Christmas, the economy, and I don’t mean buying more toys. I try to volunteer and make a difference to our world, but seasoned volunteer leaders are marginalized or treated like dirt.
I don’t quit anything, but stopped a disaster before it started and bailed on a charity that didn’t even know I existed, except to sign a waiver that they weren’t responsible for anything that happened to me.
Our economy has not come back, no-one knows how to get the money back that they banks spent on bonuses so cheaters and liars could drive nice cars and live in McMansions. People are homeless and on food stamps and line up at Wal-Mart to “go” when their WIC card kicks in, which may be 4:17 in the morning.
I believe the Bush administration initiated the largest US debt and assault on the American public by coddling his friends in the banks, insurance companies and especially energy industries. Remember Enron?
I believe that secret forces, like the Fed, which is not a government entity, kept lending money and that the Obama administration inherited this (along with a war) and made it worse by creating TARP which gave money to the liars and cheats. When banks and insurance companies take money from the government and have no reason to use it to help their customers, they pocket it. Of course!
Banks, insurance companies and the government have screwed the American public at least three times since 2008. All of them. And then the car companies cashed in as well. Hey, the government is paying out big time, you poor suckers will only have to pay for our excesses by losing your job and home. No big deal!
We, the people, have to know that the bank we entrust our money to is not in it for us. Our insurance company makes money every year we don’t have a fender bender then questions us if we do.
Our highest politicians taks money from these industries and that is why they were spared any economic distress, and their bonuses are healthy and at least a few red Ferrari’s were sold this year. In the meantime others are out of work and losing their homes and the federal programs in force have to be written by the hands of the sullied bankers. They don’t work.
Please look closely at the people you have before you this election. Talk to people in your community. Look up candidates on the internet. Ask questions about your retirement and health insurance and jobs, whatever you care about most.
In a representative democracy, where we elect people to make decisions for us, we have to know that these people will represent our interests, not just the interests of the corporations who are paying them to run for office. Yes, this is what our “democracy” has become. Only rich people can run for office, and the salary is such that no humble teacher or preacher could live in Washington or in any state capital on a legislator’s salary.
That is our quandary for today, dear readers. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 