General Discussion

WorseBeforeBetter

(11,441 posts)

145. Again, what price range is acceptable to you? Have you signed a vow of poverty?

Sun Nov 30, 2014, 04:45 PM

Nov 2014

Are you riding around in beater Yugo, or are you cruisin' in something a bit more comfortable? Lemme take a gander at your reply: You bike to work, or take public transportation like a (scold, scold) good liberal should.

Do you have a roof over your head? Are your basic needs being just met, or is your home a bit more luxurious? Right-wingers like to condemn liberals/Democrats (e.g., Michael Moore, Al Gore) for living in large homes, and it's a tired argument.

High-end cars, like with Chevy Cobalts, provide jobs for designers, engineers, auto workers, salespersons, mechanics, car washers/detailers, etc. Do you have a problem with jobs?

It makes me sick that so many have so little, but the problem of poverty goes WAY beyond some wealthy dude driving a Ferrari. And it's possible that said wealthy dude is philanthropic, like many of Hollywood's do-gooders.

In a little bit I'm going to splurge on my own comfort, in the form of a glass of very expensive bourbon, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. I work -- HARD -- in the health care industry, and I've earned this splurge.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

158 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

An open letter to America’s 1%: you had better hope violent protesters stay stupid. [View all] riqster Nov 2014 OP

K&R.... daleanime Nov 2014 #1

Thanks. riqster Nov 2014 #7

K&R. times 7.3 billion . olddots Nov 2014 #2

I just hope I live long enough to see some actual justice in this country, someday maybe eh NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #3

Agreed. Liberals know better. riqster Nov 2014 #6

Liberals can't drive high-end cars? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #76

LOL Liberals driving Ferraris makes you sick? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #74

How many starving children Stryst Nov 2014 #104

Again, what price range is acceptable to you? Have you signed a vow of poverty? WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #145

His and hers, two ferraris, neither of them driven hardly at all but had to have his and hers NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #106

The problem of poverty goes well beyond... WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #146

I was wrong they are Bentley's, dont know how expensive those are... NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #149

I have been extremely surprised that rioting or vandalism has not taken place at rich homes and jwirr Nov 2014 #4

My theory is that divide and conquer is working for the nonce. riqster Nov 2014 #10

I'm not even a little surprised cali Nov 2014 #12

Yes, of course if you are thinking rioters. I was thinking angry individuals. We have had a lot of jwirr Nov 2014 #16

That none of the Enron guys ... SomeGuyInEagan Nov 2014 #81

And since then we have seen the Enronization of the entire economy. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #90

It *is* amazing, and could very well start happening at any time, pretty much. nt AverageJoe90 Nov 2014 #26

Kind of gorilla warfare. jwirr Nov 2014 #27

Gorilla warfare? Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #52

Planet of the Apes? riqster Nov 2014 #65

God knows. I stole it from somewhere online. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #82

Thanks for posting. Food for serious thought. - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #5

This is something my brother....... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #8

We have the ability to reach people. We can and must plant seeds. riqster Nov 2014 #75

Yep, we surely must plant the seeds.... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #105

Everytime they burn a small mom and pop business. redstatebluegirl Nov 2014 #9

Yup. So they need to focus that anger in the right direction. riqster Nov 2014 #21

the 1% damn well knows they're protected cali Nov 2014 #11

Distraction only works for so long. riqster Nov 2014 #24

Eeyup. hifiguy Nov 2014 #28

not unless they're starving. The vast majority of Americans cali Nov 2014 #35

we've never had anything like the bread and circuses extant today cali Nov 2014 #32

Which will come in the next 40 years with Climate Change. Because the 1%. Tommymac Nov 2014 #86

Oh yeah good plan... SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #13

It's a prediction, not a plan. I hope the 1% get a clue in time. riqster Nov 2014 #20

Eventually it will happen. hifiguy Nov 2014 #14

They better wake up. CNN just interviewed one of the leaders of the protests in StL mall.... jillan Nov 2014 #15

Little signs of life. riqster Nov 2014 #18

what? picture? link? NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #56

Didn't know which one you wanted a link for - so here is both :) jillan Nov 2014 #58

Thanks, The Walton's are enemies of the human race....big time NoJusticeNoPeace Nov 2014 #59

Occupy Wall Street attempted to bring just that message to the 1%. Live and Learn Nov 2014 #17

Agreed. People have to believe in the system or it will fail. riqster Nov 2014 #19

And it's difficult to continue to believe in a system........ socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #132

Absolutely right. riqster Nov 2014 #133

I am pretty sure that the 1% are aware of this, sadoldgirl Nov 2014 #22

I'm afraid they've learned that violence against protesters has worked as well. world wide wally Nov 2014 #31

That was my first thought too BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #78

Maybe they will create an ebola outbreak. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #91

As we have seen BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #114

Never happen. Because . . . OldRedneck Nov 2014 #23

I watched the beginning of the 1992 riots in South Central LA from the third story of a building JDPriestly Nov 2014 #25

+1 Enthusiast Nov 2014 #92

That reminds me of somebody: bvar22 Nov 2014 #148

Never happen, children are brainwashed early in life. Rex Nov 2014 #29

exactly. it's hopelessly naive to think that a) it will happen, and b) that the 1% cali Nov 2014 #34

People need to hold on to something, even if it is false hope. Rex Nov 2014 #37

I have noticed that the ad monster has followed kids online... Moostache Nov 2014 #61

Bleak but on point. riqster Nov 2014 #71

If you have given up, why are you posting on an activist site? riqster Nov 2014 #42

say what? because I disagree with YOU? grab a clue. and I think Mr. B& C is a moron. cali Nov 2014 #87

No, because you said: "exactly. it's hopelessly naive to think that a) it will happen and riqster Nov 2014 #125

No Justice, no profits azmom Nov 2014 #30

A good start. riqster Nov 2014 #49

And probably caused 200 store employees to get sent home for the day Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #89

That's the silliest blog post of his yet. aikoaiko Nov 2014 #33

I'm not familiar with him, delete_bush Nov 2014 #150

Reminds me of the phrase randr Nov 2014 #36

Yup. It is why we need greater separation of church and state. riqster Nov 2014 #43

One percenters are aware. Hence private security companies armed to the teeth, kairos12 Nov 2014 #38

Firepower is a good thing. To an extent. riqster Nov 2014 #48

As Long As Americans Are Clueless - The 1% Won't Change - They Don't Have To cantbeserious Nov 2014 #39

Well, we have to spread the word. riqster Nov 2014 #44

Fully Agree - Until More Awaken - Nothing Will Change cantbeserious Nov 2014 #51

better cut education some more,.... lastlib Nov 2014 #40

The more fools they. riqster Nov 2014 #45

This is a little Jamaal510 Nov 2014 #41

If there had not been fires in Ferguson, the media would have said the protestors accepted defeat Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #46

Yep. The media are part of the problem. riqster Nov 2014 #47

And corporations are pieces of the solution. Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #50

Hey, those bits of corporate flotsam and jetsam are people too, my friend. riqster Nov 2014 #63

If you split up corporate property, is it 3/4 of a person? Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #70

I am thinking instead of 0.75 we go smaller. riqster Nov 2014 #72

You know, hostile takeovers of corporate property are quite time-consuming Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #77

My granddaughter watches MLP. They are magical. riqster Nov 2014 #80

I'll take that as an incitement to throw things :) Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #83

I've been known to post a pony or two myself hifiguy Nov 2014 #115

:) /) Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #118

Looting and vandalizing is neither small d or large D Democratic./NT DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #53

Never said it was. I described it as a result of Teapubbie policies. riqster Nov 2014 #66

Excellent rant! Bohemianwriter Nov 2014 #54

Gotta love Mencken. riqster Nov 2014 #68

I remember in 2008/2009 here in Ct they were scared shitless when..... Bonhomme Richard Nov 2014 #55

I think we will stay "stupid" zentrum Nov 2014 #57

We can help by providing accurate information. riqster Nov 2014 #73

You all know the history of the OP...right? nt U4ikLefty Nov 2014 #60

I know these silly blog posts get zero traction at his own site... WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #79

It will happen sooner or later. Brigid Nov 2014 #62

Castles made of sand will fall into the sea. Eventually. riqster Nov 2014 #64

I think that they (the .01%) have lost touch... jimlup Nov 2014 #67

Yes, the French Revolution will pale in comparison to any modern uprising. riqster Nov 2014 #69

I will rejoice when the Koch-ites get their just reward. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #84

Those who are hurt the most lead the way. But changing the system will require Maineman Nov 2014 #85

the oppressed know much more about the powerful than the powerful know about the oppressed Android3.14 Nov 2014 #96

K&R DeSwiss Nov 2014 #88

Plus one! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #95

And then ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #93

That is possible. But not guaranteed. riqster Nov 2014 #128

True, but if history is to serve as a guide ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #139

Quite appropriate. riqster Nov 2014 #141

My point is ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #143

No argument there at all. riqster Nov 2014 #144

There it is Android3.14 Nov 2014 #94

Not all 1 per centers are Marie Antoinette or the Romanovs oberliner Nov 2014 #97

No it isn't a correlation, but hifiguy Nov 2014 #116

Point taken oberliner Nov 2014 #124

Your problem is your stuck with the 1% number Iamthetruth Nov 2014 #98

K & R +++ Thespian2 Nov 2014 #99

Amazing the numbers that dont vote Cryptoad Nov 2014 #100

Not that amazing when you consider.... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #135

Ahhh,,,, the demand for instant results..... Cryptoad Nov 2014 #138

I'm not going to argue that point..... socialist_n_TN Nov 2014 #140

I can't really argue with,,, Cryptoad Nov 2014 #142

But why would I want to protest the 1 pct? roamer65 Nov 2014 #101

Truth. riqster Nov 2014 #129

I generalay ignore these threads and don't spend much time on DU, anyhow but this hated for success DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #102

No, but the issue is mathematical Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #103

Folks should be compensated based on experience, skills, training bigwillq Nov 2014 #107

actually, you are not paid for your skill and talent. you are paid based on fulfilling a demand. DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #122

multiply any number by .01 and you have one percent. DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #123

The issue is, why does Mark Zuckerberg make so much? Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #151

I have little use for Facebook, myself. I created a profile years ago but never use it. DeadEyeDyck Dec 2014 #158

The problem is not that there will aways be a !%. olegramps Nov 2014 #108

I think the goal is to have the American working class be a "virtual middle-class" Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #120

You think this is about hating success? Really? navarth Nov 2014 #110

Do you have poverty? treestar Nov 2014 #112

Hey, PhD! When you say 'J.K. Rawlings' do you mean J.K. Rowling author of 'Harry Potter' Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #121

posting through a smartphone has its disadvantages DeadEyeDyck Dec 2014 #157

Fair point. Perhaps I overgeneralized. riqster Nov 2014 #130

The purpose of any economy is to allocate resources to maximize social happiness. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #134

All that "fancy book learning" and we get "hated for success". I'll skip over "generalay" Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2014 #153

actually, the entire 1% are not against society samsingh Nov 2014 #109

As long as the TV works there will not be change. navarth Nov 2014 #111

Why are our police increasingly militarized? Buzz505 Nov 2014 #113

It's part of the problem, yes. But there is always hope. I refuse to give up. riqster Nov 2014 #126

One of Osama bin Laden's stated goals was to bankrupt America. Initech Nov 2014 #117

Sadly, that's an example of evil overthinking things. Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #119

It reminds me of an argument between Malcolm X and Dr. King DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #127

I understand Dr. King's point of view. And personally, I share it. riqster Nov 2014 #131

I think who pointed out that Dr. King and Malcolm X played "good cop bad cop" with LBJ said it best Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #152

I think we could say it played out that way, to an extent. riqster Dec 2014 #154

I think it was more an understanding the three of them had. Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #156

You have gotten a lot of trollish respones to this post. Speaking truth to power makes some nervous greatlaurel Nov 2014 #136

Thank you. It is not a new thought on my part, of course. riqster Nov 2014 #137

Send them the Fairy Tales malaise Nov 2014 #147

Deny the m$m the soundbite flobee1 Dec 2014 #155