GOD & THE COMMON MAN IN AMERICA

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE COMMON MAN...?

Here's a trend that's been unfolding ever since the Founding Fathers argued against it in the Constitution -- the rich getting richer while the poor get children. It's one of those exquisite contradictions in American democracy whereby everyone is equal to become as financially and fashionably unequal as they can...!

The trend has been with us from the very start of our republic. Recently, it's been re-illustrated by the way the income of the 400 richest Americans just rose a whopping 31% in 2007 (before the recession hit). However, due to a medley of tax cuts on wages and capital gains, the super-rich paid only a 16% income tax rate. This on incomes which average $345 million/year. [Reported by the nonprofit Tax Analysts in the "San Francisco Examiner"].

Protecting the rich in America began early on. Alexander Hamilton, Washington's first Secretary of the Treasury, sought the support of the wealthiest Americans by favoring their wealth. He said, "They need to feel they have a stake in this new republic." One hundred and ninety years later, President Reagan called it "trickle-down economics" and President Bush called it "bailout." Either way, in America the Rich Man has become more indispensable than the Common Man.

Every few generations, the Common Man notices this, and rises up in another populist outcry. This time they call themselves the Tea Party. Next time -- who know, but there will be a next time. All part of the recurring discordant notes in the symphony of democracy....

OH, AND WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GOD....?

Another trend that's been with us from the start is the pull and tug of religion in America. Some argue we were founded as a Christian nation. Others insist we were founded in large part by the very rejection of religion back in Europe. Still others simply say it doesn't make any difference...!

Well, it does to Arthur Mijares from Contra Costa, California. He's launched a campaign to rename Mount Diablo, because "to me and millions of other followers of the Christian faith, the devil is derogatory, pejorative and offensive."

Mijares wants the mountain called Mount Reagan. President Reagan did like to associate himself with the role of the Gipper from Notre Dame. I'm not sure, though, that he associated himself as the rival of the Devil. But while the courts work this out, Mijares' outrage is one more discordant note in our democracy where everyone is always passionately against something.

We call it the American Way....