America is a land of inequality. It worships money. It creates a system of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ based on many criteria – race being the most obvious.
The ‘haves’ have create a system that will always give them the advantage – through neighbourhood, education , attitude, arrogance and sheer purchasing power. That is exemplified by Donald Trump. Nobody earns a million dollars, let alone a few billion, they get that money through exploiting others.
Fair pay is about what is a fair hourly rate for what a person puts in. To earn thousands or more for an hours work is obscene. But we live in an age where sports-people, movie stars and bankers all believe that they are worth the millions they get paid. They are manifestly not.
There is a bubble. America (and a number of other countries) lives in a bubble.
The rest of the world (most of humanity) is living in abject poverty and filth, starvation and war, largely as a result of the inequality perpetuated by a system that feels that it alright for big business to make billions of dollars out of starving, desperate people; that it is alright to rape the planet for profit.
I personally do not think that is right.
I would put as a priority the protection of nature and halt the slaughter of wild-life.
I would want a fairer world without grotesque inequality.
I want the human population reducing by half.
I want a system that is fair and does not generate poverty, starvation, war and religious fundamentalism.
I suppose, in the eyes of many Americans, that makes me a communist.
Oh – and I’d move to a global government and away from the primitive tribalism of nations.
We need, as a race, to grow up – and grow up fast – before we completely destroy the planet that gives us life in the pursuit of the dollar.
Best wishes – Opher
PS – there’s more to life than the pursuit of money – but there won’t be if we keep pursuing money at the expense of the planet.
Well Said =)
One of America’s problem is the greedy capitalist system
Thanks Nadine.
Thanks for this article.
Being from India, we Indians are always fascinated by even the name of America, the most developed and perfect place. I had an idea about the racism in the country but never knew that the effects of inequality, racism and most influential-the greed of money prevails to such extent.
Good morning Shreya,
It it good to hear from you. Thank you for your comment.
Unfortunately, while in some respects America is the land of opportunity, for others it is a land of hopelessness. It also commercially controls much of the commerce across the globe which creates much of the inequality and poverty elsewhere.
It is time the world took up different values.
Well, Thanks for making non-Americans meet the reality!
The reality is always different to the dream. You’re welcome.
Are we that much different, is not this Country the UK greedy we now live in a culture where we watch showing off of the rich and those that suddenly become rich. This Country has a bad record look at our history. It is not all America. Today this Country is patting itself on the back because the Queen turns 90, so what. There you have it Money, Power, Control, Class System still operates. I for one shall be ignoring all this crap today and future days. These “poor Countries” have corrupt governments. We are still giving handouts to India, why when it has become so rich, should they not be responsible for their own people now. Look at the rest.
No. I don’t think we are any different. It is just that America has the money and power to call all the shots. We are small fry in that pond. We are riddled with the same inequalities – the class system and private education. We are controlled the same Money talks.
The Queen appears benign but represents that whole system of privilege that goes back to the Dark Ages.
You’re right about the corrupt governments in the undeveloped countries. They run on bribes and kick-backs and the West exploits that.
The whole world is a mess.
There is more than enough to go round for everyone to have a fair share. But the way it is organised creates the mess we are in.
How are individuals possibly going to change it all, you can’t. Where you left wing in your teaching at the school you were at. To be honest Opher, looking at the School one would think that it was a Public School you taught in, you weren’t exactly in the inner City rough schools. Power and money is all that matters to those people in charge Saw a programme for a short time last night on Palm Beach Florida, it why do people think this is nce and envy all of this, if made me feel so sick, the money flowed like water, the rich their taste in everything grotesque
I think it is down to everyone to speak out against things they feel are wrong. How else are we going to change it?
I believe there are not just the odd one of us but millions of people who feel the same. They detest the system, the inequality and corruption. They want it changing.
I believe in the zeitgeist and I believe that it can be changed. That’s why I write.
If we don’t speak out it just gets worse and worse.
I don’t think that is left wing. I think it is common sense. If you believe in fairness then you have to speak out against the scandalous abuse that is going on.
I believe we can change things.
My school was not an inner city school. It had a full range of ability and half the school from the council estates. There was a lot of poverty and deprivation. It was a hundred miles from a private school. There were some rough kids.
I taught for a year in Los Angeles in the inner city school with the gang kids. I’ve dealt with those kids. They were great.
I wasn’t left-wing – I was just me.
I’m certainly not envious of the rich with their grotesque tastes. They are largely empty vessels obsessed with status – plastic people.
I’ll continue to speak out.
Hold on a minute, are you saying you are not left-wing in your political views, you would vote for Corbyn what is he if he is not left wing, there is nothing wrong with being left wing Opher. There is far left wing as there is far right in the Tory Party. No one is stopping you speaking out, and I was not suggesting that – sometimes you twist what I say to suit what you want. Because one does not speak out as you do does not make it wrong, just as those who protested privately against Vietnam but were criticised because publicly they did not speak out and if they did they were criticised, forcing them to do so in the end. Speak out and hope for change, that’s what you are doing hoping.
I did not say your School WAS a Public school I said looking at it one could take it for that, two different things. Why are you on the offensive all the time, I feel what I say at times you jump on immediately. Whatever your views they are bound to come out in teaching as they would do in any walk of life. I did not suggest you were envious of the rich, you yourself were well paid as a Teacher and Pension, not exactly like a factory worker, now you can jump on that one. The ultra rich will not change no matter what is said, personally I don’t give a f..k about them. I respect people who work hard pay their taxes and are decent, I have no time for the trash in this Country who live off the TaxPayers. Come here to Clacton-on-Sea it is a nice place (I have just put a youtube up on my blog from last night on the beach, have a look and you will see it is nice around here) but unfortunately not far from here we have one of what is called the poorest places in Europe – it is called Jaywick, lovely beaches but full of scum. Drug addicts/criminals/waste of space you name it has been dumped here by the Government and the Council and yes it is a total embarrassment and scary when these scum come to a lovely area where I live knock on the door want to do work, they are intimidating. I just want to be left alone but these scum are here now. These people are not poor what they get on benefits is sickening, decent people working don’t earn what these scum bastards take from those of us that pay Tax.
We have had Sky news down here all week and that thug woman presenter of theirs Birley, we apparently are the most sceptic Euro Town in the Country. Well I don’t know about that. I was all for Europe but I know now I shall Vote NO. Why do you have to justify to me how you dealt with kids in LA school, now a dangerous gun riddled culture,( wise of Andrew to tell me to stay clear) they were great you said yet you seem to say you hate America and all it stands for. We are so much better, yes we have the bloody Class System still. You can’t fly the St George Cross Flag because you would be called a racist, I would not fly the Union Jack. When America went to War, First World War they went to fight for their Country, here World War 1 was not for Country first it was for “King and Country”, sod it King. Second World War when my husband was in the RAF and I was not even born, all those years later in the 1970s I would say about “King and Country” and he would tell me “Not King, Anna but Country only” . America with all its power and might, well will have it again when that useless Obama goes, may have so much so many of us dislike but for me I always feel safer when America has a strong President and the Country is strong, I just do.
protest, speak out about injustice in these Countries but the rich and powerful who control them will keep them that way. Speaking out is not left wing and I don’t know why you twisted what I said to make it that way, speak out no one is stopping you, I am not. I have done my share of showing support to these poor Countries, I think over 20 years of donating each month to 8 charities for them is more than enough, has it made a difference I doubt that very much. Will America change NO, what about worrying about Russia Opher.
No offence meant and none taken from your blog.
Hey Anna I’m not going on any offensive. I’m sorry if it comes over that way. I merely react and try to explain my views.
I don’t see myself as left-wing because I don’t think that way. I don’t align myself with any political view. I most probably am left wing because that aligns with my thinking. But I’m not political in that way. I like what Corbyn says, most of the time, but don’t like other things. When it comes to voting I invariably end up voting for the lesser of two evils.
My point was not about anyone stopping me speaking out; it was about my belief that we can make a difference. I believe we can. I wasn’t twisting what you said.
I am aware that most of the time speaking out against a machine as powerful as the establishment is merely a gesture. Yet I try to remain optimistic.
I am hoping for positive change. I do want to help stop the inequality and environmental destruction. I try to do my bit just as you do.
I don’t hate America per se. I enjoyed my time there. I love the country. It is very beautiful. What I hate is the culture that is selfish, greedy, arrogant, violent and unequal. I hate the guns, gangs, drugs, poverty, racism, fundamentalism and nationalism. But what I was saying is that Americans are really nice people. I made and have some great friends. Not all Americans buy into that culture.
When I taught those seventeen and eighteen year olds, some of whom ran with the gangs, they were really friendly, pleasant and helpful. I really liked them. LA is a dangerous place but it is also quite a nice place. All America has a gun problem. But it is mainly gangs.
I did not say that you said my school was a private school – I was pointing out that it may have looked nice (it was a nice school in a nice area) but there were lots of problem kids and it was a long way off being a private school. In the past it had a lot of violence. It certainly wasn’t as bad as inner city schools but it also was certainly not privileged.
I think we must reign in the ultra-rich and make society more equal and fair. We can do that by taxes and fair pay. I also think we have got to find a way of dealing with welfare scroungers without hitting the deserving. There is an unpleasant underclass who need to be brought into society. I believe in education to do that in the long term.
I don’t mind Obama. It was the ‘strong’ presidents who took America into war after war – Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq (twice), Libya. They got their arse kicked every time and haven’t won a single one of them. Strength and force, in my opinion simply don’t work. Bush created ISIS and all the mess we now have with terrorism. Strong sabre rattling Presidents are not my cup of tea. I certainly would not fight for King and I don’t believe in country – though in certain circumstances, standing up for values, I would – such as with an evil like ISIS.
Russia is another worry – or rather Putin. I’m sure the Russian people are just like us. Putin in another power-mad person.
The establishment will certainly not give up their status, wealth and power easily but I believe there has been progress and we can create a fairer world. That’s what I speak up for.
I’m not attacking you Anna and I’m not twisting what you say. Everything is complex. There are no easy answers. I’m merely saying what I believe, trying to explain and reacting to what you say. If I’m misunderstanding your words then I’m sorry.
Don’t apologize, there is no need to. You have your views and I have mine. I used to be quite radical in my views, believe it or not. Money is corruption, too much power. If we really knew the truth of what exactly is going on politically in the World we would be petrified. Putin is so dangerous, he is off his head. God knows what is going to happen as regards Clinton/Trump either one will be disastrous. You want to keep fighting for justice that’s great, will it make a change?
They always say whatever happens in America happens here ten years later, Opher look around do you ever remember all the accessibility to guns on our streets say 20/30 years ago, no. We have the gun culture, these kids have themselves to blame, they get arrested, so easily the race card is used. I hate the way this Country has become, the Tory Government can’t be blamed for it all, remember Blair, you have to, the immense damage that man did to this Country – talk of power and money!! I hope you are right and change can be made to the World – men have died in too many wars for Peace and Justice and has it been achieved.
I liked the majority of Americans I met when I was out there and I saw and spent time with some who had so much wealth, it didn’t make me want it, it made me angry that there were poor who could barely scrape by and here were these eating their caviar, sipping their Champagne, the women dripping with all their diamonds to the point of looking ridiculous, the men flashing the money whilst watching their Horses run. No different here.
It would not be interesting if we did not have our differences, now would it.
I think you’re right about that. There is a whole other level that goes on behind the scenes. We don’t know half of it.
Clinton and Trump are both not good but I think Trump is the worst of the two by far. He’d start a world war.
Yes we do have guns, more than in the days of the Krays, but nowhere near on the scale of America. It’s out of control there.
I like difference. I think the world’s better for it. I don’t mind there were some disparity of wealth. I just think the gap is far too big and the rich are playing stupid status games while the world goes to pot.
Having differences and passion is good.
Goodnight and “Sleep Warm” Opher
And you Anna. I’m still writing – P75 now!
Opher, you should give yourself a break now, it will be too much strain on your eyes, well done on the amount you have typed. Hope I did not upset you today, been thinking perhaps, I come over too strong at times. See you tomorrow. (oh by the way John Lewis delivered my bookcase and pointed out it might be damaged as the packaging was badly bent at part of one side, but if I had problems just phone and they will take it back and order another, it is really not good enough is it.)
I’m just finishing this section and I’m off to the land of nod. I’ve got a lot done today. Quite pleased with that. Time will tell if it’s any good.
No. You didn’t upset me. You get very passionate at times. I hope my stuff doesn’t upset you.
I hope your bookcase is not damaged. It’s a pain when that happens. It’s a lot of messing around.
Get some sleep and get that shoulder mended!
Good night Anna.
Nations are powerless against most of the problems we face. Our leaders portray themselves as tough guys, but they haven’t the guts to admit their helplessness …
You’re absolutely right, Dave. There are people behind the scenes pulling the strings. Politicians are puppets who shout a lot. It’s the big money that talks loudest. The sooner we move to a global government the better – something to control these huge conglomerates. Very worrying! The environment, pollution, terrorism, money laundering, war, poverty, overpopulation – they’re not national issues – they’re beyond that!
George Monbiot a while back suggested we should just hold elections for such a body as if it was already up and running. Perhaps we should start producing press releases.
Somebody needs to do something. I write books but so far I haven’t seen them change anything! Press releases might be more effective.
Well said, Opher.
Thank you Cheryl. I have the occasional lucid moment. Shame they don’t last.
All the DOCUMENTED horror stories of TYRANNY: http://www.americaoncoffee10.wordpress.com
The world’s a dangerous place. Civilisation has enabled the establishment to devise new methods of tyrranising people – mostly economic.