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From Robert Reich:
We’re now in the America’s second Gilded Age.
Last week it was reported that in 2017 the average CEO of the 350 largest firms in the U.S. received $18.9 million in compensation. That’s a 17.6 percent increase over 2016.
At the same time, the typical worker’s compensation remained flat, rising merely 0.3 percent.
The first Gilded Age fueled a progressive era that tamed and regulated its excesses, beginning in 1901.
Last weekend Robin and I made a pilgrimage to the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The reason for this pilgrimage was because Jimmy LaFave was going to be playing there. Jimmy is at the top of my list of favorite musicians. I have been listening to him for 20 years, and if I do not have all of his CDs, I have the vast majority. His music speaks to me on so many levels. The fact that he is not more famous than he is, says more about the music industry Continue reading “We Need Woody Guthrie and Jimmy LaFave”
Here is an article I found worth my time to read. An excerpt from the article is chilling.
“That economic stratification may lead to collapse on its own… Under this scenario, elites push society toward instability and eventual collapse by hoarding huge quantities of wealth and resources, and leaving little or none for commoners who vastly outnumber them yet support them with labour. Eventually, the working population crashes because the portion of wealth allocated to them is not enough, followed by collapse of the elites due to the absence of labour.”
Enjoy! http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170418-how-western-civilisation-could-collapse
The sad part to me is that this is a story that has repeated itself multiples in our history, yet we are not smart enough to learn from it. Or perhaps we do not have the gumption to push against the greedy hoarders and those more interested in the current profit.
In these times when racism and bigotry seem to be rearing their horrendous heads with renewed vigor, I am reminded of a story that I tell from time.
My youngest brother is married to a charming Korean lady. They have two very attractive children, obviously of mixed race, Korean and Caucasian (mainly British Isles and Scandinavia).
Many years ago my parents were visiting me when I lived in Jackson, Mississippi working for Saks of all companies. We took a jaunt over to Vicksburg to see the very historic Continue reading “God’s Way of Saying It Is Okay”
One of the big issues waging in the never ending culture wars is “bathroom” laws. This has been brought on by attempting to deal with transgender folks on a level that meets their needs. Transgender people would like use public restrooms that match what they perceive as their gender identity. Many states have passed laws attempting to force transgender people to use public restrooms that match the gender on their birth certificates.
First a confession, Continue reading “Transgender Bathrooms”
My Jewish wife has expressed to me that every time she sees an islamicphobic posting Facebook she feels like she has been kicked in the teeth. She sees islamphobia as just a different flavor of anti-Semitism. It is same swallow from the larger cup of racism and intolerance. “Why cannot everyone just remember the Golden Rule,” she said.
From Islam:
“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.”
From Judaism:
“What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.” ~~ Talmud, Shabbat 3id
From Christianity:
“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” ~~ Matthew 7:12
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” ~~ Luke 6:31
My wife Robin is Jewish. She is also very ethnic looking. I bring this up because of a couple stories she has shared with me over the years. One is that as a young girl she sometimes felt like she was black. In her childish mind she felt an affinity with them due to discrimination and feeling like she did not belong to the larger society. She also tells the story of moving to a north St. Louis suburb as a young newlywed. Due to her ethnic appearance a lot of her neighbors thought she was Italian. She allowed them this belief as it was easier to deal them than if they knew she was Jewish. At least that was her feeling.
I will admit anti-Semitism is something I do not understand. For obvious reasons it is something I have pondered on over the last few years. I have done some minor research on the issue. While I have some vague understanding of its roots, the vehemence with which it is has come down through the generations to us mystifies me.
I have a dear friend, Leon, a black man a few years older than myself. He lives in Jackson, Continue reading “Break a Little Bread”
A comment to me recently started me thinking about what is the difference between acceptance and tolerance. The comment was this:
“To me homosexuality is not acceptable behavior. Why are Liberals trying to force me to accept this? I feel discriminated against.”
One definition of acceptance is — the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group. Another is — favorable reception; approval; favor. Tolerance is defined as — the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
Even a cursory glance at the human race gives the impression of great diversity among its members. This is truly amazing when you consider that if you were to pick two random individuals and sequence their DNA there would be a Continue reading “Acceptance and Tolerance”