My Mum often said this to me growing up. When it came to issues concerning family breakdowns, public issues, politics, economics and sometimes for reasons i still do not understand. I am still learning that it applies to almost everything and how far it really goes in explaining what is wrong with our world.
In high school i was forced to read Chaucer's "Pardoner's Tale" and i found out my Mum's quote was somewhat borrowed from that. In the story, avarice is blamed for causing destruction and it should be avoided at all costs. As long ago as this was written, it is still relevant. Funny how human nature changes...very little.
My sporadic, flirtatious journey studying economics taught me about the significance of the Bretton Woods Conference, post World War II, and the implications it still has today. I am a big supporter of Keynesian economics. The stuff is fucking spot on. It is real world economics. It is applicable and assisted Australia in diverting the largest effects of the global financial crisis. Unfortunately, Keynes was British and, post World War II, that did not give him much sway. His proposal of an International Clearing Union was refuted by Henry White, an American with self interest and a lot of power at the time, and the worst kind of Capitalism was able to take hold of the world. Debts were almost impossible to be paid off, global development was unable to be feasible and all encompassing and the whole notion of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer made a lot more sense.
This happened because America was the world's biggest creditor and it would have taken longer for them to be paid back under the ICU...well, couldn't America use that cash now? Other nations would be more advanced in terms of economy, infrastructure and development. Global competition would keep costs down and debt would not be an issue. More importantly, the standard of living would be increased throughout the world. I know it may be a long bow but issues of religion, ethnicity, etc are exacerbated due to poverty. I know there were inherent differences between to Hutus and Tootsies in Rwanda but there were also extreme economic issues and people were losing money, land and business due to mismanagement. Same with Syria. The growth and development promised by Bashar has not come to life and people got frustrated and it has caused a division through the population. And now who knows what it will lead to?
I have no hesitation in saying that greed is still the most evil factor.
America is the biggest example of the division between the have and have-nots. Division is such a big part of American life. Do you go for the Lakers or the Clippers? The Yankees or the Mets? Are you Republican or Democrat? Cities are divided, people are divided.
I do not understand the government shut down. Will not try and play the moral high ground route as i know Australia has had similar issues due to supply bills not being passed in parliament but this is a bigger issue. This is holding the country to ransom because you can already afford healthcare, so why can't everyone else? The issue grew larger than Obamacare and turned into the control big business has on the Republican party and the growing interest in the Tea Party movement for several senators. I was watching Fox News (for a laugh) the other day and Bill O'Reilly (not the ex-Aussie cricketer) said, and i paraphrase "and where does our increased tax money go to... to the poor people." now correct me if i am wrong but are they not the people who should get it? We pay taxes to aid our country and the people who are doing it tough. Not everyone is able to get employment, provide for their families and save cash. If you have more than you need, why should you not be taxed a little more to help someone else? Everyone has a right to affordable healthcare. One thing that makes Australia so great. Obamacare has some kinks but it has not even been fully implemented yet...when it does it will save lives and assist a lot of Americans.
The growing Tea Party movement in Australia scares the hell out of me. Already changes are being made to the NDIS... something that everyone agreed on months ago. Disability care and pensions should already be well and truly sorted. But now government are going to tamper with it and change it. Hopefully it will not be harder to access. Again, Keynesian economics... Australia and America can not fight their debts by shutting up shop... that is how we fall into recession. Spending is needed for growth and development and something like education will be a building block to recovery. This is in danger. We keep cutting spending and there will be fewer opportunities. The economy will not recover organically or sustainably. It may result in some taxes but people who complain about being taxed to "breaking point" really ought to take a good look at themselves. In Australia, the first $18,000 you earn is tax free!
My rantings, somewhat piecey and erratic are coming to a close but i want to finish with a common thought of mine. Respect for our fellow man. Asylum seekers, refugees, those with little or nothing. The conditions they are put through, the efforts they go to protect their families... this is stuff we will never understand. We need to have more compassion and respect.
It horrifies me when i hear people say that we should cut foreign aid because "we need to worry about our own country first." It was a common war cry of bogans and the clueless, effluent-affluent in Australia and i now am hearing it in America. People want more so they think they should stop giving first and keep providing for themselves. People do it tough in developed countries but a whole lot more struggle in Africa and Asia. Our aid is, sometimes, a matter of life or death. It can give people hope and a chance at life. If you want to forget that and have cash to buy some more beers or, i don't know, an ipad or something, you epitomise greed and the evil it embodies.
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