Here’s what I don’t understand.
How can someone enjoy being rich, and want to get richer. when so many other people are working hard and barely getting by?
Is it because I am a bleeding heart liberal that I think it is absurd that the six members of the Walmart family hold more wealth that the bottom 30% of all Americans?
Is it because I am economically uniformed that I think corporations should be made to pay their full 35% tax rate, given the fact that in the 1950’s they did great when the rate was 90%?
Is it that I’m just naive to believe we were a better nation when taxes on the wealthy were high and we cared for the well being of all our citizens than we are now with taxes at their lowest?
Is it because I am a socialist that I believe there is no such thing as the free market, that government regulations are essential because without them corporations would rip people off at every turn, peddle more unsafe products than they do now, and would do more damage to the environment for the sake of profits than they are already doing?
All of these things may be true about me.
But you know what? I’m still glad I’m me. I’m still glad I care about what happens to poor people, about those who have no power, that I still believe what a person is worth financially has nothing to do with what they are worth as a person.
Yep. I’m glad I’m who I am. And I sure am glad there are many others who are just like me, who believe the things I believe, and believe in the things I believe in.
We may be bleeding heart liberals, but I would rather be that any day than someone who believes capitalism works for the good of everyone, who believes women should be told what to do with their bodies, who believes gays and lesbians don’t deserve the rights of citizenship the rest of us enjoy, who believes protecting the environment is less important than making money.
Call us whatever you want to, but it will never make me and those like me want to be anybody other than who we are, flawed as any person is, but still trying to love our neighbors, help those in need, play by the rules, save the environment we are destroying, and be the kind of American patriot who believes no one should be left behind.
I may not understand how people who are rich can enjoy their wealth and want more without caring about what happens to their neighbors who have none, but I do understand what makes me sleep at night and feel good about getting up in the morning to see what opportunities for being a good neighbor I will encounter.
So people can call me and those like me whatever they will.
I happen to believe, without pride or arrogance, that we are the ones who make the world a better place.
linnposts.com 
Very bravely put, Jan. Not only do I believe in most of the above, but I also believe that good health care is a basic human right, and that the best medical care should be available to everyone at the time of need. An asset such as the National Health Service that we have in the UK, which exists for all of us to use should be paid for by all of us. Yes, the free market has its place – but only as the servant of us all, not as master.
Thanks for adding that, Nigel. I heartily agree!
I agree with you 100%. Waiting for Barnes & Noble to let me know your new book is in. Cheers.
“Progressive” values you and so many hold are what makes for social …. progress! We all benefit rom such values in action and should never flinch from supporting them. Progressives (bottom up socialists) are the social check on aristocracy in all its forms. Thank you for stressing your personal pride in having forward leaning values and encouraging others in that attitude.
I am in sync with your thoughts about Making the World a Better Place. I think everyone has an obligation to do their bit, in their own way. And I think we can do that, even if it is just a friendly smile, handshake, or a sincere word of encouragement. The task that I see is to convince those in corporate & political power of this. I think our political class, in addition to becoming corrupt, has also become mean spirited, and unwilling to try to lift up those at the lower economic end of our society. Money has become the driving power in our political system. I am closely following the current Senate work on overturning Citizens United. I have expressed my views to both of my Senators, one has responded with a lengthy letter of mostly hot air, saying he would not support an effort to overturn Citizens United. I have scratched him from my list (in reality he was never on it anyhow).