Sunday, March 3, 2013

Context follow-up

Regarding Tom Locke's letter from the other day and my reply-- everyone should watch this video:


It's mind-blowing. A CEO makes 380 more than the average wage-earner?!? Does anyone think that a CEO is so deserving of such money?

Look, I don't think anyone begrudges Kobe Bryant or Paris Hilton for being fabulously wealthy. But let's be honest: when most Americans look around, they see crumbling infrastructure, unimpressive elementary and secondary education, out-of-control university costs (for even public colleges!), dwindling public services, and worse.

As the video notes: 9 out of 10 Americans think that a more equitable distribution of wealth is desirable. this would come, obviously, from taxes. And with those taxes, Americans would get more of the stuff that they think a first world government should provide: safe cities, quality, affordable education, a strong social safety-net, and so on. Somehow, though, the right-wing noise machine has clouded perceptions so much that idiots like Tom Locke actually think that what the mega-wealthy-- people like Kobe Bryant (I have no animosity towards the guy; he's just an example)-- are paying just enough even while our government scrapes by to provide services like police, food inspection, and education.

It's almost criminal, but the Oklahoman and its plutocrat masters don't care that they're misleading you. As long as they keep their money.

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