for ANYONE? Have we all been brainwashed into giving all of our power away to a few people? We outnumber the minority, yet they are screwing us and the planet?

We play this rigged game as if it isn't, and like Charlie Brown, the football gets pulled away before we can punt every damn time. Americans must be the most gullible people on the planet, compared to many other countries who don't stand for this bullshit.

Having one of those days, trying to imagine sanity.

[Amonester]

39. We can start printing our own, except for, it's illegal...

Trading things, though, isn't.

[Phlem]

26. This

is an astute assumption. One I happen to completely agree with and have feared to express. Thanks Will for saying it. This is the very reason I cannot deal with mom and pop republican anymore. The very reason I'm angry at willful ignorance and the people who perpetuate it, and celebrate it. At this point it's all excuses and fluff politically.

I'll support a Democrat and Bernie Sanders type Independents of course, but I am deeply disappointed with O. I'm not going to get into specifics but suffice it to say, we're in dire need of an aggressive representative's for the populace. One that can't be bought. We know as a nation we agree because it's been shown votes and in the streets. But they tell us otherwise and cover it with confusion and subterfuge till the next disaster.

I did not want this for my child and I know you wouldn't choose this either for your daughter.

Still, I will never quit trying to make a better place for her.

Sounds like your looking through different lenses, a father's view of the future.

Just remember it can still change, anything is possible, just don't quit.

-p

[blkmusclmachine]

36. End Game is here.

30,000 Drones patrolling U.S. neighborhoods will help ensure resistance is futile.

[heaven05]

45. +1000

and the truth will set us free.........