What's Eating You?

Eat The Rich?

October 18, 2019

“When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 18^th Century

During the days of my youth, in response to corporate unrelenting greed and oppression (not that it was anything new), angry young men and women were known to say, “Eat the rich.”  I understand now that this sentiment was somewhat hyperbolic and perhaps a bit meanspirited.  And, given the “Did I mention that I’m really rich” guy in the White House, what could be less appetizing than the thought of even figuratively making a repast of this mass of toxic sludge in a clownishly tailored suit…or more commonly, a golfing outfit. 

As is so often the case, the sentiment was not a new one, as evidenced by the opening quote.  Not unlike Bernie Sanders’ current message of taking it to the one percent, that sentiment has proven to be quite understandable, and not entirely hyperbolic.  Today, the level of inequality, both financial and political, only continues to worsen.  Some people insist that this is simply a natural fluctuation, while others believe that this imbalance is man-made.  Many people are saying that the incessant, unnecessary, massive tax cuts for the already indecently wealthy might have something to do with it.

Donald Chrump may or may not be the richest man ever to hold the highest office, but he is undoubtedly the greediest and most corrupt we have ever seen, and hopefully ever will see.  Those who blindly follow this pseudo-billionaire and fake president continue to delude themselves into believing that they too can become, like their hero, rich, stupid and famous.  They are, to be fair, one third of the way there, but the other two thirds are much more difficult to achieve.  America’s economic climate has become deadlier over time, with income inequality perhaps at an all-time worst, destroying the social/economic landscape as surely as weather-related climate change is destroying the physical landscape.  To those deniers of economic climate change, in memory of my younger days, I would say with every bit of respect you are due, “Bite me.”

Though the eat-the-rich mantra might not have been the best way to express the growing frustration with the wealthiest among us, what is happening now makes this phrase seem less bombastic.  Now that we have a fake billionaire in the White House, who promised to “drain the swamp” and keep monied interests out of Washington, DC, it is becoming more and more the case that the rich are eating us.  The vast majority of us are frighteningly close to being Soylent Green.  The obscenely rich are siphoning off not just the wealth, but the very essence of society at large.  Next they will be coming for our precious bodily fluids. 

I. Mangrey reflecting.  What’s for dinner?