OAD - On financial equality - smacks of socialism doesn't it?
In a system like ours where money literally talks, the balance of power has shifted irrevocably. This is no longer a government of the people, for the people or by the people - it's for lobbyists/special interests with the deep pockets. That's why we have privatized our national defense - that's why we have stalled in offering government incentives for alternative energy programs/vehicles in spite of the fact that we know oil is a finite energy source that is primarily controlled by nations not friendly to us - that's why we let insurance companies literally make healthcare decisions for us instead of our doctors. All of those groups have big money and are pouring it into Washington and our state/local governments.
Nobody is going to turn away that money and it's foolish to think so - they may make token legislative moves but there will always be loopholes to exploit.
It's human nature.
It's greed.
So if we can't get rid of the special interest money then it falls upon our government/leaders to level the playing field because the needs of the few are over riding the needs of the many. I am not advocating hand out but rather a hand up - loans, education, jobs. Sure there will always be a few who abuse the system but you already have that on the top end. For the most part they are hit with a slap on the wrist and a sigh: "boys will be boys"...
Can you blame those further down the ladder trying to get their piece of the pie as well?
Allowed to run unchecked - the system is creating the situation where we have the haves controlling the have nots through financial leverage. Basic compassion and altruism are rare in the corporate world where all decisons are based on the bottom line - so if there is no profit in it - why help society? Self interest is the pervading doctrine.
With that in mind - we need deliberate government programs designed to help rectify that injustice and it is an injustice. Someone needs to take up the fight for me, for my family because so far, the past 8 yrs have only pushed us further down the ladder - corporations take priority, banks, private contractors not normal people.
Laissez faire, unchecked free markets, trickle down economics, ownership society - these are all terms that encourage exploitation of the poor by the rich - IMHO of course.