The RICH, and the middle class -
Before I begin, let me make clear the following ~
I am not even near rich, or even comfortable. I am not supporting ill-gotten gains in wealth. I am not suggesting the rich be given special consideration in taxation.
I DO believe in reasonable tax reform, where everyone pays into the system (I like the fair tax, but several simplified tax plans could be better than what we have now.). And in no way, should criminal activity, such as fraud, be tolerated.
But this wave of blaming the rich (what IS rich?), is BS, and it's a serious diversion from the real problems in American economics and government.
But, what should we think about the RICH? Many (most?) of those protesting at Wall Street, would say we should arrest them (for what crime?) because they shouldn't have that wealth (really?). Funny, those people do so, by sharing their views and protests while using their Apple laptops, iPhones, iPads, and such. All made by one of the biggest and most successful companies out there!
The RICH, you know ... the ones Obama encourages many to hate ... buy stuff. Lots of stuff. And that STUFF, is made, maintained, and sold by people from all walks of employment. I say, in stead of vilifying the RICH, make stuff for them, sell stuff to them, maintain stuff for them! Make YOU money OFF them. Thousands upon thousands are doing that right now!
Just for fun, lets make up a RICH family. A RICH family who have earned their own way, but, let's say, designing and selling the best mouse traps the world has ever know.
The RICH family is a family of four. A 46 year old dad; his business partner wife, who is also 46 (high school sweethearts); a 17 year old daughter; a 16 year old son; two pure bred Irish Setters; and an African Grey Parrot. They live on 5 acres, with a pool, a 4 car garage, with a 5 bedroom, 4-1/2 bath, 3800 sq ft home.
Fred RICH, drives a Cadillac SRT.
Betty RICH drives a XC-90 Volvo SUV.
Sandy RICH was given a 1992 Nissan Sentra for school, Dad's character builder
Sean RICH was given ... a ride to school
Fred loves golf, and belongs to a country club.
Betty loves antiques.
Sandy shows her dog on a national level.
Sean plays baseball, in school and on a summer league.
They all love in-home movies, and enjoy the surround sound fully equipped home theater system, with 72 " Plasma TV
Fred and Sandy hold weekend billiard challenges in their game room.
Betty takes in-home cooking lessons, in her large country kitchen.
Sean has leaned to bake pizzas in the brick-oven.
Okay, nice, uh! Yep, the RICH have what many would think of as a well to do live, and life style. They earned it, and at a rate of $1,200,000 a year, in earnings and investments. They are, by any standard normal people would say, RICH.
So, I ask ....
And how many people were involved in building that house?
What about the sub-contractors?
How about the suppliers of all the plumbing? The electrical? The appliances? The cabinets?
How many people work in the Cadillac and Volvo factories?
Or work in the sales room, finance department, service shop?
How many people work at the billiard company? Or the factory show rooms? Or the delivery and set-up crews?
How many people make the TVs, stereos, all the home theater furnishings?
How much gets spent in travel to all the baseball games (gas, meals, even over-nights)?
How much to maintain the Pure Bred Irish Setters, and travel for the dog shows?
How many people maintain the country club, and golf greens?
And HOW MANY PEOPLE, do the RICH's employ, pay, provide benefits to?
And how many people, collectively, design, build, supply, sell, and maintain all the RICH stuff?
(And how many of those protesting at Wall Street, will be hiring YOU?)
Protest REAL fraud and criminal conduct!
Protest bad government!
Protest wasteful spending!
Protest government elected officials and appointees who abuse their power, getting life-long benefits, when the rest of us have to follow laws and rules they don't!
But to Protest the RICH, because they have, and you don't, IS STUPID. Unless - SOCIALISM is your preferred form of government!
