I'm not exactly sure why, but people on the political Right seem to really love disseminating "important" information via email forward (an efficient way to reach a large number of people in 1997). We've all gotten them, the "truth" about this or that which we should all know. Usually, I don't give these forwards a second thought, as they're far too ridiculous even to acknowledge.
However, a friend recently forwarded me something she'd gotten from her father, a piece entitled "I'm Tired" by Robert A. Hall, a former MA State Senator. Because Hall's piece has gotten around quite a bit on the internet, and because I believe he espouses some of the hatred a strange portion of the country believes right now, I thought I'd take the time to discuss his writing.
Hall writes:
Mr. Hall's work history is certainly an admirable one and the type of work ethic that has allowed so many Americans to better their lots in life. Understandably, after so many years of hard work, he's tired; and I'll admit that he and I are not at the same points in our lives. However, he fails to consider a good number of things.
First, "spread the wealth around" has been a general principle of our social system for as long as the U.S. has existed. People are taxed, in one way or another, and those tax dollars fund projects and services that everyone, regardless of their work ethic, uses (roads, schools, police, and yes- welfare). Sure, there are some freeloaders who take more than their share without working hard for it. But there are also hard-working single parents, students and veterans who are given special assistance when they need it in the hopes that they'll get back on their feet and in the belief that they contribute important things to our society. Simply receiving government benefits and assistance does not mean that someone is lazy, nor stupid.
Next, Hall leaves out a major portion of people who have been foreclosed on. He seems to have forgotten the fact that there were predatory lenders who sought out and duped people into mortgages that were fiscally unsound and then sold off the risk- and not all these people were in a "$250,000 condo." Also, keeping people in their homes is better for everyone- would Mr. Hall rather that five houses on his block were foreclosed on with squatters taking up residence? Is that good for his property value? Is it good to have so many homes sitting on the books of the banks that just made it back from the brink of collapse?
Finally, there are definitely people on the Left to blame for the housing bubble. There are also people on the Right and in the middle. Regulators fell asleep at the switch (with the help of some warm milk and cookies from lobbyists for the banks), banks and major corporations leveraged themselves way beyond their means, consumers' greed got the better of their pocketbooks and lenders gave out mortgages they knew couldn't be paid off. Why is it that Hall only blames liberal politicians? Either he doesn't understand the full scope of the history, or he's simply being disingenuous- I won't pretend to know which.
However, a friend recently forwarded me something she'd gotten from her father, a piece entitled "I'm Tired" by Robert A. Hall, a former MA State Senator. Because Hall's piece has gotten around quite a bit on the internet, and because I believe he espouses some of the hatred a strange portion of the country believes right now, I thought I'd take the time to discuss his writing.
Hall writes:
I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.
Mr. Hall's work history is certainly an admirable one and the type of work ethic that has allowed so many Americans to better their lots in life. Understandably, after so many years of hard work, he's tired; and I'll admit that he and I are not at the same points in our lives. However, he fails to consider a good number of things.
First, "spread the wealth around" has been a general principle of our social system for as long as the U.S. has existed. People are taxed, in one way or another, and those tax dollars fund projects and services that everyone, regardless of their work ethic, uses (roads, schools, police, and yes- welfare). Sure, there are some freeloaders who take more than their share without working hard for it. But there are also hard-working single parents, students and veterans who are given special assistance when they need it in the hopes that they'll get back on their feet and in the belief that they contribute important things to our society. Simply receiving government benefits and assistance does not mean that someone is lazy, nor stupid.
Next, Hall leaves out a major portion of people who have been foreclosed on. He seems to have forgotten the fact that there were predatory lenders who sought out and duped people into mortgages that were fiscally unsound and then sold off the risk- and not all these people were in a "$250,000 condo." Also, keeping people in their homes is better for everyone- would Mr. Hall rather that five houses on his block were foreclosed on with squatters taking up residence? Is that good for his property value? Is it good to have so many homes sitting on the books of the banks that just made it back from the brink of collapse?
Finally, there are definitely people on the Left to blame for the housing bubble. There are also people on the Right and in the middle. Regulators fell asleep at the switch (with the help of some warm milk and cookies from lobbyists for the banks), banks and major corporations leveraged themselves way beyond their means, consumers' greed got the better of their pocketbooks and lenders gave out mortgages they knew couldn't be paid off. Why is it that Hall only blames liberal politicians? Either he doesn't understand the full scope of the history, or he's simply being disingenuous- I won't pretend to know which.
3 comments:
The thing that always amazes me everytime I see and hear this argument from "conservatives" is the arrogant presumption that THEY are being targeted, that THEIR "wealth" (a $250000 condo and whatever scraps they've saved for retirement) are what's being targeted. The last 30+ years has been an uninterrupted UPWARD transfer of wealth from people like Mr. Hall to the wealthiest 1% of the country. The obvious response to this tripe is, clearly: "Rejoice, Mr. Hall! Your taxes have been cut and are now the lowest since the Truman administration! Now, let's start taxing those that have been living large on the middle class for the lion's share of our lives, hiding the assets off shore to avoid paying for the police and fire protection, highways, and internet line which allow their businesses to flourish."
Please continue to check in as Parts 2-5 are also posted. Your comments are always insightful and much appreciated!
I'm particularly tired of hearing the rants of folks like Mr. Hall. Its always the same old unthinking emotion laden appeal to "real americans" to "take back their country" from the "liberal elite" which has given it to (take your pick) illegal aliens, the poor, gays, welfare recipients -- and other undeserving sorts.
In truth Mr. Hall, you, as do I, have it pretty darn good (you and I share pretty similar backgrounds). America's greatness is not diminished by caring about those who may be less fortunate and it is not increased by macho
posturing.
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