The dogs and I wake up at 4 most mornings. I love the quiet and enjoy having that time to myself. We start our walks as soon as the sun rises. The early start helps us avoid the heat during the summer months but now it is just a habit and Blackie starts whining to go as soon as he sees daylight. These days we don't see daylight until 7 so we have lots of time to catch the early news and to read. That early in the morning most news is a repeat of the night before & I like to watch Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show - she's admittedly liberal but she is logical and fun and not at all preachy ... or ranting. She had a segment on the Republican presidential candidates debate that took place in Nevada earlier this week. Herman Cain, current Tea Party favorite, gave this gem of a quote in response to a question about the Occupy Wall Street protesters :
“Don’t blame Wall Street, don’t blame the big banks, if you don’t have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself!” Thank you, Herman - no doubt that the thousands of people who would love to have a job, any job, are comforted by your wisdom. Rachel went on to point out that we can indeed blame Wall Street for our current woes. She said
"It used to be that the plan for getting old comfortably in America had three pillars -- your pension, your savings and Social Security." She then went on to demonstrate, very simply, how these three pillars are now linked to Wall Street. Here is a link to her blog where there is an additional link to the video of that portion of her show
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/20/8412389-charts-just-dont-get-older-ok I really don't know what the Tea Party stands for but I do think whatever their original goals were, they have now morphed into anything that can be construed to be anti-Obama and anti-Democrat. And apparently that translates into being anti-Occupy Wall Street. Understandably there are probably few Tea Party members among the protesters but it is just bizarre that they are now cheering someone saying you should blame yourself if you don't have a job. Are all Tea Party-ers gainfully employed? Really? None of them are searching for a job?
It was finally time for our walk and coincidentally Ipod shuffle chose the Blood, Sweat & Tears version of 'God Bless the Child'. Lyrics as follows :
Them that's got, shall get
Them that's not, shall lose
So the Bible said, and it still is news
Mama may have, and papa may have
God bless' the child,
That's got his own
That's got his own
Yes the strong seem to get more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't
Ever make the grade
As mama may have
And papa may have
God bless' the child
That's got his own
That's got his own.
And when you got money,
You got a lots of friends
Crowdin' 'round your door
When the money's gone
And all you're spendin' ends
They won't be 'round any more
No, no, no more
And rich relations
May give you
A crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have
And your papa may have
But God bless' the child
That's got his own
That's got his own
God bless' the child who can stand up and say
I've got my own
Ev'ry child's, got to have his own!
There are lots of interpretations you could take from this song. Certainly everyone one of us wants to have our own, and all parents hope for their children to have their own. In 1938 when this song was written, 'having your own' was at least a possibility. Now that possibility is fading with each passing day. Thanx, at least in part, to Wall Street (with no apologies to Herman Cain).
