LOIE
Gold Member
- May 11, 2017
- 954
- 325
Some posters harp on individual responsibility, making good choices, being accountable for them and always obeying the law. All things that I’ve heard before. So let’s consider:
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to sell mortgages to individuals they knew did not qualify for them, bundled them all, sold them and made millions while American families (many of them minority), lost their homes.
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to close up their factories and make their products overseas, thus putting thousands of Americans out of work (including many minority folks in inner cities).
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to hire part-time workers in their retail stores at minimum wage, thus ensuring that they don’t have to pay holiday or vacation pay or provide health insurance, so that many Americans who work for them depend on food stamps and Medicaid for their survival.
Individuals with wealth in our country jump through tax loopholes and end paying less of a percentage than many working Americans who struggle to put food on their table.
Individuals with wealth in our country hide much of their money in off-shore accounts to avoid paying taxes while many Americans end up in debt to the IRS.
Individuals with wealth in our country can pay for private doctors and private rooms in prestigious hospitals, while many Americans can’t afford basic healthcare and often declare bankruptcy because of massive medical bills.
I think it’s easy to tell folks in desperate situations and difficult circumstances just what they should or should not do. (especially white folks telling black folks what they should or should not do.) But honestly, when folks at the bottom of the ladder are constantly stepped on by those moving up the ladder, I think it’s easy to see how folks just give up on life and give in to desperation and desperate acts. How are the ones up top held accountable? How are they punished for their crimes against decency and humanity? How many of them go to prison and for how long?
Many of our individual bad decisions affect us in a negative way, but many corporate decisions affect millions of lives in a negative way. How about we get on THEIR case?
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to sell mortgages to individuals they knew did not qualify for them, bundled them all, sold them and made millions while American families (many of them minority), lost their homes.
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to close up their factories and make their products overseas, thus putting thousands of Americans out of work (including many minority folks in inner cities).
Individuals with wealth in our country made the choice to hire part-time workers in their retail stores at minimum wage, thus ensuring that they don’t have to pay holiday or vacation pay or provide health insurance, so that many Americans who work for them depend on food stamps and Medicaid for their survival.
Individuals with wealth in our country jump through tax loopholes and end paying less of a percentage than many working Americans who struggle to put food on their table.
Individuals with wealth in our country hide much of their money in off-shore accounts to avoid paying taxes while many Americans end up in debt to the IRS.
Individuals with wealth in our country can pay for private doctors and private rooms in prestigious hospitals, while many Americans can’t afford basic healthcare and often declare bankruptcy because of massive medical bills.
I think it’s easy to tell folks in desperate situations and difficult circumstances just what they should or should not do. (especially white folks telling black folks what they should or should not do.) But honestly, when folks at the bottom of the ladder are constantly stepped on by those moving up the ladder, I think it’s easy to see how folks just give up on life and give in to desperation and desperate acts. How are the ones up top held accountable? How are they punished for their crimes against decency and humanity? How many of them go to prison and for how long?
Many of our individual bad decisions affect us in a negative way, but many corporate decisions affect millions of lives in a negative way. How about we get on THEIR case?