This morning, I came across this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bailout_executive_pay
Something like that never crossed my mind. But what better way to make sure that these companies are doing everything they can to make sure that this doesn't happen again and are using the gift that the American people gave them wisely, than to put a cap on the salaries of the men in charge of those companies?
Is it enough? Nope
Will it be effective? Who knows?!
But it least someone is sending them a message that, 'Hey, we've got our eyes on you, Mr. Executive!'
That is all.
HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:
I guess it's gon' be what it's gon' be/but there is one thing y'all gotta hear/I'ma tell you like george Bush told me/'Fuck y'all niggas! I'm outta here!
Kanye West
-Go Hard
11 comments:
So I understand responsibility on the part of banks and stuff but are you saying you're for a cap?--Daria
I am. very much so. How about you?
Caps? Certainly. But I really feel that caps would be just another way to put a bandaid on a bullet wound. $500,000 is still tons more than most people will make in a lifetime. In a society where resources are limited, I am strongly leaning toward..."from each according to his ability, to each according to his need".
-Kesho
I think caps are a slippery slope. I don't understand enough of Keynesian economics to say that it's wrong but I'm doing my research. I am not in favor of any Marxism; a utopian society is unrealistic which is evident by our current state. Give me a month to read some more and get back to you--Daria
Interesting. I lean toward Marxism as a form of socialism. I don't see how the current state of affairs is an example of how a utopian society in unrealistic. Inherently, there is nothing utopian at all about capitalism.
How can we trust the same goverment (and for that matter, the same governmental structure) that created this situation to 1) fix the situation, and 2) ensure that it doesn't happen again? I am not entirely sold on the idea that its possible. Again, I think its like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound.
I am not saying that utopia is possible. That certainly does not mean its not worth working towards. Capitalism will always ensure the survival of only a few at the expense of many. But anyway...
-Kesho
Kesho, I see your point but I still hold a different view.
You are correct in that there is nothing inherently utopian about capitalism which is why I made the point. We are a greedy society that no longer believes “it takes a village”…you pursue your happiness and don’t infringe on mine. How do we move to a “each one reach one teach one” when the focus is on self? Even the President seems confused on this issue with his signing of the Freedom of Choice Act and SCHIP.
You ask how we can trust the government to fix the problem without it happening again, we can’t. It seems to me that by having the same government regulate spending caps and bailing everyone out gives them more power. We then become even more dependent upon them to tell us what to do.
I think socialism is an idealistic principle. In theory it works, however, the reality is we are not all created equal. I understand that socialism is designed to break down class barriers; but I think one can look to the failure of affirmative action to see its faults—not everyone wants a level playing field.
Is it possible to pull yourself up by the boots straps and help your neighbor at the same time? Just my thoughts.--Daria
Can we trust the current form of government to fix the dilemma that we are in and ensure that is doesn't happen again? Who knows?
But like an life-threatening situation, the first and most important step is to step the bleeding. I don't think that the higher'ups are as naive as you two are making them seem. I think it's just a case of idealism vs. realism. What needs to be done vs. what is feasibly possible.
BABY STEPS!
http://www.newsweek.com/id/183663?gt1=43002
B, I don't think the gov't is naive AT ALL. The more I learn about it, the more...calculated many things seem. But, I'm not going there. I don't think it's a case of idealism VS realism...maybe those are the wrong words...I always think about healthcare...it's maybe idealistic to be able to insure the health of every child in this country. But given the money we spend on treating kids with cleft pallet in china and on the war in iraq, it is very possible. Alot would have to change but it CERTAINLY is possible. We just have to feel its important enough.
I hear you Daria :)...I often wonder about this concept of "each one....". I don't think it's so much that people don't believe in it anymore. I think it's more that people don't really UNDERSTAND the type of society that line of thinking grew out of. I think, to some extent, we still depend on "the community" to raise our children. But we don't realize that "community" and "capitalism" are never going to be friends (and we are taught from day one to coose capitalism). So the gov't tries to make the best of both worlds with programs like SCHIP. But at the end of the day, we don't think about how in a communal society, SCHIP would not even be necessary. Neither would the Freedom of Choice Act (insert seperate discussion about the act here).
I don't think bailouts and caps gives the government any more power than it already had (insert seperate discussion about the electoral system and the idea of "elected officials" here). After all, most of us can agree that this situation all started because of poor, unfair governmental policies finally catching up to the people who created them. Remember, the word "recession" wasn't even a politically correct option until the people who mattered started to feel the burn. I think a good question here is why did so many people not realize how little power they really had, how much power the government had, until they capital they thought they had was gone? Capitalism is built on a poor foundation.
I agree. We can point to Affirmative Action as an example of many people not wanting an equal playing field. But its logical that the status quo would never want a playing field. They would lose too much. I think it was Frederick Douglass(don't quote me) who said something about power conceding nothing without a demand. Affirmative Action was never a demand. It was yet another example of a disenfranchised group (be it women, people with disabilities, and especially of color) ASKING for what they NEEDED from a system that was designed, from the bottom up, to KEEP them disenfranchised. It's like going back to a man who has beat you a thousand times and asking him not to beat you again. Then getting mad when he does. It doesn't make sense. Now that is not to say that Affirmative Action wasn't the right thing to do. It was. And still is. My point is simply that we are always gonna run into the same problem if we keep working within the same system. I am in favor of revolution (not reformation), of this whole system. You can't build a strong house on a faulty foundation. Eventually, the floor falls in, lol. In the meantime, we have to work with what we have or resign ourselves to a fate most of us can't stomach to think about. Hence, my joy over Obama and SCHIP. It's an example of doing what you can with what you have but not losing sight of what you really want.
Is it possible to pull yourself up and help your neighbor at the same time? Resoundingly, yes! One does not pull themselves up by their bootstraps WITHOUT, if nothing else, being an inspiration to someone else to do the same. The universe is funny like that. It doesn't allow you go get to far without doing something for someone else. At least, that has been my experience. Take Oprah, Obama, or MrYoungGun for example. None of these people are perfect. But at the end of the day, one of the reasons people respect them is because they set out to do their best and ended up inspiring others to do the same. Sometimes, all people really need is proof that they CAN pull themselves up.
This has gotten way to long.
-K
This has been fun younggun. post more so that it continues :) Daria
Will do! I think you and my sister were born to be mortal enemies!!! LOL
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