The title of this article was a line in a movie starring Brad Pitt. Sadly, it is the truth; profit is more important than people in the 21st century. This is the primary reason why the United States of America is no longer a great country. Our Congress continues to protect special interests while it disregards the safety, needs, and concerns of the majority of Americans.
If you believe the politicians and their claims that they are concerned about the middle class and its continued reduction, you have been duped. Our government has moved from a Democratic Republic to an oligarchy. If this direction continues, within ten years our nation will be ruled by a plutocracy. The increasing number of lobbyists, who represent special interests, have purchased the votes of our Congressmen. The middle class, and those suffering through a struggle to survive due to low-income or poverty conditions do not have lobbies. It is fair to say that because our government invites lobbyists it engages in criminal activity as it violated the Constitution on a daily basis.
Profit supersedes humanity. As more corporations outsource many of our nation’s best jobs income inequality continues to become a more serious problem. After the great recession of 2008 big business began rehiring workers on a part time basis, reducing wages and benefits. Sadly, our government supports this situation.
Walmart is America’s largest retailer. Regardless of what is reported in the media, a conversation with a Walmart employee will inform you that they are virtually slave labor. Their pay is inadequate to support a family, and their schedules are at the will of management without consideration of family necessities.
Walmart’s trade agreements with China have cost Americans over 400,000 jobs; most related to manufacturing. With the support of GOP politicians who bow to the NRA, Smith and Wesson reports a record $143 million profit in the third quarter as gun sales spiked from increased fear resulting from the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino. Big business is experiencing record profits while the working class is witnessing a decline in its quality of life. Congress has chosen to ignore this fact and continues to support their owners.
Bernie Sanders is right; capitalism has failed our nation. Greed has replaced fairness and compassion. Big business no longer seeks methods to improve the lives of its employees, it establishes policies which allow its profits to grow at the expense of its workers.
Predictions from our founding fathers reveal today’s truth. As capitalism began to fail, our government moved away from supporting all Americans and focused on the one-percent. Their votes are cast to support their owners as they fail to represent the majority of our nation’s people.
Special interests are in control of our nation. From the petroleum industry to the NRA and the Christian religious right, decisions in Washington favor the few and discount the many.
America has become a business and our government ignores the principals upon which our nation was founded. Justice and liberty for all was a grand idea. Unfortunately, it does not exist today.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Luciano Castillo
Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2
The Truth With No Restrictions 