Yes, your problems are really another man's riches. It has always been that way. Those who can take advantage of personal situations and yes tragedy for their own gain and wealth. After all if they don't someone else will, right? That is the true essence of what this world is. You can talk about God, good, decency and anything else you wish to throw out but frankly that is all talk. Yes, the religious edifices of man are full of talkers sprinkled with a few doers here and there. Yes, the professors who hide what they do under the guise of being a believer, doing evrything outwardly to present themselves while inwardly thir thougts are elsewhere. Yes, even while making every justification to themselves and others for their actions. Negative, no just truth my friends, just truth. How do I know? Well anyone who is or has been involved in religious or works of mercy and compassion know the workers are few and the harvest overwhelming and I will leave it at that. No, it is not just about giving to charity or in the collection and if that is where your mind went you are what I am really addressing.
So a new age is once again upon us where money can be made upon the backs of the unfortunate, the struggling, the hard pressed. Yes the ‘bargain" hunters are out looking to buy low and sell high. As the TV commentor said, it is good time if you have. Yes, looking to deal with the uninformed, the uneducated, the trusting and just those who have fallen on hard times and have no other options. Yes, they are all about our society and come in many guises. Those who would loan at excessive rates because after all you are a high risk and 20% or more profit is not enough to cover their risk. Yes, they are the ones who will happily place you in that risk category through the placement of exorbitant fees, charges and interest and then label you every negative under the sun when you fall further behind. They then take all they can that is of any value and then discard you and the rest as trash. As I wrote once before someone is going to make money on misery so in my opinion it all boils down to the why not me, attitude. Wow the real American dream of this century. What a land of opportunity and do you believe we are One Nation Under God no less. As I have stated many times, it gets confusing, just what God? For where your heart lies their also is your God and there certainly are many in this land and not necessarily the one we profess openly.
Yes it is the America of money for many. Where money is the God and in that God many trust.In fact many put all their trust in money even more so then God himself. So this, for the time being, is the true land of opportunity. I'll qualify this first with explianing that we as humans all fail. However, there is a line int he sand we all must cross, make a chocie, that is free will. I speak to that choice.
Now we all know that there are those who just created the situation they are in through varied factors. The list is endless. Howevr, there are those who are in the situation they are in by circumstance, or through no fault of their own and there are many factors that play into that as well. The very sad part is that many truly want to pay and do the right thing but the system does not allow that. The system is designed to crush, destroy and to make more, yes more money. That is a simple fact that anyone who cares to investigate can see. You need no Senate Committee or House Inquiry. After all they created what we have. Their names, their deeds and works are written over the laws that allowed all this to come to be. Yes every one of them with few exceptions.
Oh, they do not claim nor accept that responsibiilty but not many anymore accept any responsibilty. Nor do the many who prosper from it, get their dividends, their stock increases. No certainly not they? Well sorry the truth lies before us all. God knows it and we know it. So lets take this fictional journey down the road of one of these takers to better understand their thinking. You can find them anywhere and if you converse with them you will find their words very similar. This fictional conversation between two people goes something like this.
Why are you doing what you do? I suppose if God allows it must be good, right? I don't hear many religious groups or types speaking up, do you? I even know some high placed religious leaders and types who help others break the law and thus sin and all the while ignore their deed and hide it under a different cloak like humanity. Hey, even some law makers fill the bill. Just a pun on words here.
After all are we not a Capitalism nation. That gives people who know how to the ability to go out and make money, right? Well that is all I am doing. I can't help the circumstances it is what it is and anyone who can take advantage of that has a right to make money. Hey, God is merciful right and all forgiving so as long as one repents I guess all is well, right and I'm not breaking any laws anyway, right? Did you ever think that God is coming back not as a merciful God but an avenging God and where would you fit into all this? I don't know, I haven't given it much thought and I have no time to follow religion too much, I'm busy making money. I just know he is a God of love and if He didn't want me to make money He wouldn't allow it right? Hey I look at it as a blessing. Hey if you think that way, it is your choice and yours only to live with I just think making money off of the backs of the unfortunate is immoral. Hey, your opinion, " different strokes for different folks".
So, let me ask you, how do people make money in this modern age? Well there are so many opportunities people are foaming at the bit who have the dollars to spend. Ok, lets take those Foreclosures. You know the ones the banks should have never given loans to people in the first place. Well get this. You can now come in and buy the every same property, yes that same property that one finds many times may have been sold to these very same sellers and by the very same person buying it back and for a fraction of the cost it sold for. Now here is the really good part. You made money the first time and now you can do it all again. How good can good get? The bank gets a new mortgage and they also get to write off that bad loan. Win, win for both. Now throw in fees, title searches, lawyers, recordings, taxes, commissions, etc, etc, etc and everyone is back making money. Just a great system for all.
Well what about the person who lost the home. Hey, am I my brothers keeper? They shouldn't have had that loan in the first place. Well they lost their job, which moved offshore and to Mexico or Canada through no fault of their own. Hey that's life, tough breaks. Some do fall through the cracks you know. Anyway if it wasn't me it would be someone else, so why not me, right? Hey its all legal and through the law you know. It isn't like we are doing anything bad. Its not immoral it is just the situation.
Well what does your pastor think? I really can't say, he s doesn't say much about anything but building a new church or some new mission. They also run a food kitchen which helps and I give to that and I also send him a check and he's cool. Hey isn't it all ablut giving and a nice tax write off as well which I can certailnly use. How about your local politicians, are they doing anything to help these people? Yes, they have some programs, that is if they are "responsible" payers. Well what does responsible mean, who defines that? Beats me, I guess if you still can pay and are not behind? So if your in "default' you lose, right? Yes, something like that I only know there is help they say if one needs it. Do you know of many who got this help? No, just a few perhaps. Well what of the others who just may need a help through the crisis? Do you know what that would cost in lost dollars? Our stock holders would really be upset profits are down as it is. I though profits were at record highs and they still seem to have billions for bailouts. What about the little people, you know average types? Hey, where have you been. Do you think this is all about people?
So you agree with that 31% on credit cards? Hey if you can't afford the prices don't shop. These people are low life's and don't pay their bills and it is their own fault. Well like I said they had been real good for years and years and just fell on hard times. Hey sh %# happens. These companies have to recoup that bad debt. But they write it off and get tax breaks and some even have it insured. Hey good business and once again all legal. Well what about morality? Hey, moral is relative. They even call it Ethical Relativity these days, meaning if it is good fo me it is moral and who is to say otherwise? You know the old is white really white thing.
Well what if it happens to you? Never will, I know how to handle my money. Oh, hey excuse me I have a call from my accountant. Excuse me please while I answer this. Oh, profits were down this month and I can't take that vacation. Well what can I do? Cut some staff and Out Source is what I need he says. Ok, that sounds real good. People are my biggest expense anyway. I told him I'd put the names in hat and let them know tomorrow. We really don't have to worry becuase this is an At Will state and the law favors business. I'll contest that Unemployment and in my opinion we got a good shot at not paying it. Boy, let me tell you nothing like a good bean counter. They really come through in a pinch. I do feel sorry for him though, a really nice guy with a super family who has been with me for years. He just bought a new home last year and he has one child in college. They are struggling with the tuition though. Sad isn't it, no grants for Americans but foreigners seem to get it? Too bad I'll have to tell him he is one who is going. He makes too much for me to keep and I can get two for the price of one from offshore. It's for the good of the company and he will understand.
Yes, it is a wonderful country and time to be living in. I just don't understand people? So much opportunity if they would only open their eyes it is all around them. Well just lazy you know. Have a good day I'm out to look at bargains.
Yes, tell me that this same bunch couldn't have avoided this with a little compassion, caring, logic what 40 million or more are going through. We are at the tip of the problem and while they talk about all the positives they made and for who might I ask? The facts, reality, the truth is as Mr. McCain stated, "those jobs are gone and they aren't coming back" So when they talk all this blue sky ask this, when, where, how and will they stay? As for me, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me". So to those who vote blindly Democrat or republican, hey what can one say thier works go before them regardless of thier party and you in my opinion and sadly blindly follow. Hey by the way, this is not about right, wrong, all knowing or not as many of you might say. No this is about taking off the blinders and seeing the facts as they really are. If you want real change, change them all, Change Congress regardless of party or remain part of the problem.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright ©2008 Robert Melaccio
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