Where's the Beef?

Where does power reside in our society?

Unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed were allowed to lapse when Senate Republicans, abetted by nominal Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska, blocked the passage of an extension before they adjourned for Independence Day. Conservatives insist these benefits are a disincentive for looking for work... right -- folks prefer to struggle along on an income that does not even cover the essentials of food, shelter, utilities and transportation rather than work. Yeah, that must be the explanation for 15 million unemployed.

Meanwhile, massive layoffs of teachers, firemen, police and other public workers loom large on the horizon as states across the country face catastrophic budget cuts or insolvency.

Our government wages two wars on the credit card, while granting the highest tax exemptions in history to the wealthiest among us. The justification? This is the entrepreneurial class that produces the jobs. Sure they do. Of course those jobs are in China, India, Thailand, just about anywhere but the U. S. of A.

The Federal Reserve lends trillions to giant financial institutions at 0 percent interest. Institutions that turn around and invest those same funds in U. S. Treasuries, creating double-whammy raid on our country's assets. Almost NONE OF IT is used to extend credit to struggling small businesses or individuals. The same institutions that continue to place bets on credit default swaps and other indecipherable, esoteric financial instruments are terrified of the risk of lending to small business? Of course they are.

The clout wielded by the largest corporations, bolstered by the Supreme Court and unchecked by the government supposedly elected by the people, dwarfs the power of elected officials or the voters.

A good friend once explained her business success, "First, you need to understand that the laws are made by the rich, for the rich."