Americans @ MindSay

At a time when the top one percentile of American population holds over two trillion dollars more of the nations wealth than the bottom 90 percentile holds, it would seem that Americans would have realized that their country is headed in the direction of a major economic disaster. Furthermore, as working class Americans struggle through the worst economic depression in more than twenty years, you would think there would be a desperate attempt to make changes. However, judging by the close outcome of the last several presidential elections, the country is divided, and that as a whole, is very unsure on what exactly is the best long-term solution to our economic problems.

Upon reading the article. “Class in America: Shadowy Lines That Still Divide” by Janny Scott and David Leonhardt of the New York Times, I found it incredibly easy to agree with just about every point that was made throughout the multiple page, highly informative, opinionated essay on social classes. The first paragraph quickly caught my attention when it said the working class “voted Democratic, and did not take cruises to the Caribbean”. This struck me interesting in a couple of different ways. Firstly, I believe that lower “working” class people often try to disguise themselves as middle class, and reward themselves as if they belonged in the middle class category. Many families, even those struggling to pay off home loans, and finding themselves deeper and deeper in debt, will often still find a way to attend a sporting event, or take a week long vacation to a tropical island somewhere. And I understand the kind of lifestyle these people have, because I feel like its right. I believe that it is better to live a happy life without money than to live a depressing life with money to spare. Therefore, I was not disappointed by this change in values.

However the part about voting democratic got me thinking. I remembered a chart I had seen in a newspaper a while back that monitored the unemployment rates over the last so many presidential terms. After finding that same chart online, I find it hard to believe that anyone that considers himself or herself working class, or even middle class would ever vote republican. Since 1953, there have been four democratic presidents, each of whom did an exceptional job at lowering unemployment rates. In the same time period there has been six republican presidents, Ronald Regan being the only one of those six that did not RAISE unemployment significantly.

Another thing I read in the article that bothered me was how 40 percent of Americans believed that the chance of moving up from one class to another has risen. I feel the opposite. A study by the Center for American Progress shows that the upper class is not being affected by this depression even nearly as much as working class citizens. Since 1979 the average income for the bottom half of American households has grown by 6 percent. In contrast, the top 1 percent of earners have seen their incomes rise by 229 percent during that same time frame I find it hard to have “faith in the system” when it is quite obvious that the system is not working. I disagree with. One sociologist in the article defined our society as “A ladder with lots of rungs” I could not agree with this more… however, I don’t see our society as having more divisions of “social class” than before. In fact I feel the opposite is true.

I believe that despite common perception, there is no existing middle class. I believe that there is a wealthy class whose residents have enough money to live, and that there is a lower class whose residents have enough money to survive. I consider myself to be a member of the working class community. I feel that my ranking in society has played, and will continue to play an incredible role in my life. I believe that “class” has shaped the person who I am today. I have lived in several different cities in my life, not because my family got tired of one place or another, but because in today’s society you have to follow the money to survive. A working class citizen will take any opportunity to make more money than they are making now, even if that means moving to a different location, placing their children in a different school system, even downsizing from a five bedroom house down to three. I think money can change the way people react to certain things. I know That I have gotten frustrated and angry in the past because of traffic tickets, and payments that I don’t think would have bothered me as much if I wasn’t worried about my economic future.

I strongly believe that classes do exist in society, and that they not only describe, but shape our society, and that in the future I believe I will work harder because I place myself on the lower rungs of the ladder, and because of this I have more motivation to advance myself, and become better. I refuse to take a position at the bottom and stay there. I will take every opportunity to have fun, because that is most important. However I still believe that Americans are separated between the rich and the poor by an invisible boundary. I don’t believe that it is impossible to break that boundary; to climb the ladder into prosperity (so to speak). But I don’t believe that it is possible to that point by working a full time job every day of my life until I retire at 65. I think if I find myself struggling to make a living, I will change the work I’m doing, rather than increase it, because at that point it would be obvious to me that I was doing something wrong. I believe that America is becoming more and more like a monarchy, or even dictatorship, but I don’t think it will ever get to that point, for eventually it will get to the point where we will have to step up and do something about it. Take my advice. Live your life. Enjoy your life. Fight the Power

WELL HOT DAMN!  The Man and I sold a skull!  I need to add a piece to it (its to be in memory of his deceased brother) but its called "The South Will Rise Again".  Picture 'pre-dedication' above. 

 

With the election drawing near and with respect, a couple things ...

 

1. I do not believe it is the gov't's responsibility to feed, cloth or house the population. Comfort and convenience are not among our inalienable rights. As adults, it is our responsibility to see to our own needs. It is the gov’t’s responsibility to provide accountability and security while we tend to our daily lives. Somewhere along the line, these duties have been adulterated. There are simply too many able-bodied people consistently on welfare. That said, it is, in fact, the "Church's" (religions’) responsibility to help those in genuine need, and if the Church was doing it's job, welfare recipients would be receiving from the local Church, rather than being a burden on the taxpayers at large ... and they would do so with no strings attached!

 

2. It is not just corporate greed that has created the fiasco on Wall Street, but universal greed! Credit card debt like never before to pay for the 2 or three SUV's, wall size flat screen TV's, and $450k homes all played and continue to play a huge part ... none of these belong to me. I do not begrudge these things to those who can afford them. But while, yes, I am a McCain supporter, his economic plan will only succeed as far as the population is willing to buy only what they can actually afford, and not continue to spend like there is no tomorrow, for surely, tomorrow will come ... and yes, our kids will pay. In the event that Obama is elected, the same holds true. We must live within our means!

 

3. Hatred is morally wrong no matter who is purporting it, and more importantly, it is counter-productive. I am certain that in spite of the fact that you and I think differently about the way to economic and/or moral recovery, that you have the interest of others in mind, and for that, I thank you. It makes me sad that there is hatred on either side of the aisle because in the long run, we are all Americans and ... united we stand; divided, we fall. I respect any and all who put actions to their beliefs, even when their beliefs are different from mine.

 

4. I believe strongly that the media plays a pivotal role in the bitterness that is being continually fueled at this point in the campaigns. I would like nothing more than to hear and/or read only that which directly comes from their mouths, rather than as it is cut and printed, dismembered and reassembled by the media to their own end ... after all, they too are out for our money!

 

5. Church or no church, I believe we are our brothers’ keeper in so far as we are able. If we know a neighbor is in need, it is the neighborly thing to do to help, if possible. If unable to do this, we can at the very least, stand with our neighbors. I am guilty on this count. I do not know my neighbors well enough to know if there is a need I might be able to help with. This is something I want to correct … It doesn’t necessarily mean handing out $20 bills (although if anyone knows of someone doing this, sign me up!) but helping with yard work, fixing a broken washing machine, changing someone’s automobile oil or brakes … Neighbor used to be an ALIVE word … not just a geographical designation. . . but I digress …

OK, so bottom line, while I embrace all who think and feel strongly about our nation and her issues, I encourage those who have not investigated or thought about these issues to do so and choose the candidate that most closely aligns with your beliefs. I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again … It is only when the people care enough to participate that a democracy can succeed and stand strong.

 

Read this from http://ladyshirea.mindsay.com/!

 

~ B

 

 

For the past month I've been working on a video project for The Man staring The Bones.  I've taken over 300 photos and edited them down, cropping, framing and developing a video, even choosing Native American music.  The video (version 1) is now available on U-Tube and I'd be interested in any comments, as it is not by any means, a finished product (more photos of finished works need to be taken and added for instance).

 

Plan is to put it on cd's and see where this goes.  The Man has been approached by a movie company which needs bones (of all things) which is doing a spinoff/remake of the early sci-fi movie Them and interest in renting the bones is a distinct possibility.  Go figure.  Also found a web site which sells bones and complete skeletons for some big bucks...again go figure.

 

SO - The Man is excited, he's told practically everyone about the durned video and how its going to be accessable on 'his' web site (still in the planning stages). This dispite the fact that The Man is a techno-barbarian and wouldn't have a clue on how to find his own web page, let alone answer an email but hell, that's why he has me, right?

 

Creating this has been a learning experience for me as well, putting this together because technology has advanced steadily since I did this last (4 years ago).  I've found out how little I know and how rusty I am, which sucks but I've had a blast doing this for him.  Now I just have to burn the cd's and finish creating and printing out the cd covers (after I figure out why the computer and the printer aren't speaking to each other).

 

So follow the link to Utube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahKJXo35dCo and let me know what you think.

 

One of the most abhorrent things I have recently read is that there is a consideration of using Islamist symbolism for the memorial intended for the victims of Islamist terrorism on Flight 93.

 

This is craziness and an insult to Americans everywhere!

 

Why not place a Cross on top that cubed memorial at the Ka’aba in Mecca to remember the victims slain by Muslim empire builders in the name of their prophet and their Allah.

 

O the sins of political correctness depart from us so that truth reigns.

 

JRH 2/4/08