Dear 1%:I was listening to one of the many God channels on the radio while driving the other day, and the God people got into an interesting discussion on Occupy Wall Street, and the economic struggles of many Americans.
God Talker/Host person argued that those who are upset in this economy are envious of the rich, which is a deadly sin. Essentially, us 99% are coveting what we cannot have, and therefore, we are sinners. You who are wealthy are blessed by God and earned it all on your own, with heavenly praises.
Superficially, I get it. Yeah, I guess I am sort of envious that you are able fly to France on a private plane; take golden parachutes after completely fucking up a company and its workers; beg for Government bailouts to help your failing business; while I have unpaid ER bills, bad struts on my car, and a hole in my tooth that stings when I bite down, which surprisingly I cannot get help with from the government unless I am incorporated (right now, I get by on selling crack and babies and SNAP).
When you, as a wealthy business owner, feel you did it all by yourself, I can't help but wonder how you manage every day to get out of bed and hand make 30,000 widgets . . . without any help whatsoever!
But did you? There are no accountants, managers, line workers, janitors, investors, etc. out there helping you?
Why are you the only one who can be blessed with a good standard of living and health care? Are not your workers equally deserving of those things as well?
I wonder if God Talker/Host ever read the Bible. Any of it.
So long as we are throwing around ideas of who is sinning, wouldn't it be you, the rich, who sit idly by, basking in your wealth, not really practicing your religious teachings (and being spiritual does not fucking count)?
If you think of what set Jesus off in the Bible, when he truly goes ape-shit mad, it's when there are "money changers" in the temple: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24).
And what about Job? Job is a guy going along quite well in his life. He has animals and robes and wine and whatnot. One day, Satan is bored watching Comcast and decides to bet God that humans only love him when things are going right; but when something terrible happens, they give him the middle finger. God, a betting man, took him up on the offer and raised the stakes with two Steeler tickets, 50 yard line, that Job would stay faithful (It's in the Holy Bible!).
Satan does his worst, killing his family, animals, and making him wear Ravens gear. Even Job's friends in a painful series of arguments, tell him God is punishing him, for what, who knows. But Job remains faithful.
What am I getting at with all this actual Bible talk?
God does not punish people, good or bad.
Note One: Unless he makes a bet against Satan, and this is the only one I know of for sure;
Note Two: Well, God was a real a-hole in the Old Testament, punishing people every other day and smiting them constantly; this is attributed to by many scholars as his "dark times" when he experimented with drugs and listened to Rock and Roll music.
Gay or straight.
Rich or poor.
Pepsi or Coke.
Team Jacob or Team
Edward.
As a side note, why is it when a hurricane comes to the East, it
is God punishing us, but it's nature at work in the South?
Let's just cut the bullshit all out.
It really seems to me it is about entitlement, and the fight of who gets more. If you conceive of a business empire, shouldn't you be entitled to keep its spoils? Absolutely. But at the expense of those who got and keep you there?
No.
Especially when record profits of corporations are reported, and yet worker wages and health benefits are ever declining.
If you are going to quote the Bible, be sure it is accurate. Be sure it is contextual. And for God's sake, don't use his name to make you feel better about your fellow humans suffering in the world today.
Sincerely,
I am the 99%
Lady Elaine
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