Capitalism - Feudalism without the Kings

Tax the Rich

 

Website Wednesday

 

I did see the video of Bill Marriott, chairman of that hotel chain, introducing his best bud, Mitt Romney, at a fundraiser with the anecdotal story of when Bill took his grand kids across the lake in his yacht (he didn't say yacht but "wink, wink, nudge, nudge") for ice cream and found the dock was full. So the kids jumped off and poor Bill was left with no one to handle the ropes. Not exactly a rescue at sea scenario but trusty fellow Mormon, Mitt, was johnny on the spot to save him from "death at sea at the end of the dock." And as, Bill reminded his audience, Mitt will save the country.

 

As Daily Kos says: This stuff writes itself. 

 

A lot of people are paralleling the insouciance of the rich to the time of the French Revolution. They're forgetting the whole period of the late 1800s in the US with the robber barons and the building of places like Newport, Saratoga Springs and Tuxedo Park on our east coast. Back in those days of the robber barons there was this concept of the Protestant Ethic where the rich Protestant was told he had a obligation to help those less fortunate. (Like telling a kid: Honey, I'm giving you 30 pounds of candy, be sure to share.) This was back in the time when "good form" counted (remember Bruce Ismay's fate after the Titanic which I mentioned on Monday?), so perhaps for every 20 rich trinkets acquired by a rich man, the workhouse got a donation.

 

But I'm really interested in the comparison to the French Revolution with its underlying meaning that is: Like back then, those rich snots are riding for a fall. For, except for the fact that once again in history we have a very, very rich minority ruling over the poorer majority and establishing an economic system which will always favor these rich, there really isn't a comparison at all.

 

France, before the revolution of the 1790s had centuries of kings backed by (and hindered by) a rich elite minority who made their fortunes off the backs of a much poorer population. In the US, even though our Constitution is more a business document helping to keep fortunes rising up and not down, for a long while we had real social and economic programs which helped the less fortunate and did pull them far out of poverty.

 

So it's really not a comparison we should be making between now and pre-French Revolution but a question we should be asking: How did the US come to this? 

 

I'm afraid I'm not starting with a "fun" site:

http://www.interesno.dn.ua/interesting-photo/interesting-all-photo/14-interesting-all-photo/238-interesting-photo

 

but these pictures haunt me. Obviously, they are pictures from WWI and WWII and almost all of those pictured are long dead. It's just amazing to see this slice of history. It's slice of brutal history because war is probably the most ultimate horror our species created and still revels in perfecting. 

 

OK, I may get limited interest with this one:

http://fabyoubliss.com/

 

Well, maybe not because men looking for gift ideas might find some won't-break-the-budget ideas here.  Fab You Bliss calls itself: a lifestyle blog which focuses on DIY crafts, fashion, cooking, weddings, photography & inspirational topics.

 

I usually don't go with fashion/beauty sites but I liked the combination of fashion hints and make-it-yourself projects here. This site has a warm, welcoming aura. Whether you're drooling over her recipe for carrot cake, getting ideas for hidden storage space or looking at some very attractive and sensible fall fashions, you get the feeling that this site was well thought out to make it fun, informative and practical. Take a look.

 

Don't miss:

 

http://www.trekearth.com/ 

 

I love Trek Earth, probably because I'm so lazy and, sitting at my computer, it takes me around the world but not in the touristy way. Trek Earth's mission is: TrekEarth is dedicated to fostering a global community interested in photography from around the world. TrekEarth members strive to provide engaging photographs and useful critiques for each other and the entire internet community. So, while it's primarily geared to photographers, the rest of the world, looking over TrekEarth shoulders, gets a visual treat and a global education.

Americans travel a lot but I would bet that most of the tourist dollar is spent on the "safe" attractions around the world. You'll get your Eiffel Tower at TrekEarth but more importantly you'll get a Slovenian morning, Vietnamese girls in beautiful indigenous clothes, and the Ramnath Devasthan Mandir in Goa. Each photo is accompanied by the photographer's words.

 

OK, I'm done for today. I don't think I'll be listening to the US presidential debates tonight. No one should have to suffer through the one-line zingers Romney is apparently preparing. Oh, the horror! See you next week.