The chasm between the very rich and the poor in the USA was once separated by the middle class. The poor could rise to that status, but no one could become very rich, for the masses are mostly denied the three ways to get rich; birth, marriage, or theft. Birth is strictly a gene lottery. The rich baby is rich thanks to his rich parents. No poor baby had ever been born rich, although the heirs to the GM fortune adopted a poor baby. A miracle, but ever so rare. Poor women can marry the rich, especially if they are beautiful, however these trophy wives had a shelf life lasting as long as their beauty. Divorce is accompanied by an alimony settlement and this wealth is soon squandered on maintaining the living standards of the rich. Lastly a thief can steal a fortune in money, art, or jewelry, but he will always remain a thief, whereas a rich person who steals from the poor is considered a success, since the government ie law and order is on the side of the rich.
The middle class was a haven from the greed of the rich, however for the last ten years the Bush Tax Cuts have ennobled the very rich with even greater wealth and the middle class have suffered immensely as social services are cut to deal with the increasing budget deficits incurred by this favoritism to the very rich.
The Bush Tax Cuts were supposed to lapse on 12/31/2010. The GOP refused to accept this timeline and their off-year election victory has forced the White House to prolong this gift to the very rich in order to maintain unemployment payments to those Americans out of work. My boss Richie Boy cheered the news, for the only people buying diamonds this holiday season are the very rich.
“The recession is over.”
“The recession never began for the very rich.” I countered quickly. Our customer base was included the middle class and working people. The only time they enter our store is to sell gold or old jewelry, which gets melted down and shipped to China or India, the two countries profiting most from the off-shoring of America’s industries.
“Well, if it weren’t for them, then we’d have no business at all.” Richie Boy loves the rich. He likes fine food, fast cars, and multiple homes. Richie Boy ain’t rich, but he plays that way and his toys confused his vision. His father knows better, since he pays the bills.
“We’re lucky to have the business we have.” Manny started on the Bowery. The very rich never came that far downtown unless it was to Wall Street. Manny didn’t trust the rich. His father had been a carpenter. Money only came his way through hard work and no one we know ever got rich through hard work.
“That’s true.” I had to admit that I was glad to have a job. The times of easy money ended with 9/11. They probably ended before that attack on the World Trade Towers, only I was immune to the disease ravaging the lives of the middle class.
“We have rich clients. They pay our bills, so I don’t want to hear any of your commie bullshit.” Richie Boy is a die-hard capitalist. He fervently believes that he can elevate his standing through his connections. His father shrugged upon hearing his son’s zeal. Manny is a commie like me. We believe the more money people have the better it is for us.
“Yes, sir.” I have not lost my faith, but the stock market reacted adversely to the news of two more years of deficits, so there’s only one way to keep the rich very rich and that’s to cut from the poor and everyone earning less than a million is poor to the very rich. They are living in their own world.
Just like all their followers.