General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'WHEN DOES THE GREED STOP?' Lion of the Senate, Sen. Edward Kennedy on AMERICAN WAGES.
Last edited Sun Apr 19, 2015, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, (D-MA), Jan. 27, 2007 attacks RERUBLICANS for STALLING A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE for TWO YEARS.
The TPP, TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP currently in fast track involves trade and commerce partners in Asia Pacific nations with child labor abuses and wages as low as 59 cents or less. How this agreement will benefit American workers and families is unclear and imperative to continuing negotiations.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)problem is one group is actively working to overtly harm us
the other group will not harm us unless they have to
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)impacted many but not all. I remember another, better era of elected leaders, mainly due to strong regulation of business, progressive taxes and a large informed, educated and active public in a time before Free Market Junk Economics and GLOBALIZATION.
That's all been altered, diminished intentionally for three decades, like teeth (with no 'oversight') that haven't been brushed in 3 years, they begin to ROT. (Pardon the analogy). And the ROT is at the TOP, where it always is, the place where the wealth pools, collects in the capitalist system unchecked, just as it was in the First Gilded Age of the 19th century with the likes of JAY GOULD and others.
JAY GOULD was the ruthless, manipulative and craven millionaire Financier and Railroad tycoon who said,
"I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half" (for jobs)
reportedly commented about a possible strike (stop work) by his railroad workers over labor issues. Gould was very wealthy but died a friendless man in 1892. His gothic monstrosity estate in New York state is one of the most ghoulish and forlorn homes I've ever seen. I believe I read that it was not 'a happy home'.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)by Plato and fought for centuries including in the 20th century by activists like Rosa Parks and others.
Concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few as old as the ancients was despised because of the same dangers of undemocratic and oligarchic economic-political systems like exist in the US now and elsewhere. Challenges to alter wealth at the top are difficult but have succeeded in the modern past, foremost in the US during the Progressive Era, the New Deal of FDR, the Civil Rights and other 20th cent. movements, clearly.
Preventing corrupted power requires constant vigilance, insuring controls and regulations on business and power by an uncorrupted government and an informed, active populace. Without this there develops dysfunction, economic and social discord which is what we're seeing now - the breakdown and loss of security and rights for the majority of people and workers. It's difficult to fight inequality and out of control, anti-populist states but the alternative is further decline and misery, and as one determined, famous woman said,
~"THE ONY TIRED I WAS, WAS TIRED OF GIVING IN", ~ Rosa Parks.
~"GOOD PEOPLE DO NOT NEED LAWS TO TELL THEM TO ACT RESPONSIBLY, WHILE BAD PEOPLE WILL FIND A WAY AROUND THE LAWS"~ Plato.
-PLATO,
(c. 424-348 BCE) Plato was an Athens born ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician in Classical Greece. Along with his teacher SOCRATES and Plato's most famous student ARISTOTLE, Plato laid the foundation of Western philosophy and science.
SEE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXcWNIXNm8BS2S7uhjAUT5L9qsAlRH-FEsQEHtB4gDLbjtH-py
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-ROSA PARKS
(1913-2005) Tuskegee, Alabama born African American activist involved in the Montgomery, AL Bus Boycott of 1955 and courageous, pioneer member of the American Civil Rights movement.
SEE: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0int-1
ND-Dem
(4,571 posts)actively.
Ron Wyden (D, WA State, purported liberal) is pushing fast track & reportedly close to cutting a deal to get it
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Not all, there are very decent, successful people in business. Our deformed culture and value systems recruit, foster, reward and perpetuate the more undesirable ones. It's all human made, but doesn't have to determine all societies and economies. *GREED KILLS, but...
It CAN Be Stopped Courage People!
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)But I have no faith in US Officialdom: It's a corrupt den of vipers (with a handful of notable
exceptions), 99% owned and operated by our 'private sector partners' i.e. 1% Greed-Heads
gorging on grandma's life savings, workers pensions, etc. via Wall St. with the blessing of
Congre$$.
But I do know what you mean. The well-known fact that our very survival as a nation, and
a species even, hinges on us completely waking up, like now, or maybe tomorrow; but next
year could well be too late.
Yes, somehow (with a little luck) some semblance of the human spirit will survive, even if it's
the worst of the lot, you know, the greed-heads with all the guns and money and power.
Just my somber assessment, for what it's worth.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)about the power of the Rot at the Top and our great disadvantage now. I don't delude myself, just trying to maintain strength for the younger ones who don't know what they're in for. It's enough to make you want to lay down and give up. But not for a good while and not without a lot of effort. As trite as it sounds, there's always darkness before the dawn. Hang in there, -
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)to facilitate a mass die-off of the "undesirables" over the next 20-30 years. It will be "passive" in that it will be the result of neglect and the destruction of all public services for the poor and a significant part of the middle class. Do not doubt this for a second.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Therefore we will be disposed of.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)It's a bygone era, and that makes me really sad.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)that's small comfort for the loss of these major leaders and MLK Jr. and what could have been. We'd likely be in a different US now. What a thought. In the late 80s I saw Ted Kennedy Sr. at a WH Conference on the Handicapped in DC. Disabled WWII Veteran Harold Russell (in the film, 'The Best Years of Our Lives') and Rep. Tony Coelho of CA talked, and when Teddy Jr. spoke the Senator, his dad stood up in the audience and waved. I Remember it like yesterday.
In the last 25 years we don't seem to be raising many of their kind- the influence of Reagan, Milton Freidman, the free market and business has been strong, looking like there's no end but there has to be. And the beginnings of a turn against that ideology has started. Our financial system is very top heavy, comprised of consolidated big banks, largely unregulated and fragile so it's said. That's very bad for us if there's another economic problem as some think will happen.
How matters will move away from the entrenched system is unclear but in the meantime it's hopeful to see young legislators like Rep. Joe Kennedy III (b.1980) who took Barney Frank's seat on the scene.
SEE: http://kennedy.house.gov/
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)~ "PRAY FOR THE DEAD AND FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR THE LIVING"~ Mother Jones.
''She was the Walking Wrath of God", Sinclair Lewis. To the workers she was "The Miner's Angel".
MARY HARRIS 'Mother' JONES was born in IRELAND in 1837 and immigrated to North America when young to escape the famine. In Chicago she married in 1867 and had four children. But all her children and her husband died in a yellow fever epidemic.
Several years later Mary returned to Chicago to start again but with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 she lost everything. After that Mary travelled through the US during a time of rapid Industrialization and the GILDED AGE of wealth visiting town after town and supporting workers and their rights. In Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Colorado Mary assisted miners, who called her 'THE MINER'S ANGEL' and the UMW (United Mine Workers).
Mother Jones' was concerned for the plight of many American children who were poor, abused, overworked and maimed in mills and factories. From the textile mills of Pennsylvania in 1903 she led a group of 100 Mill children in THE CHILDREN'S MARCH to New York City, "to show the millionaires our grievances".
From New York City Mother Jones walked on with the children to President Theodore Roosevelt's Oyster Bay Long Island, NY home, Sagamore Hill to discuss the conditions of child labor stating that,
"NO CHILD WILL BE SACRIFICED ON THE ALTAR OF PROFIT"...
more...
http://www.aflcio.org/About/Our-History/Key-People-in-Labor-History/Mother-Jones-1837-1930
mother earth
(6,002 posts)planet again. She was an incredible force, paving the way for labor laws. There's no one alive today that is her match, nor will there ever likely be again.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)these days, sorry to say- What an inspiration, courage and real hardiness, especially being but 5' tall!
I'm sure these attributes existed in many of our forbearers, or we wouldn't be here, that's for sure. Some of my female ancestors- grandmothers and aunts had 6-10 children (lived), and they lived to old age, were healthy, lean and scrappy with few comforts except song & music on occasion. Yet as tough as they were I don't know that any could come close to Mary Harris Mother Jones,- one of a kind, maybe once a century.
Mother Jones' life and work should be taught to all children; studied and appreciated in this country instead of hidden. Actually, in addition to Rosa Parks and others, I'd like to see her on currency, and schools and memorials dedicated to her- esp. in our Capital. Maybe here are some, I must check.
A few years ago I visited TR's home on Long Island, Sagamore Hill where she walked with The Children's March, amazing.
Her work with miners in PA, WV, CO, as 'The Miner's Angel' which she supposedly scoffed at- the 'angel' part- is known and appreciated by many still. That's my origin as well, coal country, deep, and although I've been away the memories remain. -Appa
-----
*As little kids we found many of these beautiful WILDFLOWERS while exploring woods and streams; our mother knew all the names. I was so excited to find them- natural beauty of the earth.
*FLOWERS: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail/plants-wildlife/wildflowers
mother earth
(6,002 posts)a deep appreciation for her, without her things would've turned out far differently, and she did everything during a time when women had little to no rights. Heck, she did it during a time when men didn't have labor rights and were being exploited, never mind the children. Seems we still fight the same demons.
Her feisty spunk is legendary, she's totally deserving of every manner of accolades and honors we should bestow, I'd love to see her face on currency, and more. We owe her a great deal.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)~ "I ASKED A MAN IN PRISON ONCE HOW HE HAPPENED TO BE THERE AND HE SAID HE HAD STOLEN A PAIR OF SHOES. I TOLD HIM IF HE HAD STOLEN A RAILROAD HE WOULD BE A UNITED STATES SENATOR".~--Mother Jones
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)the role of consumer and decide that they don't need it all and need it now. General strike and voting.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Courage is self-honesty to your core. This enables insight. Then Truth.
ND-Dem
(4,571 posts)greed doesn't stop unless people band together to force the issue.
that's the only way anything ever changes.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)I'm a hopeless optimist, although. The masses of humanity will awaken.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)The lack of information & ability to organize effectively concerns me the most now, but it is changing in small ways and has to increase.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)It is the most pernicious and destructive addiction there is. Greed is stopped only with force, sad to say.
mother earth
(6,002 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,868 posts)Too bad he has passed away.
I miss this man, our advocate!
We need another Ted Kennedy ASAP to save a dying America IMO.
& recommend!!
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)of Reaganism business and greed have eclipsed government service, people and country, as is clear.
rock
(13,218 posts)Some amount will satisfy want or desire. No amount will satisfy greed. That's what greed is.
pampango
(24,692 posts)trading with the US since WTO rules have no environmental or labor right rules.