Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Who owns what?

It used to be in this country that businesses and even large corporations were owned by individuals or families. The head of the company went to work and had to see the employees that worked for him. Usually that owner also lived in the town where his factory or the headquarters was. It's hard to sell out a town when you live there in the same community.

The de-regulation of 70's and mostly 80's made it so that factories and businesses could easily be taken over by outside liquidators. People who had no interest in towns, people, or making things swooped in, liquidated a company, and reaped the harvest. Meanwhile, towns died. When the companies did stay but were owned by giant corporations, the little people in the town no longer mattered.

Then globalization happened.

Logically making products for as little as possible makes sense. If you can make a product for pennies, ship it for nickels, and sell it for dollars not to do so violates why you are in business if just to make money is all you are in business for.

Unless you want to have a country.A country that works. A country that lasts. A country of laws, and people that have a sense of hope. A country that can fight a war and win not just with soldiers but because we have a manufacturing base that can go from peacetime to wartime in the space of a year or two. Not that we should use war as the only reason we do things, but ask yourself, what if China invaded Taiwan? Could we win? Could we win against any country right now that has any kind of real army? Could we out manufacture them like we did the Germans in WW2?

I’m not against capitalism. I think it’s mostly a good thing. I also like the game Monopoly. If you play Monopoly long enough on player will gather up all the best properties, railroads, and most of the money. The game ceases to be fun because one person controls everything. At that point you have to reset the game and everyone starts equally. Now the game is fun again.

I am not advocating everyone being even. I am not even for leveling the playing field. I am for safety nets. I am for people not being made homeless because they lose a job. I am for health care. I am for giving people food to eat. If some rich people and corporation have to pay a little bit more in taxes, isn’t that their duty as Americans?

“To whom much is given much is expected.”

It is time for the wealthy to step up and take one for the team. We don’t want you to hurt but if you are a little uncomfortable for awhile and it helps America that will be better for everyone.

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