Faux Fu

Monday, October 04, 2021

The Rich Ones have all the Weapons, the Poor Ones have the Numbers...

My father always used to tell me that you could look at the Human made-world, and it basically always comes down to the "Haves," and the "Have Nots." Maybe a little Marxian. But also a view forged by growing up in the shadow of the Depression in America.

I always thought it was a bit reductive, but you know, it's also undeniable. There is always a war between the Rich and the Poor. The Rich have all the weapons, the Poor have the numbers. It's a crazily skewed contest.

The Rich want to stay Rich and make sure that their children inherit their accumulated wealth. The Poor want to be Rich, and they long to give their children a chance to improve their lot. The Rich claim some kind of invented, mythical divine right to be Rich. And the Rich blame the Poor for being Poor. The Poor often look up to the Rich with envy, and often blame themselves for their poor condition.

No one seems to want to acknowledge the part that pure, dumb luck, and circumstance play in the distribution of wealth. And also how all the institutions are built to keep the Rich, rich, and to cater to all their whims and desires.

But, you know, in every country, every political system, the Haves always have it over the Have Nots. It is just a fact. Those who have more want more and want to keep it, and lord it over those who don't.

It is a deeply, supremely, rigged game. The Rich and their minions write the rules. And not surprisingly, those rules always favor the Haves.  Sometimes cooler heads prevail, or things get so bad that the Poor ones rise up and upset the apple cart. 

If you are a "do-gooder," they laud you and "Saint" you, when you feed the poor, but they want to murder you, jail you, and brand you a Communist if you ask, why are the Poor always Poor and how can we fix it?

"Revolution..." as Chairman Mao once said, "is not a dinner party."

You may ask, what of fairness? What of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity & Justice? 

"Hey Buddy, can you loan me a dime?"

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