Our Careful Reality             March 20, 2013

            Your income tax bill should demonstrate that the US has a representative government of the people, by the rich, and for the rich.  It’s still the best place in the world, but Washington has failed to stimulate the creation of jobs, or even seem, by its actions, interested in doing so.  Protesting their desire to create work, doing nothing, and waiting for the economy to ungrind itself is not leadership.  It’s a cheap way to let the wealthy off the hook.  While debates continue on other important issues, the people who could end this depression are quietly keeping their money in their pockets.  Add in the twelve-year assault on our freedoms & principles, and the prognosis can seem a little pessimistic. 

Around here, as optimists we still believe in contacting our AWOL* gang members in congress to let them know what we expect.  We still need to support future leaders and vote.  But if we fail to live our lives in the light of reality, we place ourselves at risk.  The organized attack on safety-net programs will not stop.  There will not always be enough money.  Public education is increasingly inadequate because too many would gain by having private schools and vouchers.  Infrastructure goes begging and absurd Scrooge-like cutbacks abound.  The power of wealth is increasing.  Your power to bargain by withholding you services has almost vanished.  So, get real.  It’s time to be increasingly careful with your decreasing share of the wealth.        

*Absent Without Leaving