Posted on 02/07/2009 6:06:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The poor you will always have, the good book says, but as for the rich man, he will wither away like a delicate flower in the midday sun. The first prediction has certainly been borne out, but the second part (James 1:11) had not yet come to pass by the Panic of 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt warned of a coming reckoning against the "malefactors of great wealth." Nor by 1990, when former Nixon aide Kevin Phillips predicted that Americans would rise to extract revenge on "the rich who got the benefits of the go-go years" of the 1980s. As late as 2001, no less an authority than, uh, NEWSWEEK wrote in the wake of 9/11 that "the arrogant wheeler-dealer ordering a $600 bottle of wine with dinner … has vanished utterly as an icon," which remained true until approximately 2002. Well, listen up, you rich guys, this time we really mean it. The president himself is repelled by your rapacious greed, your kids are ashamed to admit that their mom is a banker, even your girlfriends are sick of your whining about your bonus, and you're going to have to learn to live on $500,000 a year like a normal person. Oh, and by the way, nice watch. Is it Cartier?
In America, the country that invented the modern model of wealth—i.e., derived neither from inherited landholdings nor royal patronage—mocking the rich is historically one of the most durable cultural memes, matched only by envy of them. In different eras over the past two centuries, one or the other has predominated, but only rarely has the American public evinced the kind of outrage that gives rise to serious political change.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
It looks like the news media is withering away in the light of day. They have to make up things to sell papers. It sounds good unless you look at the facts like most liberal tripe.
Such dislike is the seed of Revolution given the capture of the electoral process by incumbents fueled by special interest money.
That is not the real reason.
The people in the bottom 20% are poor, generally speaking, because they are in poor health, ignorant, not much inclined to work, and generally messed up. They are not in a condition to revolt no matter what happens.
The revolutions of the past involved young, healthy, vigorous and educated people who were unjustly oppressed.
I wouldn’t be after rich folks, I would be for a total enema of politicians and the media out of our lives.
Replace them with real Americans and real journalists.
And many are seething with contempt for the media.
“The president himself is repelled by your rapacious greed...”
You mean while he’s packing in that hundred-dollar-a-pound steak of his and trundling his girls off to private school?
Writer’s living in Fantasy Land.
“When and if there’s a revolution here, it won’t be against the wealthy, Jerry. It’ll be against you and the politicians that you guys cover for. “
You read my mind. I hope to be on the jury and the firing squad.
As Dave Ramsey says the paid off mortgage has replaced the $500.00 wine for the (play like afford it...I want it now ...put on a credit card generation) as the new states symbol.
Many years ago one of my electronic tech friends invited me to be a charter member in his club. I asked him what it was, he replied: “the Kill a Commie a day Club.”
He almost meant it, he played with the big stuff in the Pacific.
You are so right, I hate commies, marxists, fascist, socialists, and all totalitarians.
Freedom is an issue worth dying for, even if you are an old fart.
right, it’s not about hating the rich-it’s about hating the political class in this country. I don’t hate Bill Gates, but Bill Clinton, well that’s another story.
And let's not forget his recent 150 mile trip one AF One to mingle with his Dem allies. Bet that cost North of $300,000 and for what? He could have helicoptered in half the time at one hundredth the expense I'll bet.
He's just Royalty masquerading as a Populist IMO. He is also a well spoken Socialist who is Hell Bent on redistributing wealth - But only certain wealth.
I don’t hate the rich either. I just hate oppressors and those who enable them and spin for them.
Um...no one has noticed to date that POLITICIANS are either wealthy to begin with or wealthy to end with once they retire from Washington? ;)
A local politician I respect SO much and wish the best for each day is Scott Klug (R, WI). He ran on Term Limits and served two terms because we didn’t want to let him go and then he said, ‘See Ya!’ and didn’t run again. Seriously? The guy could’ve been our Governor For Life...or President by now.
He beat Bob Kastenmeier, an entrenched ‘Rat since 1951!! Some feat!
The guy has NEVER been without a job since then. There really IS no need to make a Government Job your Life’s Work...unless you’re incredibly dumb and/or lazy. (And I’m Retired Army, LOL!)
http://www.freewikimedia.com/en/wiki/Scott_Klug.html
Another reason to hate the press. They refuse to read the newspapers.
Well, not exactly. The cannon fodder of revolutions are traditionally young and oppressed, but not always healthy, educated or all that vigorous. Truly oppressed people are seldom all three.
The leaders of revolutions, OTOH, normally fit your description quite well, except they aren't always all that young.
Not so much a revolution, but more of a purging. Matter o’ fact isn’t that what the call it when you have an obstruction of the bowel by hardened feces; a purging?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.