My Three Things: Unions, Corporations, Prosperity
All Americans want a prosperous and peaceful life. But this Labor Day think of how much society has lost or had taken away by wealthy people of ill repute who absconded with profits earned by the workers and middle-class. Whenever corporations or unions become too powerful society loses. Now, we must restore the balance within society.
I belonged to two unions in my long life and I have opposed unions. Unions are critical to society because they can ensure a living wage and a thriving society. Unions grew out of the last Gilded Age when corporate oligarchs treated workers as disposable while stealing profits leaving ruins behind. A new gilded age grew out of the Reagan years when unions were crushed and regulations repealed or ignored. Predictably, corporations consolidated and competition diminished. Oligarchs rose up and society lost. Trustafarians like felon Trump and his new buddy Elon Musk are classic examples of oligarchs consolidating unearned wealth while continually harming the taxpayers and the workers.
I was lucky long ago to have coffee with Admiral Arleigh Burke and General Westmoreland while they were waiting to see the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The general asked Admiral Burke what he thought of Pat Robertson for President. Burke looked at Westmoreland and dryly said, “I prefer someone who has worked for a living.” Stockholders own corporations but too often even they are cheated by corporate executive-controlled boards leading to executives receiving unearned compensation soaring into unbelievable levels, no long-term view, only short-term looting.
To remain free and prosperous, we must restore balance between greedy corporate looters, unions, and society’s long-term interests. Break up the oligopolies and restore taxes on the wealthiest to at least Reagan-era levels.
“I prefer someone who has worked for a living.” A Labor Day thought
#workers #trustafarians #trump #elonmusk #oligarch #greedy #middleclass