CynOp

The Cynical Optimist – Art, Poetry, Short Stories, Commentary, Photography

Broke the Bank Agian

Broke the Bank Again

Broke the bank last time
They want to do it again
Bankrupt next gen’s hopes

A mean dirty trick
Deceit,  November repeat
Stick it to our kids

And generations unborn
Keep them wage-slaving
In debt forever

–LE – 9/9/25

Old Bones –LE – Watercolors and ink (Micron pens) on multimedia paper 9×6″

Liam Eddy

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7 responses to “Broke the Bank Agian”

  1. Too many voters want a free ride, and politicians–both parties–know that. Free this, free that, if you vote for me. Not enough in congress have the courage to stand up and say: STOP all this spending! There are so many things they could cut, but don’t. And part of the blame rests with the American people; they say, cut this, cut that–as long as it doesn’t affect me.
    Lovely image…I like that old, bare tree standing tall amid the surrounding colors.

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    Reply

    • Thanks, Kate! I’m pleased you like my Old Bones painting…; -)

      ‘Free ride’ for whom… the military-industrial complex, the pharmaceutical-industrial complex, the agro-biz industrial complex, the fossil fuel industrial complex? How about the cronie-capitalist and billionaire classes? It seems to me that those are the current beneficiaries of any ‘free ride’ for the last several decades (since Reagan at least)… and yes, by both parties. Probably because of those factors, we are the only Western ‘democracy’ to NOT HAVE univeral health care, relatively free higher education, and strong government supported worker’s rights.

      To be clear, I’m against deficit spending, borrowing from the rich and corporations (a trick to put the burden of government spending on the working poor and middle classes) for subsidizing those complexes above rather than taxing every single penny of their profits for the health, happiness, and welfare of the masses (the voters and their dependents)… Shut the government down in November until the congress capitulates!… I suppose this may be a point upon which we may just have to agree to disagree…; -)

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      • For the most part, I agree with what you wrote, but we also have generational welfare, which needs to be addressed. And countries that have free healthcare and education pay a lot higher taxes than we do. Corporations are greedy, both political parties are corrupt, yes, but I don’t think that I should be penalized for working damn hard all my life, living beneath my means, paying into a 401 K, saving my money, and investing in the stock market, all to have a comfortable retirement, just to subsidize people who are able to work, but won’t. (I’m not against helping those who truly need it.) And paying off others’ student loans—that’s a slap in the face to people like my son, who worked 40 hours a week, or, more, to put himself through college.
        And on closing, I’m sure you’re aware that the United States is not a democracy but a “constitutional federal republic”.

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      • I see that we agree on many points. I certainly don’t think you should be penalized for your actual hard work and investments… But unless I’ve misread your posts, you are not a member of the corporate elite or the billionaire class. If I have, my apologies…

        I, too, worked my way through college while raising a family. My twins were born 3 months before my graduation. I borrowed a couple of $K from one of my uncles that I paid back after said gradiation.

        Before and after graduation, I worked mostly as a temp, from machine shops to taxi driving to being a waiter, then substitute teaching and a whole array of other temp jobs. I finally ‘backed’ into a tech writing job and did that on a temp basis until I retired. Why? Becaure I was ‘over qualified’ for most jobs, so I was constantly informed at job interviews, and all the other jobs were being consolidated and cut, sent overseas…

        What most seem to forget is that during 80s and 90s, through the present, good paying jobs were offshored by that same greedy corporate class, while corporate taxes and the ultra rich were paying less and less of the tax burden. If they’d been taxed as they were, even under Eisenhower, the economy would be in far better shape. Yes, the other ‘liberal democracies’ pay higher individual taxes. But, added up, even with their extra tax burden, they still pay less for healthcare, education, preschool, and family leave than the average US citizen. Plus, those countries are not supporting gigantic worldwide military machines.

        And yes, I know what a constitutional federal repulic is. That is not what the Declaration of Independence promised. Our Constitution was a betrayal of us all by enshrining the power and wealth of white, male, landowners. It took 250 years to get us to a more democratic government, which is now being stripped away…; -[

        ‘Generational welfare’ (read poverty) is NOT the fault of the recipients (for the most part). It’s the consequence of cronie-capitalism and the corporate-wellfare state. This idea that people are just lazy and won’t work is bogus. It’s the con of the owner class to make anyone who can’t find a decent paying job feel worthless, like failures, when it’s the system itself that created and perpetuates the generational poor.

        I’m pleased that we agree on as much as we seem to…; -)

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      • No, I’m not a billionaire or a corporate elite, not by a long shot. But I am financially secure—unless civilization collapses, and anymore, I wouldn’t put that out of the realm of possibilities.
        I am still somewhat in shock of yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk, wondering what our world has come to when people can’t “agree to disagree”, what messes up a person so badly they hate someone whose opinions differs from their own. I think part of it is our media and some politicians who seem to stoke the fires of hate to create fear in impressionable people. And that young Ukrainian woman who was stabbed a few weeks ago by a man who had been previously arrested 14 times, was mentally ill, yet allowed to walk the streets. And no one helped her! What is wrong with people? My heart hurts for these two senseless deaths, and countless others.
        Liam, you and I can disagree and still be friends. That’s how it used to be. Our world is so screwed.

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      • Kate, I know that there will things about which we will absolutely disagree, perhaps even many, but on this we are in complete accord… Thanks for your compassion and being my friend…; -)

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