The Three Little Pigs Revisited in 2012

Once upon a time there were three little pigs who were trying to make their way in the world. The first little pig didn't think he was smart enough for college, so he found a job that paid minimum wage. The problem was he didn't make enough to cover living expenses so he lived at home with his parents. The second little pig went to college and got good grades, but when he graduated he couldn't find a job and he owed a lot of money for his student loans. He found even getting a low paying job challenging since now he was "over qualified" or else had the education, but not the experience. He too found himself living with his parents.

The third little pig went into business and made a lot of money. He then decided to go into politics and soon found himself making laws that affected the lives of all the little pigs. He figured out that if he worked it right, he could make laws to benefit his business and make him even more money. Unfortunately, the laws made life more difficult of the other two little pigs. Pig #3 was doing really well when the big bad wolf of depression came to call. Pig #3's business and interests were only marginally affected by the wolf, but the other two little pigs lost the jobs they had and their parents struggled to keep their homes. Pig#1's parents lost their home to foreclosure and they were getting ready to have to live on the streets. The wolf had taken so much from them.

Pig#3 didn't seem to care much about what was happening to the other little pigs in the country. He was busy trying to find ways to cut spending to help the other pigs while enhancing the businesses of himself and all the other business pigs. He, if asked, would rationalize his actions by saying that helping business pigs would be the best way to help the non-business pigs. So, the business pigs got richer and all the other pigs got poorer. Eventually, because the non-business pigs had no money, the business pigs started to not make as much money as before, since, if no one has money to spend, they stop buying. Business pigs started to have their businesses fail. Some of the business pigs were able to get Pig #3 to make laws and to "borrow" money from the National Pig Association to keep them afloat. The sad thing is, while these business pigs told everyone they were having money trouble, the business pigs continued to pay their top business pigs bonuses. The now poor pigs felt so helpless, for they had worked hard and lost everything, yet the business pigs with the right connections were getting bonuses while telling everyone how bad they had it. There were some really angry little pigs, but they also felt helpless to fix things--they didn't have the right connections and now they hear that Pig #3 was trying to pass bills to take away the few things they did have, all the while telling the other little pigs that this is the only option and not to worry everything will be fine.

Taking back America or Becoming One of the 1%

I have been listening and watching the frustration of Americans with their difficulties. America seems to be going back to the Middle Ages, with the Kings and Lords controlling the lives of the Serfs. The Serfs pay taxes so the Kings and Lords can go about their lavish lifestyles. How is that so different from  the wealthy 1% and the 99% that are struggling? I have determined that everything boils down to money and power. He who has one or the other or even both controls those who have less. Therefore, since trying to get the attention of the 1% by demonstrations doesn't work; they just laugh and go about making life even more difficult for the 99%, I propose using their own weapons against them. Why not develop a type of think tank to bring people together with abilities and talents to create their own businesses? There is no reason why the 99% can't band together and at least make the 99% drop to, say 50%. If I have a good business idea, and you are good at bookkeeping, Suzy is good at working with people, and Dan is great with working with his hands, why not bring them all together in a corporational structure, and start making their own money and power? Just like some of these social media websites bring together friends and others, create a website to connect innovators. Let's stop allowing the 1% to dictate our lives. Let's take our lives back.

When our ancestors moved to America, they anticipated having to work hard to get ahead and many made fortunes. Unfortunately, it seems like there are so many laws now that starting a business can be challenging, but it can be done, with enough determination. We need to pull together and help each other succeed.

We also need to find a way to make sure Congress plays by the same rules we do. This not having to partake of the healthcare, social security, etc. plans that they vote for us, but do not participate in is ridiculous. We may not have a monarchy, but our Congress has set itself up in a similar fashion, by setting itself apart from the people. AND politicians must think we are stupid and that we don't know that they are lying to us. I listen to both the Republican and Democrat campaign ads and seriously, I wish the American people would as a whole boycott the November election. Both parties are accusing the other of lying and you know what, they are right. They are both taking each other's comments and actions out of context and trying to tell the American people, not how they would fix the problems, but how the other person MIGHT screw up the problem. Where are the specifics? Also, it seems like it doesn't matter who the president is, it's Congress that makes the ultimate decision. How many times has, during this term, has Obama or the Democrats proposed something and the Republicans shot it down because it was proposed by the other party and vice versa. We are NOT in middle school, you guys! Get it together. Stop trying to spend money on stupid stuff, like bridges to nowhere, and focus on using our resources to advance our country and to help our people. To be honest, Congress clearly comes across as unsympathetic to the average American. Look at what they are doing now. This idea of sequestering is STUPID. What is boils down to is blackmailing Americans. If the government does the sequestering, MILLIONS of people will be out of work and, think about this, if government workers are out of work, who will cut the Social Security checks, or in general, provide ANY of the services the government now takes care of. Think: parks, schools, state governments, disability, defense. . .  We, Americans have been led to believe that government we can see is the only government there is. The truth is, the federal government is involved in so many aspects of American life, that to shut all of it down would bring the entire country to its knees and believe me, the Great Depression would look like years of prosperity, if that happened.

We need to band together and take back America. Demonstrations and writing our Congressman have not helped. It's time we got involved in the process. Most of us don't want to expend the energy to try to get something changed and we have only ourselves to blame when Congress comes up with yet another stupid thing. Okay, the real question to ask is, Who has a better idea? Instead of complaining, get together and come up with an idea that is better. How can we fix Social Security? How can we fix the healthcare thing? How can we get out of debt? A better question perhaps, is how can we hold our Congressman accountable?  Voting a new person in is the way we have always done it, but what I see happening is that one person has almost no say and that eventually that person ends up joining the "good old boys club" because if you can't beat them join them.

Unless something major changes, America is not facing a very good future. We are seeing other countries struggling with their economies and nowadays everything affects everyone else.

What Does History Teach Us?

History: What Have We Learned?


Do we ever really learn from history? Reading a history book, I am reminded that the current economic conditions are echoes from the past and that those past echoes include civil unrest. Revolutions have repeatedly been fought by those who, at the time, had nothing to lose but their life, and that life may have been numbered by days. No homes, no food, no job, no hope, a recipe for the desperate to grab at any thin thread of survival. Those who have not, in their frustration, attack those who have. Monarchies have tumbled, Shahs overthrown, and Presidents replaced. What, if things don't turn around in the near future, does America face? Will we have a nation broken into countries to replacethe individual states? As a country, we have arrogantly attempted to manipulate other country's economies and governments. At what point does representative government appear to the citizens as the privileged oppressing the underprivileged under the guise of speaking for the underprivileged? How long do you think it will be before the desperate go that further step?

How do you think those two hundred years into the future will interpret our history? In an attempt to see what they may see, think about this: The Twentieth Century was characterized
by short periods not employed in some type of war. The Great Depression was eclipsed by economic distress in the early part of the Twenty-First Century. Although a time of great discoveries and scientific advances, the Twentieth Century was also marked by some of the greatest scandals and most notorious crimes/criminals. While a seeming age of prosperity, where even some of the lower classes owned their own homes, not all was rosy around the world. Ethiopia, for example, had devastating famine and scores of people in refugee camps due to government uncertainties and infighting.

There comes a point in which the suffering don't much care how or who fixes the problem, but that it appears fixed. They are looking for some sort of Messiah that can promise relief. The long term at this point is not a consideration. They wish to eat today. This sets up a dangerous vacuum in which a ruthless leader, similar to Hitler or Lenin, have opportunity to step into the forefront. Politics are disregarded in favor of economics. Once the economics start turning around, discovering the mistake of leader choice can be faced. Too late, but now how to deal with a despot? Or do we?

The answer? If it was that easy, there would not be a problem, would there?