Life Among the Plutocrats -- What Unimaginable Wealth Does to a Person

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/life-among-plutocrats-what-unimaginable-wealth-does-person?akid=9900.277129.FBrVD-&rd=1&src=newsletter771866&t=5


Last year the Occupy movement brought the subject of inequality into public debate, and especially the inequality between those of us in the 99 per cent and the happy few in the one per cent. But Chrystia Freeland has been studying the happy few for years, and has spent many hours talking with some of their most famous and powerful members.



The result is a book full of surprises and insights. Today's plutocrats are the latest variation on an old theme, and at the same time they're strikingly new in many ways.

Societies have supported plutocratic classes at least since ancient Rome, and the Gilded Age of the US after the Civil War presaged our own: A rising class of self-made men, imaginative exploiters of new technology and wider trade. Then it was the telegraph and the railroad; now it's the internet and the container ship.

Freeland's plutocrats are mostly self-made also, and overwhelmingly male; one very rich man suggested to her that women lack the "killer instinct" needed for real success. But they are not the idle heirs of rich parents. The "working rich" are a distinct class: smart, ambitious and often outsiders.

[Riftaxe]

1. To accept we live in a plutocratic society

exactly what can i not do that the filthy rich can?

I can shout at the top of my lungs in a public square.

I can bear arms to defend myself against plutocratic infidels (a bit of a triple slam there....)

I could explain why the bill of rights protects us against plutocracy, and i suspect it would be interesting to read your feeble mews of dissent.

Occupy had promise, but they are less relevant then Justin Bieber. Because they declined to choose a cause, now they scramble....for naught, how can your really take a movement that' s main focus was squatters rights in public parks seriously?

It is their right to protest, and i support that right.

few years later, really wish they were protesting more then basic hygiene.

[Fumesucker]

2. Buy or rent your own politicians?

[xchrom]

3. +1

[Riftaxe]

4. If i could afford one

would i be posting

Buying politicians was actually accounted for by our dear departed (Ie. ancient slags) founders. It is not as easy as you would think.

[Zorra]

5. You must have been watching Fox News, and totally missed the point

"Those dirty hippies need to stop complaining, take a bath, get a job, and
work within the system!"





"Po-Jama People"

Some people's hot
Some people's cold
Some people's not very
Swift to behold
Some people do it
Some see right through it
Some wear pyjamas
If only they knew it

The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
Feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind

Po-jama people!
Po-jama people, people!
They sure do make you sleepy
With the things they might say
Po-jama people!
Po-jama people, people!
Mother Mary 'n Jozuf, I wish they'd all go away!

Po-jama people!
It's a po-jama people special . . .
Take one home with you, save a dollar today
Po-jama people!
Po-jama people, people!
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!

(Well . . . ) now some people's hot
An' some people's cold
(Well, Lawd . . . ) an' some people's not very
(Very) swift to behold (swifty!)
(I told you) some people do it (do it!)
(Yes, they do!) (No . . . )
Some see right through it
(See right through it!)
An' some wear PO-JAMAS
If only they knew it

The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
They make me feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind

Po-jama people!
Po-jama people, people!
Lawd, they make you sleepy
With the things they might say (hey, yeah-hey . . . )
Po-jama people!
(Well . . . now) Po-jama people, people!
(I said) ARF! ARF! ARF!
I wish they'd all go away!

Po-jama people! (People!) (Oh, yeah)
Po-jama people special . . .
(I said, I said, I said)
Take one home with you, & save a dollar today
Po-jama people!
(It's a) Po-jama people, people! (Special)
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
HOEY! HOEY! HOEY!

(YEAH-HA-HA!)

Lyrics by Frank Zappa

[Riftaxe]

6. wrong and to add

silly as heck!

I can appreciate that you like that artist's silly amateur renderings, but I like strawberry icecream...neither is appropriate.


Heck not like i going out on a limb, you did not even bother to read the strip before posting it.

[Zorra]

10. Whatever...we'll continue to go out and change the world while you watch TV and complain

about us.

We've seen the your same clueless post here over and over again.

Same shit, different day.

And BTW, I don't know what your generation is...because there were a lot of kids out there with us at Occupy who really care, and who were actually doing something.

There were a whole lot of them, and they were brave...they backed up what they believed in with action. I admire them, and am amazed at how aware they are, and was very proud to be in their company, and they have real hearts.

They gave me hope for the future, totally unlike the sophomoric Randian pseudo intellectuals who do little else bit sit on their couches, watch TV, and continually whine about them.

[Riftaxe]

11. what have you changed?

just for interests sake?

can we agree that Justin bieber is as clueless as you accuse me? He is a fad...occupy WAS a fad.... they failed because they stood for nothing.

Occupy stands for nothing. They could have, hell if i had my way they would have championed poverty in America, it is unpopular but here none the less...not even worth noting to one like you.

Occupy did nothing...It stands for nothing, their mission statements declares we stand for nothing.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. Tell that to the people in Rockaway Beach, that Occupy stands for nothing and does nothing

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/rockaway-beach-ravaged-by-hurricane-sandy-gets-an-assist-from-occupy.html

http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/locations/rockaways/

[Riftaxe]

12. at least the tea baggers

knew what they were protesting....sure they were ass backwards, but they knew what they were against.

Occupy, not so much.

And that is close to praise as you will ever catch me on the tea baggers, they are anathema to my position. But Occupy is so much less then them because their main cause was partying in the parks.

They could have adopted a cause, they chose not too, so every side views them as spoiled brats these days.

[Riftaxe]

8. And from my generation

Sitting on the park bench --
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot is running down his nose --
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Aqualung
Drying in the cold sun --
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Aqualung
Feeling like a dead duck --
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Whoa, aqualung

Sun streaking cold --
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog-end --
he goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.

Feeling alone --
the army's up the road
salvation a la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend --
don't you start away uneasy
you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.
Do you still remember
The December's foggy freeze --
when the ice that
clings on to your beard was
screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
with deep-sea-diver sounds,
and the flowers bloom like
madness in the spring.

[dogknob]

13. "Your generation?"

Ian Anderson and Frank Zappa are of the same generation.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. Zappa--same generation.

One British the other American (West Coast).

Both doing social commentary, intellectual rock.

[baldguy]

9. Is this ignorance? Or simply naiveté?

You try and place a telephone call to any politician - Governor, Member of Congress, Senator, President, Vice President - and try to get them on the line. Most likely you'll only get in touch with a professional message taker who'll apologize & say that your target isn't available. At best you'll get some very low-level staffer to record your comments and discuss your issue. And you'll never reach the actual politician. Ever.

Do you really think Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or any of the Waltons would have that problem?

[woo me with science]

7. K&R

[duffyduff]

15. There is NO such thing as being "self-made."

Unless you are a professional counterfeiter, you do not make money all by yourself. Somebody had to want what you were selling, and others had to do the labor necessary to make your "self-made" dreams come true.