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CounterPunch
November
9, 2002
In Name Only
by PHILLIP FARRUGGIO
Many will have us believe that this is a "Christian"
nation. They fill us with hype and propaganda about "Christian"
values, family values. Let's examine these precepts. Jesus of
Nazareth, the Son of God to many Americans (including yours truly),
taught radical (for those times, and these) ideals. Things like:
"the Lord said 'vengeance is mine", love your enemies,
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich
man to go to heaven, give up all your possessions and follow
me, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, you who are
without sin cast the first stone, no man can serve two masters,
he who humbles himself is exalted and he who exalts himself is
humbled"... and on and on.
How many of us actually follow those
precepts in our daily lives? Interesting, because I believe many
working Americans actually do. It is our leaders (today's Pharisees)
and industry "elites" who sadly do not. Since every
nation is judged by its leaders, its rulers, lets examine this
Iraq "showdown". Our President, who said Jesus was
his role model, sees Iraq as simply "Saddam", as if
the millions there have no soul, no meaning. Furthermore, Bush
plans to contradict his role model's Christian teaching by advocating
a "preemptive strike" against an entire nation.
Now look at the other "leaders"
this country has. The "elites" who hold over 85% of
our nation's wealth and make up less than 1% of our population.
Should I state that again? 1% of Americans control over 85%
of its wealth. When will the vast majority of the 99% realize
what is occurring? The "elites" are the reason we do
not have proper education, affordable housing , health coverage
for all, real mass transit, and last but not least, jobs that
pay enough to support a family of four. We 99% fight amongst
ourselves over that 15% left on the table! If we had real compassionate
leaders in government, and not just puppets for the 1%, we would
see fairer taxation.
If we could send "Statesman"
to Washington, rather than the herd that now runs with the myriad
of lobbyists, we would return to 1940 tax standards. Why 1940?
Well, it seems they had a formula that fits well with today's
current situation. In 1940, the top bracket for individual federal
taxes was 81.1%, but.... that was for incomes in excess of 5
million dollars. Methinks that rate would fit just fine and dandy
today in 2002. Think of all the revenue this nation would take
in with that top bracket rate? Think of all the things I aforementioned
that would be available to working Americans. Why, we would have
the same health care, the same schools and teachers that our
rich neighbors have. Perhaps these super rich would thank this
new progressive movement for bringing them "closer to Christ"
once again. Wouldn't that help them sleep sounder each and every
night? After all, they tell us (through the media they own and
the politicians they buy) that this is a Christian Nation.
Do they deserve anything less? Do we?
Philip A Farruggio is a baby boomer Brooklyn NY born bred and educated
(Brooklyn College '74), Currently, he resides in Florida and
is self employed as a mfg. rep for an environmental bacteria
company. He can be reached at brooklynphilly@aol.com
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