At a time when 4 out of 5 Americans are near poverty, it’s both appropriate and necessary that Americans recognize individuals of power and privilege who have set up structures that allow themselves to benefit while others struggle and suffer. In other words, here are the past year’s ?Scrooges,? that should be targeted by citizens concerned with economic fairness. It’s unlikely that they will all take these lessons to heart, but that’s no reason to stop fighting.
#1 and #2 The Koch Brothers
Nothing better sums up billionaires Charles and David Koch than the tagline to the film that exposes them: ?The one percent at its very worst.?? Whether they’re fighting to deny climate change and expand the filthy fossil fuel empire they inherited from their father, cracking down on voting rights, or attempting to buy elections, they represent the worst vein of Ayn Rand libertarianism and laissez-faire bullying.
Amends won’t be made until: they quit lobbying, or better yet quit the oil and gas industry altogether.
#3 Walmart
Walmart has never been known for fair wages, but this year has certainly proven the world’s most profitable retailer to be a Scrooge, with spotlights on donation bins for workers? Thanksgiving dinners, trapping employees who use SNAP benefits in a cycle of poverty, and drawing huge protests in which at least 111 people were arrested at 1500 stores on Black Friday of this year.
Amends won’t be made until: executives recognize that paying their employees fairly
#4 Senate Republicans against unemployment benefits
Sen. Rand Paul may or may not actually believe that extending unemployment benefits beyond 26 weeks is a ?disservice? to the long-term unemployed. Regardless, he’s twisted a study and chosen to advocate for a budget that means 1.3 million people will lose vital benefits early next month.
Amends won’t be made until: unemployment benefits are extended for those who need them.
#5 Greg Gopman, CEO of AngelHack
Ostensibly the least-known member of this list, but arguably the most blunt, this owner of a Silicon Valley startup recently posted the following disgustingly privileged facebook status:
Just got back to SF. I’ve traveled around the world and I gotta say there is nothing more grotesque than walking down market st in San Francisco. Why the heart of our city has to be overrun by crazy, homeless, drug dealers, dropouts, and trash I have no clue. Each time I pass it my love affair with SF dies a little.
The difference is in other cosmopolitan cities, the lower part of society keep to themselves. They sell small trinkets, beg coyly, stay quiet, and generally stay out of your way. They realize it’s a privilege to be in the civilized part of town and view themselves as guests. And that’s okay.
In downtown SF the degenerates gather like hyenas, spit, urinate, taunt you, sell drugs, get rowdy, they act like they own the center of the city. Like it’s their place of leisure… In actuality it’s the business district for one of the wealthiest cities in the USA. It a disgrace. I don’t even feel safe walking down the sidewalk without planning out my walking path.
You can preach compassion, equality, and be the biggest lover in the world, but there is an area of town for degenerates and an area of town for the working class. There is nothing positive gained from having them so close to us. It’s a burden and a liability having them so close to us. Believe me, if they added the smallest iota of value I’d consider thinking different, but the crazy toothless lady who kicks everyone that gets too close to her cardboard box hasn’t made anyone’s life better in a while.
He’s since apologized for his comments, but it won’t be proven to be sincere and amends won’t be made until: he actually spends time with the homeless community of San Francisco (perhaps in the form of community service or shadowing a reporter covering an investigative piece like the recent New York Times series on homelessness).
Edited/Published by: SB
