The Rise and Fall of the Super-Rich; I Hope:
Good Morning
My wife Cathy and I watched a program last evening that revealed the growing number of the super-rich. The program also gave us a peak at their lifestyles. It was sickening.
Most of the “new rich” crowd have made their money by joining the notorious Wall Street Gang. Hedge fund managers seemed to top the list. In other words, with the help of our federal government and the Fed’s printing press; they gambled their way to wealth in a rigged game.
I have asked the same question over and over of anyone who I thought could shed some light on it; “What will it take to affect the rich?”
It appears that my question may be answered as we watch the economies of the world fall down and go boom. The super-rich for the most part have one goal in mind and that is to make money at any cost. That is, at any cost to others, including
As the laws were passed during the Clinton Administration to allow free and unfettered trade with the world, the Middle Class of America were officially handed their walking papers. There was never a possibility that globalization would work for America’s Middle Class.
But then, globalization wasn’t developed for the Middle Class, but rather for those who are now members of the super-rich. And, it certainly seemed to be working out well for that new class of wealth…until now.
The plan most certainly had to have been to invest in the development of the lo
I wrote an entire chapter on the subject of “Modern Colonialism” in my book.
Prior to Mr. Clinton autographing NAFTA and the WTO, there were protections in the form of tariffs and trade rules that kept American Corporations from moving off shore and shipping near slave labor based products back in.
Today, the result of Mr. Clinton (and Mr. Bush’s) folly is witnessed in the near total destruction of our once proud towns and cities, which is best described by the words of James Kunstler in his book “The Long Emergency,” “Thus, the richest nation in the world in the early twenty-first century had become an amazing panorama of ruined towns and cities with broken institutions and demoralized populations surrounded by Wal-Mart and Target stores.”
The rise of the super-rich in
Each day I hope and pray that the words of my old dad come to pass. I can hear him saying it now, “Son, be careful who you step on on your way up the ladder; you’ll have to pass them coming back down.”
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I believe you hopes and prayers will be fully answered over the next few years.
Unfortunately, I also believe that the scum you have referenced will take us down along with them.
My ONLY hope is that we can prepare (physically and mentally) for the crash, that is totally unavoidable now; and rise up from the ashes with a new direction firmly in mind. The opposite of an exponential society is a sustainable development society. That would be my choice. That will also be many other’s choice in the near future. Let us all hope we make this choice soon enough to salvage our children’s very existence on this truly finite planet. -bb
The only way the rich ever fall is by the violence of the masses. When a thousand poor, starving violent folks storm your walled compound, even your well payed armed guards can’t save you. Until then the rich will continue to manipulate the game to their exclusive benefit.
Billyb,
Very well said. We must chose a different path to sustainability. The expansion necessary to keep everyone in the U.S. working is physically impossible. This seems to be ringing true as more than 1.1 MILLION people lost their jobs in past 60 days.
whenry,
As we watch the scandals and now two suicides due to the crumbling empires of the wealthy, I see the rich finding it more difficult to hide their devious plots.
I agree that the turning point will occur from massive rebellion.
A caller on one of my radio programs said, “When people can’t heat and can’t eat, government will be dealing with whole nother breed of cats.”
I wonder about the famous of the rich - Oprah, Clooney, Brangelina, Matt Damon, etc., etc., ad nauseum. They parade in front of the cameras and say we should do this, be that, stop the other. It seems they can never fall.
But, I suppose if the ’secret’ rich who are now committing suicide can fall the Hollywood-ites can come a crashing down, too.
Honestly I feel bad about wishing ill on anyone. I need to look at my own situation. But these people flaunting their wealth and making it seem like they gained some sort of uber intelligence because of it makes me tired.
Karen b,
That portion of the human brain which idolizes those with money and fame will forever remain a mystery to me.
I like your last line, “flaunting their wealth and making it seem like they gained some sort of hubris intelligence.”
Regardless of character, the super-rich are somehow held as near royalty in nearly every society. As a prime example, “The Donald,” Trump, sees people falling to his feet and licking his shoes while he epitomizes the description of an egotistical jerk.
Movie stars on their fourth marriage and fifth stint in rehab, are held in the highest esteem and used as pitch men and women for everything from toothpaste to life insurance…as it they had any expertise in those areas.
Even during the Great Depression, the rich and the stars continued their lives of luxury while their fellow citizens stood in soup lines.
Anyone who has some expertise on the psychological basis of this type of idol worship, let us know.
… revolutions are rarely pretty…
You know back in the 1700’s and 1800’s a lot of what the super-rich are pulling was called Treason! “What will it take to affect the rich?” A good rope and an oak tree would affect the treasonous lot in a quick and effective manner.
693,000 private-sector jobs were lost in December!! I bet the January loss is well over 1 Million. 13,000 laid-off by Alcoa to boot.
I’ve found one solution!!
http://www.gardeninacan.com/
Nice to see a local solution to a global problem.
About the revolution.. Don’t hold your breath.. This isn’t Czarist Russia.. Super rich read history books too..
Note how much of the new industry is working on controlling the masses.. Or if not controlling, beating them into submission..
The growing industry, is spying on, and controlling masses of people.. Look at the political conventions.. It was a practice run..
They won, we lost… WmA..
Hey look!
another one bites the dust! That is of the Super-Rich:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/07/illinois.realestate.death/index.html
Rich could have a whole new definition in the future. Those with the ability to eat and heat on their own will be the rich ones. Live simple. Pay off your piece of ground. Keep a paid for vehicle. Become self sufficient. I keep the moose close to my house. I can heat with wood if i need to. I can make fuel for my diesel truck if I want to. I have sufficient ammo and firearms to harvest my food and to protect it. My pantry stays well stocked and I have 2 sealed barrels of vacuumed sealed staples to draw on if needed. Bottom line is the Boy Scout motto. Be Prepared. Red
Hi Red,
Yep, the Boy Scouts had it right. We all hope that it doesn’t come down to a pure survival mode, but then I also hope I don’t have flat tire…but I carry a spare just in case.
The past 18 years of growth that was interrupted only briefly by 911, has given Americans a false sense of prosperity. Growth has its limits and we have reached those limits on a grand scale.