This article courtesy of daughter, Laura:
"What the hell?" you're probably thinking, if you're somehow both rich and reading an article with this title, "I didn't crash the economy!" You might even be tempted to take to a microphone, to defend yourself and your wealthy friends. But before you do, I want you to stop and ask yourself, "Will this make me sound like an out-of-touch douchebag?"
You really must read the whole article (just click on the highlighted title, above)--not merely because it hits right at that raw nerve of truth when it comes to the defensiveness of many of the well-heeled, but also because it does so with such blunt, ironic humor and fun. And since I am possibly one of those people at whose expense he is poking this ironic fun--and since I am sympathetic to, and more than a little amused at, his observations--it is easy for me to see and understand that it's mostly true!
Unfortunately, so many of those fortunate folks in the top 1% or so of income don't tend to see themselves as all that fortunate, or having benefited from their circumstances and the help or direction of others. But more, it appears very important to their sense of self-determination and personal accomplishment that they make clear their winning superiority has come at the expense of other's losing inferiority. It's all about what they single-handedly did and most others didn't or couldn't do.
About six years ago, I felt the need to share some thoughts about the realities of all that, and why, in a most real sense, the accomplished and successful were no more the authors of their success than the poor and less able were of their lack of success. And further, why that substantial chunk of reality should create the realization that any real community--and the successful within it--have a financial interest and owe an obligation to help provide for those less successful and in need. And it rings even more a true and fair judgment today. Here's some of what I wrote:
Unfortunately, so many of those fortunate folks in the top 1% or so of income don't tend to see themselves as all that fortunate, or having benefited from their circumstances and the help or direction of others. But more, it appears very important to their sense of self-determination and personal accomplishment that they make clear their winning superiority has come at the expense of other's losing inferiority. It's all about what they single-handedly did and most others didn't or couldn't do.
About six years ago, I felt the need to share some thoughts about the realities of all that, and why, in a most real sense, the accomplished and successful were no more the authors of their success than the poor and less able were of their lack of success. And further, why that substantial chunk of reality should create the realization that any real community--and the successful within it--have a financial interest and owe an obligation to help provide for those less successful and in need. And it rings even more a true and fair judgment today. Here's some of what I wrote:
It's not a fabrication, a lie. It's just not the whole truth. And the part that's been omitted—--or is it just ignored?—--should provide the basis for us to consider providing better for those most in need. I'm speaking of our unwarranted overemphasis on personal merit and, as we've discussed elsewhere, freedom of choice.
It really does appeal to us, all of us. It panders to our self-esteem, our sense of self-determination and self-sufficiency, our self-congratulatory tendencies. We want to believe that we earned what we have—that we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps, mapped out our plans, prepared ourselves, then worked hard, harder than the next guy, earning our way to our definition of success. And in a very real, experiential sense, it is true. (Most of us feel that's exactly what we've done!)
And what of the poor, the competitive failures of whatever stripe? Why, they just suffer the natural consequences of their own failings and failure. And that's not our fault, either. How could it be? (So, why should it be our responsibility?)
Of course it's not your fault or mine, —at least not most of the time. But most often, neither is it theirs. Notably, in a most real sense, we are no more the author of our successes than they are of their failures. Heresy, indeed! But let me briefly explain why, in more empirical terms, this is also true.
Yes, I've provoked you and left you hanging short of my explanation, hoping you'll also click on the link and read the rest of this piece, too (which isn't much longer, really). And then, you might also read the related, companion article that follows it, "See Me, Help Me," on the topic of the public interest and economic wisdom in public goods and programs like education, health care, and subsistence income and support for the infirm, aged and unable, all of them, but also all children. That's the kind of stuff, the realities, that too many tax-averse, high-income folks just don't want to hear or understand.
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