"mommy, what's a pension?"

"oh pensions were myths that people in the 20th century believed in. they thought that the money taken out of their hard earned paycheck every week would guarantee that they'd be taken care of in their old age, when they no longer were able to work."
"and it didn't?"
"no dear. you see, people at that time also believed in corporations and governments when they said that all would be well."
"mommy?"
"yes dear?"
"why are people so stupid?"


i'm sorry, i just can't help myself. every time i turn around, some corporation or some CEO is selling their soul and cheating people out of the rest of their lives or another government official is being accused of some scandal and the government is funneling more money into fighting oversees instead of taking care of the people here at home that need it. (if our country goes to shit while we fight for "democracy" oversees, what is left for those soldiers to come home to?)

even if the corporate executives don't get away with it (because of those meddling kids), it's no consolation to those who will now have to work until they keel over and die. a lot of times, people's retirement money is all wrapped up in the company's stocks and when the company starts to crash, the corporate execs put a selling freeze on the stock in order to try to buoy the sinking ship - of course, execs who want to sell can do so if they like. and so these people watch helplessly as their lifesavings dwindle with their hopes any ability to support themselves in old age.

with the aging baby-boomers (set to start to retire in 2010) and the failure of corporations to be able to keep accounting books out of dumpsters, america is facing a pension crisis. but america is not the only country fearing difficulties in the up coming years as "fewer workers are having to support more retired people" because people are living longer and birth rates are in decline. click here to read how some other countries are dealing with the pension crisis.

but still america's corporations are sucking up whatever souls can be bought and finding that everyone has a price, especially the law. in the mid-1800's the corporation took advantage of a new amendment and emerged as a legal "person", but how can a corporation who's pure motivation is the bottom line feel the moral pressure of conscience? how can you try a whole corporation? what kind of person is a corporation anyways? i know i've brought this up before, but for a good look into these and more questions about the dominant institutions in US society, watch The Corporation - watch and be amazed.

but there's a new trend in corporate crime: "Corporations that commit securities and accounting fraud can now expect to get sweetheart deals from the Justice Department, and they don't face public exposure for their misdeeds." (from Crime without Conviction - Democracy Now!, Dec. 29th, 2005) as long as the corporation serves up a CEO or CFO or two, the corporation itself can get away scott-free. again corporate lawyers are twisting the deferred sentencing policy that the US Justice Department implicated mostly for juvenile crimes. and why not right? from a "legal person" to "not legally responsible" in a few fancy steps.

but hallelujah! i have found religion. brothers and sisters, follow your fish to Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop-Shopping! there is hope for this country afterall! take back your main streets from the malls and amusement parks! free your hearts from the cold grips of consumerism! realize that you encourage these corporations to take away your soul when you serve up your money apathetically on a platter!!

ASK QUESTIONS! GET INVOLVED! they will tell you that america's economy will crash if you don't support these huge mega-corporations. they will tell you that if you don't consume then you support terrorism and all sorts of horrible things! but look at these corporations you are supporting! look at the businesses that are gone because of these places that treat their own employees with contempt and their consumers with barely controlled amusement! and ask yourself if you believe what you are being told...

thank you
mysfit
(p.s. Happy New Year!!!)