W
WinterBorn
Guest
I saw this today and thought it was a great perspective on the 1% stuff.
"Before you get grouchy over this note, I understand the complaints of the Occupy movement and am not trying to belittle the struggles of the poor in this country, I just want to bring a sense of perspective to this debate.
Yes, it is true that 99% of the wealth in this country is in the hands of 1% of the population, but at the same time, even the lower level of the 99% is well in the top 1% globally. I am not just spewing statistics. I have been in some of the poorest areas of the US, namely helping with cleanup in the Lower 9th ward in NOLA after Katrina. First of all, if anyone in the country gets to complain, it is that bottom 5% that, instead of just having too much debt legitimately has to make decisions between things like food or rent. But as bad as that was, my trips to Mexico, where their middle class lives like our bottom 5%, and I saw families living in broken down buses, or shanties made of rotted 2x4's and rusted sheet metal, and the children were lucky to have pants, much less shoes, showed me the true depths of poverty and need. When you've had a little girl tug your shirtsleeve asking for more Kool-aid, because it is the greatest thing she's ever had, it gives you perspective on things. This poverty is right across our border, and as bad as it was is probably still in the top 50% of the world.
During my time at the University of Alabama I had the blessing of living with international students and calling many of them my close friends. The stories from them, especially those from Southeast Asia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent were eye-opening. At they all understood how well they had it compared to most in their country, how just the ability to be educated at all was a blessing, especially considering the fact that many American universities require an international student to show a bank account holding nearly a half a million dollars to be able to attend. There is no offer made for aid, only scholarships for the few that earn them.
Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned from these friends was too take life for what it is, and to find happiness in it. The most amazing example of this I saw was during a trip to the Dominican Republic. This island is one where there is very little wealth to go around, many people we saw lived in run-down huts in small villages in the jungle, and had no regular utilities at all, power in their homes was unheard-of except the elite, and they washed their clothes in a river or stream. Despite all of this they were the happiest people I have ever met (and the youngest looking...). For people who had to climb trees, fish and forage for regular food, there were almost no complaints. They had learned to live with what they had available and to enjoy what was important in life.
So my point is, yes there is inequity in the country and not everyone has the same access and ability to reach the top. But we are crazy to think that we are anything but gifted by our accident of birth in one of the richest places in the world... Why do you think illegal immigration is so rampant, even our poorest citizens have it good compared to areas around the world, where people would literally die for the right to be part of the 99% in this country. The Occupy movement is a noble idea, but don't be hijacked by greed, and don't just go for being more wealthy as the goal of joining a movement, or of your life. I've seen firsthand the fact that money doesn't correlate to happiness, even in my life. I make more now than I have in my life, and have surpassed my parents in education and career opportunities, and while I am happy, it doesn't come from that, I was just as happy growing up on welfare in rent controlled housing, because my valuables in life aren't shiny baubles and green pieces of paper. We are getting close to the holiday season and it is time again to take account of what we do have in our lives and to be thankful for the riches we possess. If you want to focus on the economic disparity, go ahead, its your right, but its not going to change without major social upheaval, and even if you do manage to achieve your stated goal, whatever it may be, the truth will still remain that if you can read this from your phone or home computer, if you have the power to run electronics, no matter how old and slow, if you have a home to go back to, food on a regular enough basis you don't have to dumpster dive or beg then you are the 1%... "
.
"Before you get grouchy over this note, I understand the complaints of the Occupy movement and am not trying to belittle the struggles of the poor in this country, I just want to bring a sense of perspective to this debate.
Yes, it is true that 99% of the wealth in this country is in the hands of 1% of the population, but at the same time, even the lower level of the 99% is well in the top 1% globally. I am not just spewing statistics. I have been in some of the poorest areas of the US, namely helping with cleanup in the Lower 9th ward in NOLA after Katrina. First of all, if anyone in the country gets to complain, it is that bottom 5% that, instead of just having too much debt legitimately has to make decisions between things like food or rent. But as bad as that was, my trips to Mexico, where their middle class lives like our bottom 5%, and I saw families living in broken down buses, or shanties made of rotted 2x4's and rusted sheet metal, and the children were lucky to have pants, much less shoes, showed me the true depths of poverty and need. When you've had a little girl tug your shirtsleeve asking for more Kool-aid, because it is the greatest thing she's ever had, it gives you perspective on things. This poverty is right across our border, and as bad as it was is probably still in the top 50% of the world.
During my time at the University of Alabama I had the blessing of living with international students and calling many of them my close friends. The stories from them, especially those from Southeast Asia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent were eye-opening. At they all understood how well they had it compared to most in their country, how just the ability to be educated at all was a blessing, especially considering the fact that many American universities require an international student to show a bank account holding nearly a half a million dollars to be able to attend. There is no offer made for aid, only scholarships for the few that earn them.
Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned from these friends was too take life for what it is, and to find happiness in it. The most amazing example of this I saw was during a trip to the Dominican Republic. This island is one where there is very little wealth to go around, many people we saw lived in run-down huts in small villages in the jungle, and had no regular utilities at all, power in their homes was unheard-of except the elite, and they washed their clothes in a river or stream. Despite all of this they were the happiest people I have ever met (and the youngest looking...). For people who had to climb trees, fish and forage for regular food, there were almost no complaints. They had learned to live with what they had available and to enjoy what was important in life.
So my point is, yes there is inequity in the country and not everyone has the same access and ability to reach the top. But we are crazy to think that we are anything but gifted by our accident of birth in one of the richest places in the world... Why do you think illegal immigration is so rampant, even our poorest citizens have it good compared to areas around the world, where people would literally die for the right to be part of the 99% in this country. The Occupy movement is a noble idea, but don't be hijacked by greed, and don't just go for being more wealthy as the goal of joining a movement, or of your life. I've seen firsthand the fact that money doesn't correlate to happiness, even in my life. I make more now than I have in my life, and have surpassed my parents in education and career opportunities, and while I am happy, it doesn't come from that, I was just as happy growing up on welfare in rent controlled housing, because my valuables in life aren't shiny baubles and green pieces of paper. We are getting close to the holiday season and it is time again to take account of what we do have in our lives and to be thankful for the riches we possess. If you want to focus on the economic disparity, go ahead, its your right, but its not going to change without major social upheaval, and even if you do manage to achieve your stated goal, whatever it may be, the truth will still remain that if you can read this from your phone or home computer, if you have the power to run electronics, no matter how old and slow, if you have a home to go back to, food on a regular enough basis you don't have to dumpster dive or beg then you are the 1%... "
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