Confession – I am a bigot.

[KentuckyWoman]

A bigot is a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from their own or intolerant of people of different political views, ethnicity, race, class, religion, profession, sexuality or gender.


I am a bigot.

It wasn’t always like this. Even a few years ago I assumed the upper middle and upper class people who crossed my path to be decent hard working folks just like everyone else. I was still capable of empathy for wealthy folks having a tough time…. Like going through cancer or burying a child. Let’s face it, some things are pretty awful to go through even when a person can afford to hire all the help they want.

Pains me to say those days are obviously gone. Pretty sure I no longer have the capability to give a flying frogs butt about the sufferings of rich people.

For the better part of 3 decades upper class people have been systematically stealing from me and mine all the while telling me they and only they are entitled to the fruits of workers labor. I have lived my adulthood in a world where work on main street is punished and wall street gambling is rewarded….. and they no longer allow the small investors to get ahead. Not even by investing in a small little house and hope some equity will be there near the end. Even that has been taken from us.

They didn’t stop with our money. The profit takers have given us factory food devoid of taste, nutritious and sometimes even safety. Across the globe they “privatize” water and other basic resources all for a few more coins with which to buy off more and more governments – because on the other side of the world a fund manager has to meet the double digit growth rate everyone expects in the 401K. And of course there is the police state and the prison industry……. Keeping us from going after them with our pitchforks.

And they just had to rub our noses in it...... the Romneys?..... seriously? "Presidentin' is hard work." wasn't bad enough?

In all of this I've gotten hard. I didn’t shed a single tear when they cried and whined about being asked to give up ridiculously low tax percentages. I didn’t cry a single tear when they were whining about being forced to share a ridiculously small percentage of the wealth created by workers with the workers. So I think you can guess I’m not going to go into deep mourning because a little bit more is asked to make sure the working people in this country can obtain medical care.

Flame away.

[libdem4life]

1. I am sorry for your experiences, truly. Sounds like you've had a rough life. My Dad used

to say that "Fair didn't come listed on your Birth Certificate".. He was right. We were Red State, rural, preacher family in the 50s...I could write books. But we had many other things that have followed me my entire life.

The gravel road I grew up on was, just read this a few months ago by chance, the last state highway in the nation to be paved.

I hope that you find some inner peace in your life, because it's already there.

[Nye Bevan]

2. I hope that you are able to overcome your bigotry (nt)

[jtuck004]

17. I hope you aren't. I hope it pisses you off to the point that you figure out a way to work with your

neighbors and quit making it possible for those bastards to keep things like this.

You can be civil, maybe even have a few as "friends", but just remember that 999 out of a thousand will turn on you in a second if it comes down to a choice between their rich buddies and you.

[Mostly Orbiting]

77. Same here

[tblue]

67. I don't.

I understand the feeling. The 1% get along pretty well regardless of what the rest of us think or feel.

[LWolf]

68. +1

[liberal_at_heart]

3. I used to take my daughter to the doctor any time she needed to go. My husband and I have

Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2013, 12:43 AM - Edit history (1)

bad credit due to medical bills. I don't care. Those copays can go to the collections all day long. I don't care. Now that my daughter is an adult the copays for her visits get billed to her even though she is on our insurance. I told her yesterday if we want to preserve her credit we will have to be selective about when she goes to the doctor. I get a little more bigoted against rich people each day too KentuckyWoman. We must have single payer. Nothing less will do. And we must have properly funded education, living wages, properly funded pensions, strong unions, and many other things that are rightfully ours that they keep trying to steal from us.

[musical_soul]

70. I think I agree with singlepayer option.

The question is how to get it without half of this country blowing their stack.

[truebluegreen]

73. You don't think they already did that? nt

[Maraya1969]

79. You just reminded me of this one company that charged me fraudulently about 16 years ago

and how in the last 3 or so years people buying up credit started calling and harassing me. They found out I had a "trust fund". They have no idea how big or little it is but they heard the word, "trust fund' and they decided to go after me. Trust me the money in that trust washed away with Hurricane Sandy.

Their tactics were terrible. Once I started calling them one day and harassing them back. There was no way in Hell I was going to pay this money - oh and the balance went up thousands of dollars each time it was sent to a new company.

Finally I told them I was deceased. Well I made like I was someone else and said I had died. I had thought of it before but was too scared to do it.

So here I am alive and well and have not heard from any of those rat bastard since.

Just a thought. It could work for you.

[arely staircase]

4. you are not a bigot

any more than any crime victim is a bigot for disliking those who robbed them.

[Nye Bevan]

7. It's more like when someone becomes a racist because he was robbed by a black person.

Or becomes an anti-Semite because they had an unpleasant experience with a Jewish person.

The key is to remember that your experience does not justify blanket bigotry.

[arely staircase]

9. no it isn't. it is nothing like that

the difference is that one amounts to judging everyone of a certain skin color because you were robbed by someone of the same complexion. the other is recognizing that the system exploits the poor for the benefit of the rich.

[Nye Bevan]

12. No, it is. The OP admits to being bigoted against *all* rich people,

due to the actions of some rich people. Bigotry is, by definition, broad-brush prejudice.

What the OP needs to focus on is that there are decent, honorable rich people such as Alan Grayson and Nancy Pelosi. Perhaps then she will be able to overcome her bigotry.

[arely staircase]

14. well hating all rich people is wrong I will agree

but I disagree with your advice of focusing on the rare good ones but rather how we strip the bad (most of them) of their political power - to the point a rich man has no more influence over policy than a poor one. No?

[Nye Bevan]

15. That's like saying "let's focus on how to reduce crimes committed by blacks"

as a response to racism, as opposed to pointing out that racism is inherently wrong.

[arely staircase]

16. no it isn't because one is systemic and the other is not nt

[passiveporcupine]

21. I would suggest

that not all rich people have attempted to rig the system to benefit themselves and exploit the poor. So it's really not fair to hate the rich. It is fair to hate the rich who do deliberately buy the political power to rig the system...or who deliberately attempt to exploit the poor (like a boss paying unlivable wages when his profits are high enough to easily pay better). There are many wealthy liberals and progressives who would vote for changes like higher taxes on the rich and other progressive proposals.

Many rich people are doctors, dentists, or some other medical practitioner who work to help people, and even work gratis for the poor. Some are lawyers who work to help the poor (like Obama did before he joined the senate). Look at the doctors that work for Doctor's without Borders.

No...it's really not justified hating all of the rich just because they are rich. And that is the problem with bigotry...it is often based on an overload of emotion and the emotion blocks the ability to reason clearly and define who you are really angry at and why.

I certainly understand how easy it is to fall into this, but it is never fair. For example, I've seen many posters on forums who absolutely despise all republicans, yet I've known many good people who were republicans. It's not all republicans who we see in congress and politics.

[arely staircase]

23. i agree. i have liberal rich friends

but to compare working class resentment of the rich to white racist resentment of minorities is silly at best.

[passiveporcupine]

58. Well for one thing

One is bigotry (which is what we are talking about) and the other is racism. But I don't think I ever tried to compare them.

[flying rabbit]

11. See post #9

[AAO]

32. Why is it always something like this...

"he was robbed by a black person."
vs.
"they had an unpleasant experience with a Jewish person."

[defacto7]

35. Good call!

That's where the prejudice resides.

[nomorenomore08]

36. It's not about one bad egg in this case. It has nothing to do with the morality or immorality

of any individual. It's the plain fact that the vast majority of people in this country have been screwed over for the benefit of a wealthy few - I'm one of that vast majority, and unless you make at least couple hundred thousand a year, you're probably one too.

Comparing this to racism is so disingenuous I could laugh...

[Nye Bevan]

72. The OP invited the comparison by acknowledging that she is a bigot (nt)

[musical_soul]

71. Agreed.

[Marie Marie]

5. I will join you.

Those that defend the right of the upper class to keep more and more of their wealth seen to think that their having this wealth happens in a vacuum. They worked hard, why aren't they entitled to it? Simply, because their having more comes at the expense of someone or something else. They get fat salaries and bonuses, workers wages are stagnant and benefits are cut - if they are among those still lucky enough to be employed. Easiest way to raise profits - cut labor. Lower wages drop tax revenues, especially at the local level. Local small businesses, hospitals, schools, infrastructure etc etc. all suffer. They produce products the cheapest way they can find and we consumers end up with crap and no decent customer service to deal with this crap when falls apart or ceases to work. This is the true trickle down - their wealth comes at our expense. I'm with you KentuckyWoman - I've had more than enough!

[diane in sf]

6. Call me a bigot too.

[99Forever]

8. Right there with you, KW.

I have zero compassion for the 1%. They could all die tomorrow and I wouldn't shed a single tear. The world would be a FAR better place without them.

[hughee99]

33. Wasn't your avatar in the 1% at the time of his death?

Aren't our president, Sec. of State Kerry, former Sec. Hillary Clinton, many of the actors, musicians and possibly writers and athletes you enjoy seeing, in the 1%?

[nomorenomore08]

38. It's called hyperbole. Intended to vent frustration, and in most cases, not to be taken literally...

[hughee99]

52. If one makes a sweeping generalization, they should expect to be called on it here.

I think people make MANY statements about groups of people with ideas about what "that group" is like without giving much thought to the specific people in that group. When I come across that, I'll challenge someone to either defend it or rethink it.

[nomorenomore08]

56. Do I think the "1%" are all bad people, individually? Of course not.

Have they, overall, been detrimental to the rest of us in recent years? Looking at the number of Americans plunged into poverty, forced onto public assistance to survive, etc., I think the answer is a resounding YES.

[99Forever]

60. I suggest you...

... find someone else to browbeat with your literal interpretation of everything, cuz "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn."

[hughee99]

61. My apologies...

sweeping generalizations are only okay as long as it's a group we don't like, and if you think what I did was "browbeating" you might just be on the wrong message board.

[99Forever]

62. Oh goody...

... another freakin' gatekeeper telling people who should and shouldn't "be here."

[hughee99]

63. Nope, just someone who thinks this might not be the right message board for you

if you consider what I did to be "browbeating". Then again, given that all the statements I've read on this thread from you have included a considerable amount of hyperbole, I guess "browbeating" might seem like the right word to use.

Hyperbole is fun. It allows someone to make ridiculous statements without having to defend them.

[99Forever]

64. Think I'll hang around...

... and not have to see your inanity. Bu bye.

[hughee99]

65. Inanity?

Like making statements you don't believe and with no intention of defending them, and then referring to anyone who calls you on it as "browbeating"... Yeah, I'M the one that's inane. Have a nice day.

[Nye Bevan]

44. I hope you're not including your fellow DUer Alan Grayson (net worth $30 million +)

in your somewhat sweeping statement.

Also, I guess the assassination of that 1%er John F Kennedy did not (or would not have) upset you.

[tavalon]

10. In the macro, I get you

In the micro, and this is something some rich folks don't actually know, we are all the same. We die, we bleed, we hurt, we grieve.

Now, if all rich people are sociopaths, then you don't need to feel anything for them because they don't feel any of the things I mentioned.

I just haven't gotten to the point of believing they are all sociopaths. Romney and Bush are and I could name a dozen others easily. I just can't generalize in the micro.

[Nye Bevan]

13. +1. Generalizing is what leads to bigotry.

The key is to judge people by the content of their character, not their color, their religion, or their social class.

[nomorenomore08]

39. The OP probably shouldn't have used the word "bigot" because that's what people seem to be

focusing on, while ignoring the actual content of her post...

[Brigid]

18. I have noticed one thing about rich people.

I have known very few of them, but it seems like the only ones I ever heard of that were worth anything weren't born rich.

[No Vested Interest]

46. Again- over-generalization.

For starters - Bobby and Ted Kennedy, and siblings
Warren Buffet's son, Howard Buffett.

I'll invite others to add to the list...

[tapermaker]

19. I`m with you.

The only rich people I can stand are poor people who luck into the lottery. If someone made their money In the system , then they fucked someone over on the way up.

[Nye Bevan]

25. Like JK Rowling, for example?

Or the woman who invented Spanx and is now a billionaire? Or the kid who started Tumblr?

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Sorry, but I won't be joining you, nor patting you on the back.

Jerks come with wallets of all sizes. I will not hate someone simply because they have more than I. I will not use the sins of some to condemn all. I will not applaud you or rec you for that. Instead, I guess I shall pity you. I hope you see...some day...the error of a thought such as this.

Take care.

[KentuckyWoman]

22. I expected to be flamed

This is a weakness on my part. I posted really as a way to try and work out some of the bitterness. Well also because I suspect I'm not the only one who needs a little help pulling back from the hatred.

[passiveporcupine]

24. It's not easy

avoiding knee jerk reactions. We all do it at times.

[Nye Bevan]

26. I have had bigoted older relatives

who have been able to rid themselves of their hatred and prejudices.

Kudos for trying, and good luck.

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. I would hardly consider what I have said a flame...

..but...okay, I guess.

I have known quite a few upper middle class who are better people than I on the whole.

[KentuckyWoman]

34. oh sorry, no I didn't take that way.

Was just explaining that I agree with you.

[questionseverything]

74. your op says upper middle income too...

so you mean 70 grand a year? 60 grand? where exactly is your cut off for this hatred?

i remember this guy running for president that said,we are gonna tax those making over 250 grand a year more...that turned into 450 grand or more,,,,,how did that get down to the 70s,80s and 90s crowd?

i work for rich peops,they are decent people who voted dem for the first time in their lives because this candidate said he would fix healthcare for ME,not them as they were already covered (i am self employed so when i say work for i just mean best customers)

fast forward to now and we find out ,yes i can get covered for 26-33% of my income which guess what..i dont have

[nomorenomore08]

40. It's not even about them having more than you. It's about them trying to take even more

and give you even less. And for the record, I agree that good and bad people come from all social classes - that's just common sense - but saying so is kind of beside the point when you're talking about present economic realities.

[CFLDem]

28. Can't say I hate the 1%

since I'd like to be part of that group one day.

I'm an optimist like that

[nomorenomore08]

42. "Hate" isn't even necessary. Just demand that they pay their fair share in taxes.

People who've disproportionately benefited from society should also disproportionately give back to it - only fair if you ask me.

[Nye Bevan]

45. You can certainly argue for higher tax rates without being a bigot like the OP (nt)

[CFLDem]

47. We definitely need a millionaires tax.

No reason they should pay less percentage than their subordinates.

[nomorenomore08]

51. Precisely...

[DissidentVoice]

29. My confession is as yours

I also add that, although I have tried to never actually "hate" anyone, I confess to a deepening hatred for the Republican Party, what it stands for, and its radio and TV mouthpieces.

This is ironic, because as a Boy Scout back in the '70s, I was counselled on my Citizenship In The Nation merit badge by a Republican Indiana State Senator (now sadly deceased), Richard Shank. He was one of the most patient, knowledgeable and genuinely nicest men I have ever met. I learned more about the workings of government in the several sessions I had with Sen. Shank than I probably did in an entire semester of Social Studies. He told me that the process of governance was largely people in their parties coming up with ideas, and then hashing them out to come up with something workable. Doesn't that sound shockingly like "working with the other side?"

Now I have a hatred growing within me whenever I hear the Republicans pontificate about "the Constitution," "personal responsibility," "small government," and "socialism." The worst offender to me is Rush Limbaugh, to the point where I cannot listen to him without becoming viscerally angry. Probably the next-worst is Grover Norquist. Sarah Palin to me is much more of an "annoyance," like fingernails on a chalkboard.

As a veteran, it thoroughly angers me when these people puff themselves up with "patriotism" and "support the troops," when none of the chickenshit chickenhawk blowhards that I can think of ever served a day in uniform.

I don't just dislike them. I hate them and all that they stand for.

And I hate that in myself! As a Christian, I am not supposed to hate, and I bloody well fall short of that.

I find that I have more or less lost my patriotism in the process.

I was raised to love this country and, as a kid, I even stood up for the national anthem when the TV signed off at night (remember those days?). I was a Boy Scout. My Army veteran dad inspired me to join the military (Air National Guard). I raised my right hand and swore to defend State and Nation.

But now...I really doubt that I would do it again. The country I was raised to love no longer inspires me.

I live within walking distance of Canada. If I could live there legally (unless you have immediate family there, a job offer, or hold citizenship in another Commonwealth country, it is very, very hard to get legal residence) I would jump the river in a heartbeat.

And I hate that in myself, too.

[defacto7]

41. I can't tell you how much I relate to your story.

With similar and different experiences growing up, it seems in a lot of ways we have ended up in the same boat. I don't hate so much though, as I grieve for what America has become and how it has influenced the world for the worse over the last 30 years. I don't feel like an American anymore, but I will fight for its recovery however I can. Don't hate anything in yourself, just turn it into righteous indignation and fight the best you can.

[nomorenomore08]

43. I like to think of myself as a Californian rather than an American...

[defacto7]

49. I hear you!

[NMDemDist2]

59. I prefer to think of myself as an Earthling, not an American

[Maynar]

30. Great post, KW!

You tell it!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

31. Their idea of a "roughing it" is breaking in a new maid.

[cantbeserious]

37. Speaking Truth About America Today Makes You A Citizen, Not A Bigot - Thank You For Sharing

eom

[Nye Bevan]

50. I'm not sure that minimizing or denying the OP's bigotry is helpful.

She has acknowledged it and has posted upthread that she is attempting to work through it to become a less bitter person. All of which is commendable IMO.

[cantbeserious]

53. What The OP Calls Bigotry, Others Would See As Justifiable Anger

eom

[defacto7]

48. Anger at what this country has become is not something to

be ashamed of. I understand your use of the word bigotry; I'm not sure it's the right word but you say what you feel. I feel a lot of anger and resentment toward those who have taken in selfishness and apathy thus basically destroying what America was meant to be from the beginning... free from tyranny, free from religious persecution, free to pursue happiness, and justice for all. That original foundation is crumbling underneath us and the feeling I have from that condition has no words I can express.

All we can do is fight and sometimes we must fight even when we know nothing will return. We just fight because it's right and we fight for our children and the future of humankind.

[cantbeserious]

54. +1

eom

[liberal_at_heart]

55. well said!

[KitSileya]

57. Bigotry is bigotry when there's a power differential

And that power differential must be in favor of the bigot rather than those hated. That's why white people being intolerant towards people of color is bigotry, while people of color being intolerant against white people isn't, at least not to the same degree. In fact, minority groups being intolerant towards majority groups is caused by the bigotry of the majority group, not vice versa, and in most cases it's a result of once bitten, twice shy.

[Nye Bevan]

66. That caveat is not in the dictionary meaning of "bigot".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigot?show=0&t=1384710074

And this makes sense. If a white person living in South Africa hates all black people, that person is still a bigot in my book even though blacks are the majority, and control the government, in that country. And if a bigoted black-hating American happens to move to South Africa I don't think that person magically stops being a bigot just because they are no longer in the majority.

People like the OP who hate all rich people without exception are most certainly bigots, as the OP herself acknowledges.

[musical_soul]

69. Some rich people are bad people....

just like some of the poor people are bad.

There is good in both classes. I remember the upper middle class helping my family out at times when we were down. I'll never forget that.

[noiretextatique]

75. I wish you did not claim to be a bigot

It distracts people from your otherwise excellent message. The 1% started a war with the 99% and they have been winning. Warren Buffet, a rich person, believes he should pay more taxes...a lot of wealthy people feel the same way. The problem is we cannot compete with their money and their lobbyists. Until we fix our broken political system, politicians will continue to serve their money masters.

[KentuckyWoman]

78. It may distract but I feel like a bigot

Buffett doesn't rub our faces in it , which helps him on personal likability, but he's no angel. The company I recently quit working for used to do business with one of his. Only customer we ever fired because they were so abusive to vendors. Crap on the smaller guy while in the media yapping about fairness.....

[noiretextatique]

81. i just watched documentary "The One Percent"

Buffett's granddaughter was interviewed, against grandpa's will. He actually wrote her a letter and disowned her, so I don't think he's a great guy. He as the right opinion about raising taxes on his class of folk. I know how you feel...I am pissed off too

[valerief]

76. I have a friend who says, "But they're people, too." No, they're not. They're monsters. nt

[IrishAyes]

80. Any flaming I do will be in your defense.