This is not a time to be a member of the so-called silent majority. Our prevailing economic system has concentrated almost unlimited power in the hands of a few. Believe it when you hear the words "money is power." Money actually gives power over life and destiny. With the high degree of specialization necessitated by mass production, as workers we no longer produce our own food or make our own clothing. Each of us must buy the necessary goods and services. And this requires money.
Except for the skilled trades, we do not own our own tools, and we must seek employment in factories, banks, and corporations. And because of this our livelihood is dependent upon a job over which we exercise feeble control.
Surprisingly, thousands of young men and women went to outstanding colleges and universities to earn a degree in business administration. Yet the response to a financial shortfall remains: the laying off of the wrong end of the spectrum, those most able to contribute to a successful society. Management supervises the production of everything from the Big Mac to the SUV. What happened to the new skills gained by an MBA? Young people may soon ask whether the debt incurred in getting an education is worth the risk.
9/11 caught our leaders by surprise, and in an act of atonement to soothe their guilt, they released billions of dollars from the Treasury, mainly to fight an unprovoked war. We were not asked whether this was a good thing. All that public (and often wasteful) spending was called "compassionate conservatism." The public well was opened. We are on a downhill slide. Bucket after bucket is being filled from the Treasury and disappearing God knows where.
And now the $875 billion Stimulus Package has bounced its way through Congress. One side has shouted "it's too much" and the other "it's not enough." The package includes tax cuts, tax breaks, and stimulus dollars, money for "shovel ready" projects.
So far, we have bailed out three banks, two auto corporations, and two government-owned mortgage companies In addition, we have poured billions of dollars into funding two wars.
In 2004, the three banks and two auto companies posted combined revenues of $58.4 billion. That's $1.6 million a day!
In order to reverse that income to a loss, they had to lose over $4 million a day over a four-year period. Is that a paper chase?
You and I know the old adage: the Golden Rule, "He who has the gold makes the rules." It would seem therefore that those in government do not need to be truthful, or care about what we have to say on any issues.
The Stimulus Package needs to succeed. If it fails, it will be a lose-lose proposition for each and every one of us, both Democrats and Republicans. That there was "not enough time to read the legislation" is not an acceptable excuse. One must conclude that when only three members of the minority party voted in favor of this legislation, the rest did not want the president to succeed. Republicans will not be able to spin such a failure. The Democratic leadership is failing in its bipartisan efforts and needs to be replaced with new leaders.
This is not a time to be silent. If we desire the stimulus efforts to work, we must support the president by pushing both parties of Congress into action.
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This column is sponsored by Cumberland Countians for Peace and Justice, an organization composed of representatives from various churches in the area, and dedicated by the local writers to the theme that the lion and the lamb can and must learn to live together and grow in their relationship toward one another to ensure a better world. Opinions expressed in “Lion and the Lamb” columns are not necessarily those of the Crossville Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. For more information, contact Emerson Abts, editor, at 277-5101.
Columns
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February 25, 2009
LION AND THE LAMB: Life, destiny and money
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GARY'S WORLD: Thank our veterans this weekend
A tremendous opportunity presents itself in our community this weekend — an opportunity to honor those who served in the Vietnam War. Personally, after attending last year's first Welcome Home celebration, I wouldn't want to miss this. It was an emotional event for both Vietnam veterans and ordinary citizens. It was a great way to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day in Tennessee, March 29.
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RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Antiques Roadshow" comes to Tennessee
If you are one of the 10 million who watch each episode of the “Antiques Roadshow” mark your calendar. The three upcoming Mondays, March 30, April 6 and April 13, were all taped in Chattanooga last July.
- LION AND THE LAMB: An open letter to Sharon Baier I was happy to read your well-written article, printed in last week's Chronicle. It makes a strong case, in the story of Al and Jennifer, that "To make money, you have to spend money." That misguided couple thought that they ought to cut down on their purchase of supplies, to save money. They did so, week after week, until they lost their business.
- WE THE PEOPLE: Veterans storm the Hill When young men and women risk their lives and sacrifice both physical and mental health for their country, a grateful country should at least provide them with shelter, food, and health care. But there is a lot of hypocrisy between what some windbag says on Veterans Day and what the country actually does for veterans.
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THEREFORE I AM: Kids stress out parents? Well, duh!
This just in: According to an expert, children can add stress and strain to a marriage. In other news, further expert studies have indicated that the sky is in fact blue, Paris Hilton is a tad spoiled, peanut butter and chocolate taste great together, and the Middle East has issues. Thank goodness we have experts to tell us these things.
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INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: With shekels come shackles
When President Obama launched his faith-based initiative at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, he promised not only to sustain the Bush administration’s signature domestic program — but to expand it.
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THEREFORE I AM: Jim Croce and I will keep you safe and sound
My philosophy of life is simple: When in doubt, follow the advice of a dead folk-rock star. I always found Jim Croce to be particularly handy in this capacity. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and regardless of how badly you may want to, do not, under any circumstances, mess around with Jim.
- STUMPTALK: Stimulating a war on prosperity and freedom Near Bush’s sunset, Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed chairman Bernanke terrified the nation with “the sky’s falling and America is doomed” unless the government steps in with new regulations, institutional takeovers and massive lending.
- WE THE PEOPLE: Thoughts on bringing a recession to heel Responding to the recent full-throated baying of conservative “economic watchdogs,” I slogged into the swamp of their icon Adam Smith’s murky tome, “The Wealth of Nations,” to see if they had finally treed anything of value.
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LION AND THE LAMB: Reality
Dim blue of early morning shines into the living room
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