A More Equitable Distribution of the Wealth?

Last week, I noticed a Gallup Poll that stated that "More Americans Want a More Equal Distribution of the Wealth" I have been ruminating over this poll and finally I felt that something must be said in reference to what American's want. First, wishes for a more equitable distribution of the wealth will continue to be just that until America's shrinking middle class wake the hell up and stop buying that bullshit cool aid that says, "work hard, play the game right, stay out of trouble, and you can make it" Yeah right, just what the hell is "it"? Moreover; America's middle classes and below are currently in self-destruct mode, that is; notice the growth of so-called "right-to-work" law states. This is the destruction of American unions which, as history informs, is mainly responsible for the rise of America's middle class, from the early days of violent demonstrations and protests for wages, benefits and the like into the 1970s when the wages of middle class America begin the long decline. America's middle and lower classes have begun to realize that they are, and have been, getting royally screwed, BUT folks, guess what, there is little they can do about it. They are at the mercy at the owners of the means of production, which, in the name of lowering costs, and increasing profits, they have sent most of the former middle and lower class jobs--off shore. America should have seen this coming when former Rust Belt employers decided to move their plants into the "right-to-work states of America's south. And no, stop crying about the various trade agreements. Employers, for you capitalists, made the decisions to off shore your jobs because in the "cost-effective" calculus, LABOR is the greatest costs of doing business, even with the invasion of low waged immigrants doing America's labor. Moreover; here's a news flash for America's currently unemployed middle class

Homeschooling or Your Basic Version of American Indoctrination

http://www.dailypaul.com/280896/announcing-the-ron-paul-homeschool-curriculum-email-from-tom-woods

Oh my, the article at the above URS caught my attention and, as a professor emeritus of American government and public policy, the fur on the back of my neck instantly stood up. Reading through the cited curriculum is like reading some of the indoctrinations of some country’s recent past. What is most disturbing is that it gets youngsters at their most critical stages in their young lives. Notice that the 9th & 12th graders can spread their learning to whomever will listen. Somehow, I was under the impression that “Homeschool” was about parents who would undertake the education of their offspring. Under the Ron Paul thing, some “bestselling author” will be “teaching”?? or indoctrinating student participants. I would really like to see the course content materials. I thought this country had long since gotten beyond the old “Americanism vs. Communism”But apparently we haven’t in some corners. Some of you might wonder at what “Austrian economics” is. It is a school of theoretical thought that is used to support arguments in opposition to the existence of the Federal Reserve, and government spending, (etc); consistent with Ron Paul’s public political rantings. It rejects Keynesian economic theory. I won’t get into the weeds on specifics of the Austrian school of economics. All I ask is that you read the article and give it some thought. It is one thing to emphasize a particular school of thought in a course that includes economics, it is another when a single school of thought is provided without reference to other schools. That is the difference between inoctrination and education. Good luck.

Karl Marx and, I, the Enemy

http://business.time.com/2013/03/25/marxs-revenge-how-class-struggle-is-shaping-the-world/print/

After reading the article at the URL cited above and posting it and comment to my facebook, I received responses that prompted me to further comment and raise the question, "Why do most Americans see Communists as "the enemy?"

This has long been a problem with American world view. That which may be in opposition to the U.S.its ethos, and its capitalist democracy is "the enemy" That said, it seems that an objective assessment of the man's (Marx) work is beyond us. And those, among us, who acknowledge the work of Marx, Engel, and/or Lenin for its academic excellence are tagged with the labels "red, commie, pinko, lefty" and other derogatory terms that speak more to the ignorance of the name caller than to the person being labeled. No, I am not a communist, socialist nor do I belong to either of their organizations. I do, however, appreciate having learned of Marx's writings and find them useful for comparative purposes. It is also unfortunate that comparison is a little valued subject in the America's educational process which finds us victim to such U.S. propaganda as "exceptionalism." and its positive aspects without consideration of the negative that accompanies the existence of the theory. Sad, indeed. So, I guess that in the minds of those who might read this commentary, I am and will forever remain, "the enemy" but, believe me, I will lose little sleep over the addition of another label to my person.