Hullabaloo

Saturday, October 08, 2011

 
The Problem in a Nutshell
by David Atkins ("thereisnospoon")

Kevin Drum gets it with a stark visual reminder:



That graph (copyright Mother Jones, so please head on over and give them some more traffic) tells you everything you need to know about the corruption of the economy.

As Drum says:

Just keep reminding yourself: a mere three years after the financial industry nearly destroyed the planet, Wall Street is bigger and more profitable than ever while a tenth of the rest of us remain mired in unemployment. Even after nearly destroying the planet, virtually nothing has changed. That's the outrage, not a few folks with funny costumes or wacky slogans. Always keep in mind whose side you're on.

We live in a country where Wall Street's recklessness caused tens of millions to struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, and the rest of us to strive mightily simply to maintain our standard of living without falling into poverty.

But only months after these jokers wrecked the entire economy, they're back swilling the champagne and living larger than ever before at the expense of the rest of us.

The financial sector in this respect is little different from a modern-day Versailles court under Louis XVI. The 99 percent will get satisfaction and justice one way or another. Hopefully it's able to happen peacefully through the political process. Because if not, a frustrated public will look for other means of solving its problems.

And that possibility is something that neither the Left nor the Right should be embracing. Once the public completely loses faith in the political process, that's when the danger of both bloody socialist revolution and of fascist takeover are at their peak. Given the growing political divide in this country, the balance of revolution could tip in either direction. That's not a gamble anyone should be eager to take--least of all the comfortable financial sector piggies feeding at Wall Street's trough.


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thereisnospoon 10/08/2011 04:00:00 PM |