The good news is that if you live in the top ten percent of wealth in the United States, it no longer matters how badly your kids screw up in school or how badly your children mess up their lives, because they will stay within the top ten percent. No matter what. A few might figure out how to screw up in such a spectacular manner they will fall out of your percentile, but only a measly few will figure out how to do that. "Partaaaay!!!!!!"
The bad news is that if you live in the bottom 40 percent of wealth in the United States, there is nothing your children can do to rise up off the bottom. Used to be a few would make it, with help, against insane odds. Not any more. So, kids, go ahead and shoot up. Vaya con Dios.
This "fixed" economic status is intentional by the way. It was created after 1980, by those who carouse in the top .01 percent of wealth. Almost every trade policy drafted since 1980 has been designed to harm the United States worker and enrich the "American" wealthy. History teaches us two things: the first is that there is a tipping point where we will become unstable and the poor will revolt and the wealthy will die; the second is to ignore history, just as we have always done.
Women are still not equal with men in the "land of equality." The glass ceiling, it would seem, is made of cement. Women still get paid less than men for the exact same job. If men riveted their gaze about a foot higher, on a woman's eyes, this inequality might start to fade. Maybe...
Gays, lesbians, and the transgendered are not equal with themselves, let alone the larger heterosexual U.S. population. For example, gay males, who are predominately white, make more per hour than gay females. Judging from the statements of our regressive and Draconian politicians, this won't change any time soon, because they cower behind their religious beliefs, rather than serve the good of our Republic.
And, of course, when you start talking race...I actually laugh and shake my head in wonder when someone claims the "playing field" is level and there is no racism in the United States except for the liberals, or so their delusional logic flows. The reality is that the far right is the only place where intolerance and racism is actually welcome. I mean, you know, besides the Taliban.
The words people choose betray all you need to know about them.
Our republic has been around for a few months longer than 237 years, as I write this. If inequality isn't an "American Value" why is it so pervasive? To deny it exists is beyond dishonest. Any fool can see the mounds of inequality at a glance. This notion that "anyone can rise up if they just work hard enough" is an empty anthem, crafted by white men in order for white men to remain dominant; nowadays it is an empty anthem white men sing overly loud, and off key, in a desperate attempt to remain relevant. What does a white guy know about being a disadvantaged minority in the United States? Not a damn thing.
It really boils down to what Thomas Jefferson meant when he wrote "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." What has been self-evident for the last 237 plus years is that equality in the United States is a cruel, destructive myth used by those in power to retain power. What has been self-evident is that "America" was never about freedom or equality and our troops have given their lives because of some rich white dude's greed. "National Security" seems to mean that the ruling class is afraid of someone taking away their ability to rape nations.
We live our lives as if Jefferson actually said "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all white men are created equal."
So when you hear people running for office say things like they want to return us to the days of "integrity and values" and these people refuse to become specific about those values and forms of integrity, you, my friends, are listening to a common drug dealer. He is trying to sell you an opiate, so he can return this country to the days when the white male was firmly and unquestioningly in charge. He will cravenly call himself a "patriot." They always do.
All you have to do is hold that person up to the light of his words against his actions. Ask him to become specific. Ask him how he will rid this country of the inequality in specific ways. If he doesn't answer those questions in specific terms, you're questioning a pimp for white supremacy.
It's real simple: regardless of their religious beliefs, patriots fight to achieve the American Promise of Freedom and Equality; if that is, indeed, the American Promise. I'm not convinced it's anything other than what Thomas Jefferson scraped off the bottom of his boots before entering The White House.
