Unrestrained system

Repeatedly humanity has demonstrated that we are incapable of handling great wealth and power responsibly. Once great wealth is achieved, it’s never enough. In writings back centuries we see the same patterns repeat over and over, and yet people still don’t seem to get it that wealth cannot be allowed to concentrate in the hands of the few because it then equals power over others, who they refer to as “the rabble.”

The world is dominated by capitalism, and those who would speak against it are said to be “anti-American,” although it takes a totalitarian to make such a statement to begin with. When people speak out against government in Italy, they are not called anti-Italian, are they? Our First Amendment allows the people the right of dissent, and Thomas Jefferson stated that our democracy should be “refreshed” every few decades through peaceful revolution, yet now we have people in control that would legislate against those of us who would dare to speak out against injustices.

Capitalism left to its own devices is very one-sided, as we’ve learned in recent years as they repeat the same pattern of behavior. FDR showed us that capitalism can work for all the people, but only when restrained through regulation. Once those regulations were lifted, we saw a rush to return to their greedy ways. We’re experiencing, if not living, the results of those repeals.

JUDITH ZITKO

Hot Springs Village