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Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today (November 26th, 2013) Pope Francis, again, went out of his way to denounce and decry an “idolatry of money” that will result in “a new tyranny.”[1] Now, I have known from the earliest days of his Papacy, that this Pope would likely change the Catholic Church. I understood the choice of a Pope hailing from a less developed country on the South American continent would shift the focus of the Vatican back to the “needs of the many”. However, I am happy to provide proof of my statement. Here is Pope Francis, in his own words:
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“The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.”[2] Quoted from Evangelii-Gaudium Pope Francis 11/24/13
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Long before this man became Pope, but within the life of this blog, I wrote;
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“I believe that President Reagan sold the soul of our great nation by saying these words… Greed is good”
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See, as a boy of Southern Baptist upbringing I was taught that greed is a sin. I was taught that it was sinful (and socially aberrant) for one to discuss (in public) “how much you make” or “how much I paid in taxes”. One just did not do these things in polite company. One would certainly not discuss their wealth in mixed company nor would they divide friends or congregation by wealth. Truly, I was raised with the deeply held belief that “one is judged by his actions, not his bank account”.
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My how America and Americans have strayed in just one generation. How we have not only left behind the belief systems that made our parents great. Not only have we discarded the accurate measure of a man’s worth. We have not just turned our backs, to these ideals; we have literally embraced that which we were warned against. If you do not believe me? Read how Pope Francis communicates this same ideal.
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“Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.”[3]
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I cannot count the time, in just the past three years and 300+ articles, I have sought to express these same ideals. Where I have failed, this Pope succeeds. My Dear Readers, if you have been with me for awhile. If you have read many of my articles, then you will truly know that I have genuinely sought to bring these ideals to you My Dear Readers.
It is my firm and solid belief, that when President Reagan spoke these words “Greed is good!” he set our nation on the wrong path. I believe that he knew not what he did. How could he? He did not understand that his words would be turned into a type of religion. That wealthy families would use his words to shield themselves from the duty of charity. He could not have foreseen that the old John Birch Society would take up with the multigenerational millionaires and billionaires and divide our great nation along financial lines. Finally, that his words would lead to the greatest financial inequality since Marie Antoinette (allegedly) said
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“"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" “Let them eat cake.”[4]
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Yes, in America today our financial inequality is greater than anytime in the past 150 years. In fact, financial inequality in America is the worst ever with the bottom 20% of our population controlling about 0.3% (three tenths of one percent) of our nation’s wealth. That means that sixty-two million Americans have the use of less than 0.3% of our nation’s economic power.[5] That is the lowest… the least amount of financial control any demographic has ever had in our nation’s history… outside of slavery. Right now, today, tens of millions of working Aemericans live with less than any “free men” have in our nation’s entire history.
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“"Again I say to you, 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."
The words of Jesus Christ - Matthew 19:24
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Our nation is in a period of economic recovery. That is only true for some Americans. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans were left out of our recent economic recovery.
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“This month, Berkeley economics professor Emmanuel Saez put out an update to his estimates of income inequality, and the headline figure has everybody outraged: 95% of income gains since 2009 have accrued to the top 1%.”[6] .
On the other hand, that means that 99% shared only 5% of the gains from our economic recovery since 2009. This is exactly what Pope Francis is speaking against. This is exactly what I have been working to write and warn you My Dear Readers. This is the horrific financial inequality that is the newest Black Plague of the modern American society. It is my responsibility to share this stark and disturbing truth.
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It would appear that Pope Francis and I bear the same cross. Here is, yet another, excerpt from the Pope’s most recent writings about financial inequality:
“Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world,” [7] Pope Francis November 24th, 2013
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Now, it is time for everyone to see this situation for what it is. Now, it is time for all Americans to stand up for financial equality. Realize, that if there is sweeping change in America? It will not be the ‘redistribution of wealth’ from the Middle Class to the poor. It will, quite likely, be… manifest itself as a redistribution of wealth from the Uber-Wealthy to the poor.
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Hang on, I just realized that I spoke the three words that scares the crap out of most Republicans. Redistribution of Wealth. I am not talking about taking money from someone that inherited their father’s business and has spent their adult life keeping said company afloat. I am not talking about the struggling business owner, that takes out loans to pay his payroll. I am not talking about anyone that is reading this blog. (I sincerely doubt that any millionaires or billionaires read my blog. However, if you are and you do? “THANK YOU!”)
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For the entirety of my adult life, I have never held with the idea of the redistribution of wealth. Not until recently. Not until the financial inequality in our nation has grown into the realm of fiction. Not until it has become factually evident that 85% of America’s wealth is controlled by less than 20% of the population.[8] Only when it became clearly evident that those who control America’s wealth will spend anything to keep the status quo.
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The ‘American Dream’ that we were all raised with, is dead. It is time we all dealt with its passing, and took action to protect ‘the least among us’.
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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.
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Thank you!
[1]http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/pope-francis-denounces-trickle-down-economic-theories-in-critique-of-inequality/2013/11/26/e17ffe4e-56b6-11e3-8304-caf30787c0a9_story.html?hpid=z1
[6] http://www.businessinsider.com/95-of-income-gains-since-2009-went-to-the-top-1-heres-what-that-really-means-2013-9#ixzz2loPnMNIO
[7]http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/pope-francis-denounces-trickle-down-economic-theories-in-critique-of-inequality/2013/11/26/e17ffe4e-56b6-11e3-8304-caf30787c0a9_story.html?hpid=z1
