Sorry if my paragraph spacings don't show up, when I hit preview they seem to disappear.
Your entire position is based on the failings of the monetary system. Inherent to the definition of civilization is the need for human beings to work together. We can not survive without one another, even though this truth might be harder to see in our dispersed society where some roles seem to have no meaning, or little enough (fast food workers?). The monetary system is a great invention that allowed people to trade goods and services very freely and thus spur innovation. No longer did you have to find someone who would trade a couple of cows for your steam engine (not historically accurate) that you could then trade for dozens of chickens, produce, clothes, etc. Monetary system, great stuff.
Until (you knew this was coming) some assholes learned how to game the system. Now, I don't fault the majority of rich people for this behavior since it has "become" a part of the system but it is true regardless. The fact in modern society is that you need money to earn money. If it weren't for social programs poor people would never get a decent education and would thus never be able to earn more money.
You compare a CEO to a janitor here: "Maybe next the Dems in Congress will come up with the idea that everyone, from CEO to janitor, in every company in the private sector should be paid the same? That's only fair, right? Disregard the fact that the amount of work is different, the education required is different, the skills are different." While I do not disregard the human need for incentive, can you honestly say that one person should be earning literally thousands of times more than another? We all must work together to maintain our society, so why do we reward one set of people so insanely more than another?
You said "That's only fair, right?", yet I think you do not understand the difference between "fair" and "equal". This seems to be a relatively new trend so don't feel bad. I won't comment on other socialist societies and how they perceive things, however fair is not the same thing as equal. The fair thing to do is guarantee every human being with the right to shelter, food, clothing, and health care. These are the basic things that every human being needs just to exist on this planet. The world as a whole can EASILY support this requirement with a "reduction" in "quality of life" for EVERYONE that NO ONE would even notice except possibly those exceedingly rich people who would have to buy small 4 - 8 person planes instead of Gulstream Jets for their personal use.....
The whole concept that conservatives have (generalizing heavily here) of being "individuals" who EARN their way and have a RIGHT to unlimited wealth is abhorrent. It is the most greedy and self-centered viewpoint I have ever seen that completely disregards the fact that society is a giant web. Every rich person has gotten there from their own initiative, AND through the work of others. There are exceedingly few people who have become rich solely off the their own sweat and blood.
To say that society must sit by and watch these people suck the life out of everyone else just because the technicalities of our monetary system allow the hoarding of wealth (takes money to make money, ain't that the truth) is RETARDED! Based of some innate idea that the rich are little islands that owe nothing to the rest of the world? L .... O .... L
And do NOT fall back on the idea that every person can make their own way and become rich, etc. etc. While this is true for a few career paths, once those paths are filled the option is gone for the rest of us. There is a limited availability. And, if you think people can just save up money and invest intelligently you have another thing coming. You have to earn well above the average salary in the US to even think of saving enough money to then make more money. At 75k a year my friend is barely able to support her mortgage. Eventually she will own the house and be able to sell and invest in more properties, one day becoming rather well off if everything goes well. However, 75k is well above the median salary and she will only ever be well off if things go well and by the time she is in her 40s MAYBE.
"Obama's ideology dictates the lazy/poor are owed something from the rich and being successful is no longer rewarding."
I don't advocate letting lazy (how dare you include poor in your statement, go read up on sociological issues to truly understand what poverty is and how it happens and perpetuates itself) people get a "free ride", except for the basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, and medical care. Lazy bums should get the bare minimum, and that means simple EVERYTHING. No ipods, no car, no concerts, no bars.
Its not that individuals are owed anything from the rich, its that the rich need to stop hoarding the wealth and make sure that everyone has a FAIR chance at a decent livelihood. This includes the basic human needs and constitutional rights. The numbers support this and show that the rich would hardly even NOTICE the change.
Also, one thing that bugs me is when people are anti-socialist, yet enjoy and take for granted the socialist programs in their own country! Police, fire, any government agency EVER.
Oh yeah, you talk about fair? What about businesses that charge exorbitant prices simply because it is what the "market will bear"? How come someone can't charge a fair cost that would guarantee themselves a good living wage? What is the need with gouging whatever they can even if it means taking advantage of someone else's desperation (health care anyone?)???? Seriously, are we all such assholes?
