• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to footer navigation

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

  • Home
  • About
    • Platform
    • FAQ
      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
      • What social life is there in Ethical Culture?
      • How is Ethical Culture religious?
    • Ethical Brew
    • Ceremonies
    • Philosophy
    • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Contact Us
  • Ethical Kids
    • Sunday School
      • Primary Class
      • Elementary Class
      • Junior Class
      • Senior Class
      • Sunday school FAQ
    • Youth Group
  • Leader
    • Leader Curt Collier
    • Leader’s Talks
    • Joe Chuman, Retired Leader
      • Talks by Dr Joseph Chuman
      • Speaking of Ethics: Living a Humanist Life
      • Wedding Officiant
  • Social Action
    • All Social Action Articles
    • Battling Racism
    • Environmental Action
    • Healthcare
  • Adult Ed
    • Job Club
    • Socrates Cafe
    • Ethical Culture Review of Books
  • News
    • President Column
    • UN Report
    • Platform Addresses
  • Events

Buddy, Can You Spare a Million?

September 18, 2012

Here’s a conundrum: If you had so much money that you could afford to give millions to a political candidate or a group trying to get him elected, why would you choose someone whose only platform is to make it easier for you and people like you to make and keep even more millions? I mean if your candidate loses, you’ve spent all those millions for nothing or, at most, for making the point that the rich are entitled to make even more and keep even more of what they make. (I refuse to say earn.) Isn’t that really just another form of gambling? Maybe that’s why casino magnate and right-wing donor Sheldon Adelson came to my mind as an example right after the Koch Brothers.

It’s hard to imagine having as much money as those high-stakes gamblers do. But when I occasionally imagine what I’d do with the money I can win playing Powerball – assuming I were ever to play Powerball – it most certainly does not include betting millions on a risky proposition to try to end up with even more cash.

So what’s going on here? It’s obviously something that’s very difficult for those of us in the 99% to understand. Even a few of the point one percenters like Bill Gates or George Soros probably don’t understand. Is it a sickness like any other addicted behavior? I don’t think so. Sick yes, sickness no. My guess is that it’s about control. These sickos have gained control of the Republican Party and are using that leverage to gain control of our state and federal governments. Why? Because once you’re rich enough to be able to go anywhere you want and do anything you want with whomever you want, all that’s left is to be in charge of what everyone else does or, far more importantly, doesn’t get to do.

When people like you and me complain about this dynamic, we’re accused of class warfare for attacking the rich. This is preposterous. People with vast estates maneuvering to deprive the government of the money it needs to serve the rest of us are the ones engaging in class warfare. Calling them on it is just a matter of trying to defend ourselves against the attack.

Sad to say, too, that our enemies are winning this class war. Their percentage of America’s total assets keep rising. Here’s the worst part, though. While it’s possible for many of us in the middle class, maybe even most of us, to live through this without suffering, the effect on the poor and near poor is devastating. As it will be for so many more who cannot weather a job loss or a serious uninsured illness.

We must find a way – through politics, through protest, by creating a progressive movement stronger than the Tea Party – to end the class warfare. I invite you to take a first step right now by voicing your opposition to big money in politics. If you haven’t yet signed the petition at movetoamend.org., please join the opposition to the Citizen’s United decision that declared that corporations are people. We must never lose sight of the harm to our democratic way of life that is intended by the rich who are financing right wing politics. And we must especially remember the misery they so cavalierly inflict on the poor among us.

Primary Sidebar

Recent News

  • Society Gets Grant to Explore Concept of ‘Sacred Spaces’
  • Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails?
  • Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’
  • Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun
  • Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America

Sign up for our newsletter.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Ethical Brew

Being White And Its Hidden Assumptions

‘How Race Impacts Conservation’

About Us

Ethical Culture was founded to focus on community and good works, rather than personal salvation. Read more…

Archives

Footer

Connect with Us

Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: [email protected]

Sign up for our newsletter.

 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Society Gets Grant to Explore Concept of ‘Sacred Spaces’ January 31, 2023
  • Church-State Separation: Who Stands to Lose if the Wall Fails? January 30, 2023
  • Two Grants Help Fund ‘Great NJ Science Show’ January 29, 2023
  • Meet Our Newest Members, Andy and Deborah Krikun January 29, 2023
  • Struggle over Church-State Separation has Deep Roots in America January 28, 2023

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children church-state separation civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical education ethics family Felix Adler gender global warming happiness healthcare humanism humanist humanists human rights Israel Joseph Chuman meetinghouse Middle East politics racism religion Robert Gulack Secular Humanism social action Socrates Cafe Sunday School technology Trump unemployment world health youth

What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and more. Come join us!
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

Important Links

  • Member of the American Ethical Union
  • Ethical Brew
  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
  • NJ Website Designer
© 2021 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Copyright © 2023 · Kreativ Pro On Genesis Framework · The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County · Log in

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE