Who Needs Economic Justice?

         

        

                It’s been two years since the first bank bailout occurred in 2008.  Today, according to Obama during his State of the Union Speech, we have the “largest most prosperous economy in the world.”  This may be true, though the source of that prosperity is questionable….Did I hear someone say China?  Some may wonder, why is economic justice important in a country that is so prosperous?  It is because of this “prosperity” that economic justice is so important.

             According to the N.Y. Daily News the economy has grown by 3.4%.  Yet, the unemployment rate is still above nine percent as of December.   This unemployment rate does not include the millions who are homeless, those who have stopped looking for jobs after two or three years of unemployment, or those who are working jobs that don’t pay a decent livable wage. The average person’s ability to make ends meet has become increasingly more difficult over the last 20 plus years.  The top 5% of America’s wealthy saw their income grow by 73% between 1979 and 2008.  Yet, those in the lower 5% income bracket saw a decrease in their income by over 4% during this same time period.  It’s unmistakable for the average working class person to see that the cost of living has gone up while their income has either decreased or remained the same.  This is why economic justice is important. 

           When the CEO of a company making $27,000.00 per hour pays percentage wise less in taxes than his maid who makes $7.25 it becomes obvious that our system is broken.  It also becomes obvious that our system is catering to an elite few who having been bailed out after sending the world into a tailspin of economic catastrophe in which millions of people are still trying to recover, have not been convicted of a crime.  Not one person has been convicted of what in reality was a massive ponzi scheme that risked everything accept the bonuses that the top executives of Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and a host of other banks and investment firms heaped upon themselves.  This problem needs to be redressed.  So, after the president’s rousing speech that would tell us that all is well, let’s remember there are still many people who are struggling because of an unjust economic system that must be fixed.  

Resources:  

 http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2297/Employment-Poverty-Among-Homeless-UNEMPLOYMENT.html

http://extremeinequality.org/?page_id=8

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/income_expenditures_poverty_wealth.html

Cutting off our Legs

“Give me your tired, your poor, 


Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 


The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 


Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, 


I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" (Emma Lazarus, 1883)

For centuries, these words have welcomed masses to the eastern shore of the United States.  Millions of people have wandered to her shores seeking wealth, prosperity and rest from the injustices heaped upon them by the unjust economic systems of their native lands.  Hoping to work towards the realization of the American dream, many worked hard to own land and provide for their families.  Yet, the U.S., founded in-justly, stolen irreparably, and built on slavery, never genuinely offered a dream that was meant for all.  When the Declaration of Independence was written, the independence declared was specific to a particular segment of American society during the 17^th century.  


Today, the masses are still struggling for an economically just society.  In fact, that struggle is perhaps worse than it has been since the great depression.   The gap between the rich and the poor is higher than it has ever been. The U.S. is now ranked with Argentina, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast in terms of economic inequality - the lowest rank of any industrialized country (CIA.gov, 2010).  In case you didn't know those three countries are what are typically and offensively termed "3rd world" countries.

A recent Washington Post article states that the Republicans are hoping to cut $100 billion dollars to non military programs.  This will begin by cutting one-third of the budgets of most federal agencies.  This will affect millions of people across the nation.  Having just hung up with a dear relative who has been unemployed for two years, has sent out hundreds of resumes to no avail, and has had very little luck accessing social programs, this is disheartening news indeed.  Why is that our government continues to insure the wealth of America's richest 5% while cutting off the legs of those from whom that wealth was gained?

One of my professors posted this quote that I believe is important to remember. "Remember this:  We be many and they be few.  They need us more than we need them.  Another world is not only possible, she is on her way.  On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. ~ Arundhati Roy.    We elected Obama as a change candidate.  He never said he would do it...but encouraged us to.  Change - economic justice - has to happen because WE make it happen.