Reply #28: I think the 1% dumbed us down

[DaveJ]

We didn't do this to ourselves. The stuff you mentioned... car, home, cheap food (who can afford organic?), Chinese products (what can afford handmade?), etc., are not decisions, but necessities, for most who want to be a part of the system created by the 1%.

Granted, we could have nipped it in the bud sooner. I think our problem is that we were too trusting. We trusted the 1% cared about our best interest. Now, we know otherwise. We now need to be cynical of everything. But that's not possible, because the moment we drop our guard we will get screwed again. We need to combat the 1% who is RIPPING US OFF and not blame ourselves.

Laws need to be changed. Companies need to be rated based on the success of their employees, not the success of their executives.

I agree with you in spirit. To be honest, I see how selfish your everyday Joe is, and I wonder if people even deserve a better deal. I think most people would lay off 1000 people, if they were to make a million bucks from it, given the chance. I come into contact with thousands of people daily and they are a greedy jaded bunch. I do not think they are consciously selfish, though, they are just educated to be that way. So I think that having a rough time in life is almost like something they need.

But the 99%, people who are aware of their misfortune, those who have had it rough, who realize that life is unfair, and instead of accepting it, they know it can be improved. So they are taking a stand and demanding that the system change. I know the system can be made better. It's worth a try.