- BIG NEWS:
- The Inner Life
- |
- Family
- |
- Health
- |
- Religion
- |
 |
||
The geniuses of Wall Street, with their twisted version of capitalism, have conspired to steal not only Christmas but also the nation's traditional day for counting its blessings. The downward death spiral of the American economy threatens not only our patterns of unlimited consumption but even our very way of life -- shelter, food, jobs, and family well-being.
But some are beginning to reflect on the opportunity these multiple crises offer for re-evaluating our priorities. We may, in fact, be entering a genuine era of "values" far more serious than than the divisive, wedge-issue politics of the religious right.
The ranks of those who remember the end of the Great Depression are thinning, and that is a loss. Because we remember Thanksgiving as the real family and community holiday, with Pilgrim themes of sharing of food and meals, free of the pressures of Christmas shopping, spending, and gift exchanges. Even as we, and almost all around us, struggled for basic necessities, those years gone by evoke memories of pumpkin pies, leaf raking, touch football games in the front yard, good neighborly cheer, a sense of warmth amidst loved ones, all brought on by the end of the harvest. Thanksgiving is so seasonal it almost wouldn't work any other time of the year.
Even those of us whose families were working poor understood that there were those worse off who could use some of the bounty of even a limited table. The desperately poor, whom we tried to help, reminded us that there are always those less well off.
I cannot begin to count my blessings, the things I am most grateful for, starting with the miracle of a transformational president who tells us that -- yes, we can redeem our nation's conscience and its moral purpose.
Like that baseball icon, today I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Thank you, Gary Hart. You make Colorado proud. Great post.
It has absolutely nothing to do with Capitalism. There is corruption and fraud in every form of government.
Capitalism is not a form of government, it is an economic system.
As an economic system, capitalism has an irreconcilable conflict of interest between workers and owners of production.
It has nothing to do with corruption, and everything to do with Capitalism itself ...
A non-sustainable economic system (as it is dependent on constant growth in a finite world) that feeds off of the discord between two groups.
Not a healthy thing to have on your planet, this capitalism.
well stated, sir.
I remember the days that you speak of, Mr. Hart. My fortunes, since the 40s, have been and down. I'm down now but I learned so much from my parents that I am doing okay for myself now. I truly appreciate the parents that I had and what I learned from them. It has enabled me to get this far and I look forward to learning more about life, from the memories that I have of Mom and Dad.
Thanks for a great column ~
Bless and keep you.
By the way....? Just for the record. Obama has already done everything i hoped he would. Anything else is gravy. He is ALREADY one of our greatest presidents. If we sink in this mess, we did that our-own-selves.
Amen to that! I do believe WE can learn to become participants instead of subordinat
Sure he has...
It's great hat you can paint such a strange picture.
So far Obama has done NOTHING...
And you claim he's ALREADY one of our greatest Presidents
Are you kidding?
Just in case you come back to this old thread....
Mission Accomplished!!!
Headline on the front page of today's Seattle P.I. today, "This is becoming a we society instead of a me society".
The tubes of the internets better stay up though. Not many young people would know how to research how to....oh, say... can greenbeans, or garden or fix anything..
The Age of Aquarius is here - the dawning was the practice era when we thought we would save the world and many who drifted off are back thanks to their children. It took some time ...but the shift is happening and Barack is a huge part of it. This is an amazing time to be alive. It won't be easy but it's going to be real.
Oh geeze....y
The age of Aquiarius.
It will be a mess.
Easy with your excessive hope - Obama is in on how the game is played.
Why do you think he's scrambling to save bankers?
It’s a shame when elected officials don’t act as referees, like in a football game, complete with instant replay. I also think that as long as we the tax payer , bail your fat bank buts out of debt, we make through proper representation, the rules of the game. ……..you got to have Hart!
Happy Birthday, Gary!
Can join you in all the sentiments expressed, except the prematurel
What direction are the signs pointing in?
The "BRIDGE IS OUT" sign....
Michale...
By the looks of it Obama wants to continue the policy of hyperinflation that Bush has apparently started with these bailouts using taxpayer money an actually money created out of thin air.
Obama is smart?....
Hyperinflation? Most economist, particularly the few who actually predicted our current economic predicament, universally expect deflation. Further, bailouts involve grants of money, with no expectation of recompense. Most of the TARP money is for buying equity in the recipient companies. Like the Chrysler "bailout" of the 90's, the government can and might recover the taxpayer's money injected in to these companies.
I am grateful to witness the Universe realigning itself and Humanity evolving
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Let the sunshine in.
What makes you think anything is really going to change under Obama?
Do you think it is humane for us to make laws that take from one person or entity and give it to someone else as determined by some government official? What happens when everyone has their hand out? Is this not happening right now?
Here is the scenario. When more than half the population ( I think we are very close to this) gets a piece of the revenues of the government: 1) Do you think it will be even easier to pass more laws to transfer even more wealth? 2) What do you think will happen to our economy under this condition? 3) Will our economy continue to grow? 4) Will the so called haves or those aspiring to that invest in or start new businesses if they know a significant part of their porfits of a successful venture will be taxed away and given to someone who did not earn it? If new ventures or products or services are not produced where will the jobs come from?
What do you think has been happening at least the last 8 years? The most enormous transfer of wealth in history of the world from the actual worker to the already fabulously wealthy by fiat of the government.
Once we get good jobs back in this country, hopefully green jobs, maybe we'll see an increase in an EQUITABILITY of pay for work. You're just spouting the right wing Koolaid which says that no one but the rich are worthy of being paid for their work;even if they don't do anything for it. Where'd you hear this? On Rush Limbaugh's show?
Small business has always been better and done better for their employees.
Get real, capitalists do not need to be bribed to play in our economy. If you put the chickens in a hen house the foxes still find a way to break in, they do not throw their paws in the air and declare - Hey, I always did prefer artichokes anyhow.
As for this redistribution of wealth - Rhode Island receives only .67 return on each federal tax dollar. Oklahoma receives 1.26 return on each of it's tax dollars. That's standard, blue states receive less back than they pay, red states receive more back than they pay. I say let the red-knecks by their own soup, I'm tired of supporting people who believe The Flinstones was a missing book of the Old Testament.
If liberals could only be consistent.
I thought you guys were saying that the free market cannot fix this on its own? I thought bailouts are exactly what you wanted?
I actually agree with you folks and Gary. Why are we using taxpayer money to hand out to business in the first place? But many on this site have stated that bailouts are not only needed but essential to turning our economiy around. Most posts I have read concerning the car companies, for example, support injecting tax moeny into the big 3.
So which is it? Bash Bush when he proposes what most of you already support? Or bash Bush because he didn't do what you support. I have a lot problems with Bush myself but you guys are so tranparent about your hate for Bush that you have lost all credibility in this debate.
The problem with your logic is that you appear to believe "you liberals" are a homogeneous entity that moves and breaths as one organism. Different opinions abound, and are usually the product of thought and logic, unlike the Bushies knee jerk rhetoric.
Your right...I should have included about 98% of the population. but is see you are just as willing to lump te so called Bushies into one group.
it is noted that you really did not anaswer my question. Do you want another try?
Our skepticism and disgust, normally aimed at vocations such as ambulance chasing lawyers, used car salesmen, meter maids, repomen, and opportunistic vermin of all stripes, can all now rise a notch. These mealy mouthed misery makers on Wall Street have now supplanted the worst among us. If these boileroom bad boys have investment deals that are all that great, let them henceforth put their own damned money on the line. If there were any justice at all in the world, their ill gotten gains would be liquidated and used as restitution for, especially, those who lost their retirements. What Scum.
Pardon me the crooks say, but we still have a few more billions to steal while the Bush open season on the American treasury is still in affect. Remember though, if the president and his rich friends steal, it is not technically a crime. This message is brought to you by the makers of the next banana republic.
CactusTom: I like your comment
Surely, with your influence, Mr. Hart, you can start openly talking to colleagues about Impeaching this President/Vice President for all of the crimes committed so far, up to and including this one. Why are we supposed to believe anything Hank Paulson says, when it's clear he's a gigantic conflict of interest? A career Goldman Sachs man is the head of the Nation's Treasury? Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo, James Bybee, David Addington and William Haynes can write the rules to fit the crimes, already committed? A truth commission will only put their lies to history in a glossed over fashion. We deserve accountability, Mr. Hart. What about that?
How about this, for a start instead;
The only better idea, recently, was by Gail Collins of the NYT this weekend. She suggested Bush and Cheney resigning (Cheney first, for obvious reasons), Pelosi thereby becoming the first female American President, then her deferring to the President-Elect. Ain't dreaming wonderful! http://www
After that we can unleash Attorney Vincent Bugliosi on Incurious George;
http://vid
How about we cease all goverment functions that are unconstitutional?
Oops, that would eliminate SS, medicare, the welfare state, business subsidies and foreign aid...just to name a few.
They're not unconstitutional. They're Legislatively mandated, as is Constitutionally legal.
To follow that logic, The Supreme Court would not work. The Constitution is a living document guiding our progress. Use it, or lose it.
Well your credibility just went out the window with that statement! Study your constitution instead of listening to the shock jocks.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
