Many years ago in "Merry Old England," people lived under the whims of evil barons and lords. The rich got richer, while the poor were taxed more and given hard tasks to perform. Legend has it that a hero by the name of Robin Hood came along to rob from the rich and give to the poor. The "good" (but feeble-minded belief system) King Richard was away fighting crusades in the Middle East. (Why do some religions believe their way is the only way and need to kill to prove their point?) His younger brother "bad" Prince John (who was a far-right, universal lawbreaker) aided the evil barons and lords to extract more and more money from the poor communities.
The rich in those days could get away with rape of servants (they were blessed by priests), murder (protest and you die), and a whole host of diabolical acts, while the poor peasants were executed for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their family. Robin Hood is a movie character and while the legend is one most people love...it is still just a legend.
We have come a long way from the days of injustice and inequality, or have we?
"To be at once exceedingly wealthy and good is impossible."--Plato (c. 428-348 BC)
Is it possible that we are reverting back (did we ever leave them?) to the "Merry Old Days" of robbing the poor to feed the greed of the rich few? If so, who will be our hero? Who will speak out and make the changes necessary to make life more equal for everyone?
The inequality of justice in America is being stretched beyond the realms of legend and fiction. New financial scandals continue to emerge from the books of unscrupulous corporations and financial institutions. If this is not bad enough, ordinary folks are being prosecuted with the vigor of the devil.
Just few examples of how the "simple people" are being abused are:
•• A twelve-year-old child was fined $2000 for downloading a CD on a computer.
•• A man was sentenced to 50 years to life in California for stealing $153 worth of goods. (The three strikes and you're out law.) After an appeal the sentence was upheld!
•• Young soldiers who were injured, fighting for their county in Iraq, are being asked to pay $8.00 a day for food while they are in hospital. Many have lost limbs. They are also asked to contribute to their airfare home.
•• In many small towns, big business is using local government to compulsory purchase (under eminent domain law) the homes and businesses of ordinary people. This heartless uprooting of folks from their family homes and established businesses is being legislated so that large businesses can acquire the land for redevelopment and monetary gain. It seems a wo/man's home is no longer their castle, and the law can be used against law-abiding citizens so that more profit can feed the greedy few.
A multitude of injustices are being perpetrated on our society by high-powered, gluttonous villains. They are protected by the law-makers who are busy going after "The Little Guy" with merciless zeal. Backward politicians gain more and more control in enforcing rigid man-made laws that go against the universal laws (laws of nature) of creation/evolution.
"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice"-Confucius
Yes, many of the rich are getting richer by cheating, swindling, and fraud on a scale that is measured in billions. And still their illicit schemes do not fracture their clandestine methods with the amount of money they steal. They find more and more devious methods of extracting more pirated booty. All the while, the poor become poorer.
The villainy filters through all segments of society. It seems every time a corporate stone of double-dealing is moved, corrupt vermin and wrenched worms crawl out to protest their innocence in the way the public was hoodwinked. The more powerful the thieves get, the more money they steal. (What a great comeback it is for Ali Baba in a business suit; however, his forty thieves have multiplied somewhat!)
And the law of the land just sits back and grins at the bent crooks who are basking in their avarice and greed. Oh! They are such jolly good fellows (not really) who pat themselves on the back with each extra million they pilfer from the poor and down-trodden masses. Perhaps we should now say: "Bring me your poor and down-trodden and let's see how American business ethics can extort their pints of blood."
"There is a wonderful law of nature that the three things we crave most- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind- are always attained by giving them to someone else." -Anonymous
But still, through all the cunning and conniving of the greedy goblins, we must not lose our sense of balance and joy of life. No larcenist lives a happy life. They may have trophy homes with $300,000 kitchens with butler pantry (do they really keep butlers in there?), but they live with anger and a loathing of their fellow human. They must despise other people, or why else would they steal from them? So, we must not get down to their low-life level and succumb to hatred. Better we have compassion for the thieves who may be rich in money, but poor in spirit.
"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift." - Albert Einstein
The man-made laws can be and will be manipulated by the rich and powerful. However, universal laws (the laws of nature) cannot be maneuvered by high-ranking scallywags. If the Pirates of Wall Street continue to live with a mask of deceit and a miserable life to boot, what good are their millions and billions? To be accurate in accounting for the miscalculations, the scallywags have duped themselves out of living a truly happy, simple, authentic life and time will not give them a refund.
"To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right." – Confucius
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Letter to the Author: Michael Levy at MIKMIKL@aol.com