Equity

The other day I stopped by Burnie’s Bar and found Max Angst reading the New York Times and shaking his head.
“Art, if you really want to understand this country you need to compare two articles in today’s times, Max said.
“What are they about, Max?” I asked.
“People loosing their jobs,” he answered.
“Yeah, that can be rough,” I said.
“Not always,” Max responded.
“What do you mean? I asked.
“ The first article is about a guy named Charles K. Gifford who is being eased out of his job as Chairman of The Bank of America, they call it retirement He receives an amazing golden parachute. First he gets a $16.36 million cash payment, then up to $8.67 million in incentive payments, and $3.1 million a year for life. Also, he’s guaranteed $50,000 a year In consulting fees, 120 hours of free flight time on the company jet and a secretary.
“Compare this to a lady in the second article, Fabiola Quitiaquez, who lost her job last May. Six months have gone by and she cannot find work. Her unemployment has been used up. She has no income, no health insurance, nothing. There are 1.8 million Americans in this situation.
This is what this country is all about. There’s a small group of people who milk the system dry and the majority who struggle to get through it all.” Max said.
“Don’t some people make larger contributions to society than others?” I asked.
“Yes, and most get paid damn well for it while they’re making the contribution. The sick thing is that they’re so greedy they rig the system to bury themselves in riches when they leave their jobs. At the same time others become destitute when their jobs are lost. There is no equity in our country. The system is set up to enrich a small group at the expense of the rest of us.”
“And it always has been so,” I said.
“That doesn’t make it right. This is supposedly a country of the people, by the people and for the people. That is our highest political ideal. Well its about time the people started demanding the realization of that ideal.”
“You know as well as I do that most people feel that’s a hopeless cause. People have been crying out for equity since the beginning of civilization and it never happened, “ I said.
“Well I’m not willing to give up that ideal. People like you and me Art have to continue the struggle and maybe some day we’ll win.”

Fury in March

“So what do you think Art?” Max asked.
“Think? Hell. Max I’m scared to death.”
Once again we were at Bernie’s Bar. Max had just shown me an analysis of the state of the US nation that was more dire than any I had seen before.
“ Our national debt is over 8 trillion dollars. I can’t even imagine what 8 trillion dollars is like. It seems only yesterday billions of dollars was the range of our national debt; now we’re talking in trillions of dollars. And most of that borrowing is from the national banks of developing countries. That’s nothing short of obscene,” I said.
“Yet, Bush is still talking about tax cuts and increases in military spending. We’re also facing the coming of the Baby Boomers to retirement age. Suppose those lenders give up on us; our economy isn’t all that great. The government would have no money to operate on. If it tried to just print more, that money wouldn’t be accepted. The value of the dollar would nose-dive. For one thing we wouldn’t be able to buy the oil that our country runs on. There’s no light on the horizon,” Max said.
“This whole thing, this country of ours, could be coming down around our ears tomorrow. As I said, Max, I am scared
“ The article also mentions preparation for an attack on Iran by the US, Britain and Israel. That would bring much of Islam to arms against us. We’ve seen in the news this week how unguarded our borders and ports are. I’m sure there are people in the mid-east eager to take advantage of that. So besides putting us in economic danger the Bush administration is about to put us in physical danger, too.” Max said.
“And if some dreadful attack does occur, the response to hurricane Katrina revealed we’ll get scant help from Washington. Max what can we do?”
“I don’t know, Art. There are those who believe the Bush administration would use such an attack to rescind our constitutional rights and institute a fascist government. Supposedly the Northcom military group is ready to inflict martial law on the nation. And FEMA supposedly has set up concentration casmps. I have no way of knowing if any of those claims are true, but I keep an eye out for any supporting evidence. Frankly, I don’t trust this administration.”
“Good lord what has become of us. I never felt fear of the Federal government in the past. I disagreed with policy often enough but always felt that at the bottom line those running our government strongly supported the dream of a nation of free people that our country was supposed to be. Today, I’m not at all sure of that, Max.”
“It’s time to be cautious. Stock up with food and anything you’ll need if things do wrong. Try to obtain things you could barter. Make sure you have warm clothing and foot wear. Read about growing your own food and maybe start a vegetable garden.”
“Max, you know I’m an old fart and I keep myself going with a whole bunch of drugs. If I can’t get them, I’m not sure how long I’d last. Hell, half of them are pain pills. Without them I’m not sure how long I want to last.”
“There’s a lot of people in that boat, Art, but maybe we’re being to pessimistic. There has to be people out there with clout who won’t let this happen.”
“I hope so, Max. I surely do hope so. Is there nothing we can do?”
“Look for allies and support them. There are movements concerned about these things. I hope its not too late.”