Tag: Nothing has changed

Where is our leader when we need one?

It is a very sad time in America. I am watching CNN coverage of the looting and rioting across our country tonight. Where is the President? Why is he not calling for calm amidst the chaos in this country? Why is he not reassuring us? Where is our leader when we need one?

This all revolves around the treatment of black people. Would George Floyd been treated the same way if he were white? Both the police and the prosecutors treat blacks as a separate group that are not entitled to equal protection. On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Marquez Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgia but the suspected killers have yet to be charged with the murder (finally a hearing is now set on June 4). So the riots are not just about George Floyd. They are about the treatment of minorities and specifically black people all over this country.

The Rodney King beating took place in 1991.  That led to rioting. There were promises that things would change.  Both nothing has changed.  Bigotry is a reality in America and sadly it is unlikely that will change.

The Stock Market is thrilled – You should not be …

Happy Face

In case you were hoping that America’s three-decade-long trend toward extreme wealth inequality was starting to reverse itself, Pew has some bad news for you.

Nothing has changed.

The rich are still getting richer… and everyone else is still getting hosed.

Today’s monthly job report reinforces that fact.

Out of the marvelous 204,000 new jobs “Leisure and hospitality employment rose by 53,000 in October.  Within the industry, employment in food services and drinking places increased by 29,000, the same as its average monthly gain over the prior 12 months.

Employment in retail trade increased by 44,000 in October, compared with an average monthly gain of 31,000 over the prior 12 months.”

In other words of the 204,000 new jobs 97,000 were in low  paying positions.  Most of these jobs pay less than $15.00 an hour.  At $600 per week (15 x 40 hours) their total annual income is $31,200.  That number is below middle class.  Those in the $10 to $12 hourly pay rate are clearly part of the poor.

So celebrate the number of new jobs if you must.  Just realize that this society is creating a nation of poor people.

Wal-mart is making money and so are the owners of corporate stocks.