Money, money, money. Isn't that the topic these days? Whether its layoffs, the economy, taxes, the stimulus, the banks etc... what we are really talking about is $, yours, mine, the CEO, the subprime mortgages.
Is it the root of all evil? Some pretty good evidence points to the affirmative. My personal belief is more in line with a quote from one of the all time greats Mr. George Bernard Shaw "Money is not the root of all evil, rather, it is the LACK of money that is the root of all evil." Semantics you say, word play? I guess, however basic human avarice cannot be wiped away it is a part of our human nature, stronger in some than others. Certainly we could do a much better job of instituting systems to prevent some of the worst abuses but therein lies the slippery slope.
Speaking with an always enlightening friend of mine a few weeks ago and he had mentioned his interest in Plato's concept of the Philosopher King. Acknowledging that it has rarely been pulled off in human history and the historical evidence clearly is stacked against this being a good idea. So, how best to find this balance between social goods (inevitably regulation + state control) and free markets (greed, ever increasing inequalities). Once again, I generally believe that the balance should be weighted towards the markets (even now), understanding full well the dangers with this approach. Thus we have to continue to strive to strike that balance.
I have been advocating raising the taxes on the uber rich for a long time (and no 200k is not uber rich, not in nyc/lndn/sf etc..) - the notion that this will cause an end to innovation and private investment is utter B.S. For example, If you are a private equity guy used to making in the hundreds of millions in good years (taxed at 15%!, no wonder everyone wants to work there:) all of the sudden with Obama's plans you will be taxed at 35% (assuming your accountants haven't created a way out:) you will still be very very very rich by any standard and will not be choosing another profession any time soon.
Ok, I've gone off on a tangent there back to the original point. I think a much needed balance is being worked out now, and am glad it is Obama in the driver's seat rather than the other side (mccain and co). I think his approach has been very good thus far and it speaks volumes to how much people were living above their means (and how concentrated the wealth of the mrkts was in the population) that we have had a 50% sell off in the stock market (so far:( and little to no anarchy, protests, riots etc...
Let's hope Obama's hope and some genuine adjustments can get America back to its roots and move forward in a more equitable and fair manner
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
actively seeking
So Ive decided to try this blogging thing, how novel huh? Well, I gave it a start awhile back but realized I didn't have many interesting things to add to the unbelievable amount of information/noise already occupying all of our space.
The idea of this blog will be the same as most, my take on various issues of the day some with a heavy spotlight (the financial crisis) some less so (say Chuck D - heard him speak the other day). If you are at all interested please come back, comment, critique, praise whatever suits you as the more people that comment/read the better. These blogs are a rather strange phenomenon but overall broadening the idea spectrum is always good thing, no?
On to Chuck D - well in a New York City kind of a way, I was able to see both Chuck D(the front man/lyricist of the venerable rap group Public Enemy) and Muhammad Yunnus (Nobel Peace Prize winner, gdfather of microfinance) for free over the course of two days (both at NYU, thanks purple people eaters!).
Chuck D was almost exactly as I could have imagined, still fighting the power with his intellect and words. To a relatively packed house (mainly undergrad age looking kids who were barely born when P.E. was making its mark) Chuck basically gave a simple message of 'think for yourself'. Let me expound on that, he thrashed BET/Mtv/hot 97 and most of the mainstream music providers (specifically those involved with hip hop) and implored everybody to question the sources, motivations and realities behind these corporate behomeths. He then went on to discuss the topic of the day ... Obama. his quote was 'Now that we found love what are we going to do'? Railing against the ideas of ghetto fabulous, prison/gun glorification and that somehow studying and being smart is selling out...
He struck a fairly negative tone when discussing the economy, but a point I found instructive was the fact that for many americans - especially the working class- the bush years have seen a steady decline in quality of life, jobs, etc... Can Obama fix that? hmmm, you say you want a revolution?? are you sure? Well the work on the ground has to be done by you the individuals, in the various communities, towns and cities around the country. We cannot all sit back and look to the savior(as great as he is!) to solve everything. Funny, deprecating, strident - Chuck D a living legend still telling it like it is.
The next night, Prof. Yunnus! well, its not every day you can hear a Nobel Peace Prize winner and someone as accomplished as Muhammad Yunnus speak, so myself and a few friends jumped at the chance. For those that do not know, Professor Yunnus created Grameen Bank which basically founded the idea of micro loans (to women) and has seen a massive explosion in the last decade or so. That is gross oversimplification of all he has done, but those with more interest should research him and his various books. His discussion was one of all the capabilities humans have to help put an end to the debilitating poverty that afflicts so many around the world. He focussed on the commonalities between all people regardless of race, religion, region etc... and I tend to agree - too much ink is spent on all that separates us and not nearly enough on how similar goals most of humanity has. His speech was a call to action to do something, do for others for the sheer joy in helping make the world a better place. His energy was so positive it could not help to rub off on the audience. Personally, I have been struggling to find a way to live this message and to date have not yet done so. I hope by the time this year is finished I will find at least a starting point down this path of using whatever talents I have towards creating a better place we all call home.
The idea of this blog will be the same as most, my take on various issues of the day some with a heavy spotlight (the financial crisis) some less so (say Chuck D - heard him speak the other day). If you are at all interested please come back, comment, critique, praise whatever suits you as the more people that comment/read the better. These blogs are a rather strange phenomenon but overall broadening the idea spectrum is always good thing, no?
On to Chuck D - well in a New York City kind of a way, I was able to see both Chuck D(the front man/lyricist of the venerable rap group Public Enemy) and Muhammad Yunnus (Nobel Peace Prize winner, gdfather of microfinance) for free over the course of two days (both at NYU, thanks purple people eaters!).
Chuck D was almost exactly as I could have imagined, still fighting the power with his intellect and words. To a relatively packed house (mainly undergrad age looking kids who were barely born when P.E. was making its mark) Chuck basically gave a simple message of 'think for yourself'. Let me expound on that, he thrashed BET/Mtv/hot 97 and most of the mainstream music providers (specifically those involved with hip hop) and implored everybody to question the sources, motivations and realities behind these corporate behomeths. He then went on to discuss the topic of the day ... Obama. his quote was 'Now that we found love what are we going to do'? Railing against the ideas of ghetto fabulous, prison/gun glorification and that somehow studying and being smart is selling out...
He struck a fairly negative tone when discussing the economy, but a point I found instructive was the fact that for many americans - especially the working class- the bush years have seen a steady decline in quality of life, jobs, etc... Can Obama fix that? hmmm, you say you want a revolution?? are you sure? Well the work on the ground has to be done by you the individuals, in the various communities, towns and cities around the country. We cannot all sit back and look to the savior(as great as he is!) to solve everything. Funny, deprecating, strident - Chuck D a living legend still telling it like it is.
The next night, Prof. Yunnus! well, its not every day you can hear a Nobel Peace Prize winner and someone as accomplished as Muhammad Yunnus speak, so myself and a few friends jumped at the chance. For those that do not know, Professor Yunnus created Grameen Bank which basically founded the idea of micro loans (to women) and has seen a massive explosion in the last decade or so. That is gross oversimplification of all he has done, but those with more interest should research him and his various books. His discussion was one of all the capabilities humans have to help put an end to the debilitating poverty that afflicts so many around the world. He focussed on the commonalities between all people regardless of race, religion, region etc... and I tend to agree - too much ink is spent on all that separates us and not nearly enough on how similar goals most of humanity has. His speech was a call to action to do something, do for others for the sheer joy in helping make the world a better place. His energy was so positive it could not help to rub off on the audience. Personally, I have been struggling to find a way to live this message and to date have not yet done so. I hope by the time this year is finished I will find at least a starting point down this path of using whatever talents I have towards creating a better place we all call home.
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