It's possible my recent little mini-rant gave many Vorts the impression that I believe that the "Rich and Powerful" are evil miscreants, that I believe the majority of U.S. citizens who reside in so-called 98% under/middle class should rise up and overthrow the alleged tyranny of the greedy, the so-called "Rich and Powerful" - yada-yada and so forth.
Personally, I suspect "greed" is a natural component of our psychological and physiological makeup. It's in our genes, and for good reason. Greed, specifically the action of hoarding helped our ancient ancestors survive slim-pickens, such as when hunting for game was at best a precarious job skill, and famine prevailed throughout the land. However, today the entire world is slowing transforming (granted, in fits and starts) into a technologically automated society, where most of our needs will available to us via technology, through the wonders of automation and robotics. The absolute need to follow many of our prior genetically built-in biological imperatives, particularly the greed to amass as much money as one can (and all the privileges associated with "money) is becoming increasingly more counterproductive. A modern working-class society, a modern economy cannot flourish unless the middle class can secure sufficient discretionary "income" in which to purchase goods and services that in-turn are mostly created by the working class. If too much discretionary currency ends up in the coffers of just a few rich and powerful individuals and corporations the economy of the majority of working class citizens collapses because of working classes' inability to support it. That's were government regulation has to step in and help level the playing field. It will not be easy, nor will all adjustments be perfect. Needless to say, the Rich and Powerful will resist. The Tea Party will resist! ;-) Just keep in mind, however, that it's just our genes telling to prepare for famine. But this time... maybe this time we don't have to believe "famine" is just around the corner, not when technology, automation, and robotics are rapidly becoming the new underclass of our modern society. It's an underclass that will never demand expensive health insurance, or join a union and constantly go on strike for a pay raise. Unfortunately, old habits - particularly some of those faithful genes associated with greed - are going to be with us for a very long time. This will be an interesting presidential election. I hope it won't be ruled by our genes. Regards Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks