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These days we consider ourselves more civilized than the middle ages.
Hark! Hark! The dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town.
Some in rags,
And some in tags,
And one in a velvet gown!
Then again there’s Monty Python
“How can you tell he’s the King?”
“He doesn’t have any shit on his shoes…”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages
And you thought homelessness was a recent phenomenon…
In the first dark ages there were refugees – whole migrations of refugees, and disabled from one war or another. There were criminals, and people thrown from their land because the church wanted it or some noble lord wanted a new hunting preserve. There were people in debt who could not pay who ended up in debtor’s prisons, as indentured servants (virtual slaves) or in the poor house. People were regularly reduced to begging as well as the normal lazy vagabonds who for whatever reason were content to beg for their bread and depend on the poor box in the local parish. What do you think made up Robin Hood’s band of merry men? It was not the rich and famous.
Today, we are a much more compassionate society, or so we think. We have public housing, welfare, food stamps. No one needs to beg, though some still do. And this is compassionate, but is it wise? You see, back then there was a real incentive (granted a negative incentive) to work hard, stay in good graces with the church and the lord of the manor, deal honestly (against criminality) with your neighbors, live frugally, save what you could against the rainy day, and be charitable with the understanding that you might end up there, but for the grace of God,
Today, the incentive is turning on its head. We are already seeing some results (and riots) in certain parts of the globe, like Europe where this “entitlement” thinking has taken a firm hold. Yes, I know it is very politically incorrect to think this through, but here is the truth of it: entitlement = government promises = taxpayer money = STEALING from your neighbor…
I am not saying we were better off in the first dark ages when people got thrown out into the street. I am saying we have to find a different way of being compassionate to the poor and needy because the way we are doing it is not working.
The bureaucratic class needs a permanent underclass to be their power base, but that class cannot be allowed to get too big. Someone has to pay for it and to be blunt, there just are not that many rich people.
Our current system kills the incentive to work hard. Young people are asking why they should work their butts off when they can do almost as well not working at all. It kills the incentive to stay in good graces with the owners and bureaucrats. Cheating on taxes, for example, is becoming a way of life to where you are considered a fool if you don’t cheat. And the same goes for neighbors. Thought for neighbors and charity in general are entirely out the window. Our current system of entitlement thinking inspires us to ask, “What’s in it for me?” There is no incentive at all to live frugally or save. Even massive debt is no sweat given the big bailouts we have all seen.
We have to find a better way, because otherwise that word “unsustainable” will rear its ugly head and then the bureaucratic class will have to impose a litmus test for “help.” When that happens, the millions who don’t pass that test better find work mighty quick. If they don’t, we will soon enough be right back in nursery rhyme land: Hark, hark! The dogs do bark. The beggars are coming to town…
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Showing posts with label Bureaucracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bureaucracy. Show all posts
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The New Dark Ages: The Employment (Peasant) Class
Sir Brian, a small land owner stepped out of his house to check on the work. “Giles,” he shouted. “Get that wagon packed. Success in the market depends on timely arrival.” Giles nodded.
He stepped over to Mary’s table where she was looking over the crop situation. She had to figure out what went to various overlords in taxes and tithe, what went to the owner, what got divided between the workers and what, if any, might be left over to save for the proverbial rainy day.
“It is barely enough to make ends meet,’ she said. Sir Brian smiled to encourage her. He knew it was barely enough.
He stepped to the field where the workers, tools in hand were hard at it. They looked up at him when he spoke. “Do a good job, people. We will need the winter harvest to make it to the other side of spring.
###
Brian, a small business owner stepped out of his office to check on the work. “Giles,” he shouted. “Get that box packed. Success in the market depends on timely arrival.” Giles nodded.
He stepped over to Mary’s desk where she was looking over the financial situation. She had to figure out what went to various governments in taxes and regulatory fees, what went to the owner, what got divided between the workers, and what, if any, might be left over to save for the proverbial rainy day.
“It is barely enough to make ends meet,” she said. Brian smiled to encourage her. He knew it was barely enough.
He stepped to the room where the workers, tools in hand were hard at it. They looked up at him when he spoke. “Do a good job, people. We will need the Christmas sales to make it to the other side of spring.
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages.
The employee (peasant) class comes in many forms: middle and lower management, small business owners, merchants, accountants and bookkeepers and workers (not far from serfs). People need to work, and to be sure, some do well enough and perhaps very well. Most, though, just make a living, and many of them only if both spouses are working. Children are more on their own these days than ever – apart from the middle ages.
Some workers have to belong to unions – not unlike the guilds in the first dark ages. If you were not a member of the local but did that work, your property would be vandalized and threats would be made against your person and maybe even your family back then, too.
True, there is theoretically more movement these days. People are not tied to their companies the way they were tied to the land, but the truth is many feel they are tied, especially in poor economic times when they feel lucky to have a job. For those who do make a move, it is generally lateral movement and only some rare upward mobility. Auto mechanics, burger flipping, used car selling, assembly line work are all valid skills, but where can you really go with them?
These days, the better paying jobs require education, certification, even licensing that puts them out of reach of most people. While licenses and certifications might help protect the public from average cranks, it makes it hard to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or any profession. The cost of the education alone is prohibitive for most, so the numbers have not increased significantly for the population and it will not be long before certain professions will be lean or wanting in a variety of times and places, just like the first time the dark ages came around.
Yes, promotions still happen up to a point, but even in the first dark ages if a serf showed the right skills and some leadership qualities, they could get promoted out of the fields as well.
For our Dark Ages there are two things to consider which in some ways will make our Dark Ages worse that the first time around. They will have to wait until the next post, however, when we talk about the Beggars: the Permanent Underclass.
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
He stepped over to Mary’s table where she was looking over the crop situation. She had to figure out what went to various overlords in taxes and tithe, what went to the owner, what got divided between the workers and what, if any, might be left over to save for the proverbial rainy day.
“It is barely enough to make ends meet,’ she said. Sir Brian smiled to encourage her. He knew it was barely enough.
He stepped to the field where the workers, tools in hand were hard at it. They looked up at him when he spoke. “Do a good job, people. We will need the winter harvest to make it to the other side of spring.
###
Brian, a small business owner stepped out of his office to check on the work. “Giles,” he shouted. “Get that box packed. Success in the market depends on timely arrival.” Giles nodded.
He stepped over to Mary’s desk where she was looking over the financial situation. She had to figure out what went to various governments in taxes and regulatory fees, what went to the owner, what got divided between the workers, and what, if any, might be left over to save for the proverbial rainy day.
“It is barely enough to make ends meet,” she said. Brian smiled to encourage her. He knew it was barely enough.
He stepped to the room where the workers, tools in hand were hard at it. They looked up at him when he spoke. “Do a good job, people. We will need the Christmas sales to make it to the other side of spring.
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages.
The employee (peasant) class comes in many forms: middle and lower management, small business owners, merchants, accountants and bookkeepers and workers (not far from serfs). People need to work, and to be sure, some do well enough and perhaps very well. Most, though, just make a living, and many of them only if both spouses are working. Children are more on their own these days than ever – apart from the middle ages.
Some workers have to belong to unions – not unlike the guilds in the first dark ages. If you were not a member of the local but did that work, your property would be vandalized and threats would be made against your person and maybe even your family back then, too.
True, there is theoretically more movement these days. People are not tied to their companies the way they were tied to the land, but the truth is many feel they are tied, especially in poor economic times when they feel lucky to have a job. For those who do make a move, it is generally lateral movement and only some rare upward mobility. Auto mechanics, burger flipping, used car selling, assembly line work are all valid skills, but where can you really go with them?
These days, the better paying jobs require education, certification, even licensing that puts them out of reach of most people. While licenses and certifications might help protect the public from average cranks, it makes it hard to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or any profession. The cost of the education alone is prohibitive for most, so the numbers have not increased significantly for the population and it will not be long before certain professions will be lean or wanting in a variety of times and places, just like the first time the dark ages came around.
Yes, promotions still happen up to a point, but even in the first dark ages if a serf showed the right skills and some leadership qualities, they could get promoted out of the fields as well.
For our Dark Ages there are two things to consider which in some ways will make our Dark Ages worse that the first time around. They will have to wait until the next post, however, when we talk about the Beggars: the Permanent Underclass.
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The New Dark Ages: The Bureaucratic (Church) Class
The Baron sat on his throne and spoke openly to the Archbishop. “We are agreed, then. We recommend Charles to the King for appointment to the Bishopric.”
“Charles will do well.” The Archbishop nodded. “The Bishopric really controls nothing but a few insignificant parishes and a monastery. He won’t be able to screw anything up.”
“Of course, Rome will have to approve.”
“But that is a given. Rome never seriously objects on these lesser positions.”
###
The CEO sat behind his desk and spoke openly to the Cabinet Assistant Secretary. “We are agreed, then. We recommend Charles to the President for appointment to the department.”
“Charles will do well.” The Assistant Secretary nodded. “The department controls nothing but a few insignificant offices and a technology center. He won’t be able to screw anything up.”
“Of course the Senate will have to approve.”
“But that is a given. The Senate never seriously objects on these lesser positions.”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages
The Owner class – those elected to power – will appoint ministers, cabinet secretaries and heads of departments out of their own ranks like the Nobility of old appointed Bishops, Archbishops and the like. Sadly, like their Medieval counterparts, these appointments are and will be more concerned with enriching themselves than they will with seeing to the system. The reasons will be the same as before.
For one, the government departments, like the Bishoprics will be too large and unwieldy to get everywhere and examine everything. The idea of visiting every office (parish) will be too time consuming to be worthwhile. The “head” will not even know all of the work for which his people are responsible until some other department (bishopric) tries to take it away . Then there will be a fight for territory.
For two, the bureaucrats, like parish priests will be lifetime positions (especially as the unions exert more and more hold on the work). Even if a “head” becomes aware of utter incompetence in some office, it will be impossible to get rid of the person or persons. They may be shifted around, but that will just spread the incompetence elsewhere.
To be fair, many bureaucrats, like many a priest of old, will do their best to do a credible job in the position. But their hands will be tied by the very rules and regulations they are to uphold and enforce. They will not be able to do anything about something that even they see as an injustice without being branded a rebel (heretic) – and then they can be gotten rid of…
One of the chief occupations of the bureaucratic (church) class, of course, will be to keep the coffers full. There was always a poor box, and the peasants (employment class) were and will be told over and over to consider the poor and destitute. Some of it will go up the ladder and enrich the upper bureaucrats and department heads, but some of it will be used to actually help the poor: by which I mean the needy, yes, but also thieves, beggars, prostitutes, and the terminally lazy even as it does now. Still, the bureaucratic class will harp on the poor and destitute because they understand that much of their power, not to mention many of their jobs, will be directly tied to this permanent, non-productive underclass. The peasants (the employed) will be squeezed for their money. Oh wait, we already are.
###
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
“Charles will do well.” The Archbishop nodded. “The Bishopric really controls nothing but a few insignificant parishes and a monastery. He won’t be able to screw anything up.”
“Of course, Rome will have to approve.”
“But that is a given. Rome never seriously objects on these lesser positions.”
###
The CEO sat behind his desk and spoke openly to the Cabinet Assistant Secretary. “We are agreed, then. We recommend Charles to the President for appointment to the department.”
“Charles will do well.” The Assistant Secretary nodded. “The department controls nothing but a few insignificant offices and a technology center. He won’t be able to screw anything up.”
“Of course the Senate will have to approve.”
“But that is a given. The Senate never seriously objects on these lesser positions.”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages
The Owner class – those elected to power – will appoint ministers, cabinet secretaries and heads of departments out of their own ranks like the Nobility of old appointed Bishops, Archbishops and the like. Sadly, like their Medieval counterparts, these appointments are and will be more concerned with enriching themselves than they will with seeing to the system. The reasons will be the same as before.
For one, the government departments, like the Bishoprics will be too large and unwieldy to get everywhere and examine everything. The idea of visiting every office (parish) will be too time consuming to be worthwhile. The “head” will not even know all of the work for which his people are responsible until some other department (bishopric) tries to take it away . Then there will be a fight for territory.
For two, the bureaucrats, like parish priests will be lifetime positions (especially as the unions exert more and more hold on the work). Even if a “head” becomes aware of utter incompetence in some office, it will be impossible to get rid of the person or persons. They may be shifted around, but that will just spread the incompetence elsewhere.
To be fair, many bureaucrats, like many a priest of old, will do their best to do a credible job in the position. But their hands will be tied by the very rules and regulations they are to uphold and enforce. They will not be able to do anything about something that even they see as an injustice without being branded a rebel (heretic) – and then they can be gotten rid of…
One of the chief occupations of the bureaucratic (church) class, of course, will be to keep the coffers full. There was always a poor box, and the peasants (employment class) were and will be told over and over to consider the poor and destitute. Some of it will go up the ladder and enrich the upper bureaucrats and department heads, but some of it will be used to actually help the poor: by which I mean the needy, yes, but also thieves, beggars, prostitutes, and the terminally lazy even as it does now. Still, the bureaucratic class will harp on the poor and destitute because they understand that much of their power, not to mention many of their jobs, will be directly tied to this permanent, non-productive underclass. The peasants (the employed) will be squeezed for their money. Oh wait, we already are.
###
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The New Dark Ages: Servants of the Nobility (Owner Class).
“I know.” The Baron had a thought and grinned because of it. “I’ll take the King’s representative out on a hunt in the game preserve. I’ll get him riding all day, and then have a banquet in his honor with plenty of wine. Make sure there is plenty of wine. When he is in the right frame of mind, we can feed him the information we want him to take back to the King. Do you think?”
###
“I know.” The CEO had a thought and grinned because of it. “I’ll take the assistant treasury secretary out on the golf course. I’ll get him walking all day, and then take him to the club house for dinner with plenty of wine. Call the club and make sure they have plenty of the kind he likes. When he is in the right frame of mind, we can feed him the information we want him to take back to Washington. Do you think?”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages.
So, the Barron had his jester, treasurer, court magician and astrologer, physician and chamberlain. So also the owner class has its entertainers, accountants, lawyers (to cast spells or spins to keep off the dreaded bureaucrats and the tax man), the best medical care money can buy, and a personal secretary to keep track of it all.
As the government or bureaucratic (church) class strives to take over more and more of the private sector, the owner class will strive to resist. There will be and already are massive compliance departments in the corporations, not to be sure the company is in compliance with all the oppressive rules and regulations of the bureaucratic class, but to find ways to get around those rules and regulations. Compliance lawyers, accountants and public relations (spin) people will command premium prices in the New Dark Ages to defend and build up the company the way engineers, architects and military experts in the Middle Ages commanded premium prices to defend and build up cities.
What is important for the owner class to understand is when their people of a liberal or socialist perspective are elected, like the days of a weak monarchy and weak nobility, the bureaucratic class (church) will grow in power, thus further eroding the owner class’s ability to resist. Conversely, when owner class people of a more moderate or conservative perspective are elected, like the days of a strong monarchy and strong nobility, the power of the bureaucrats (church) will be limited and the power of the owner class will be strengthened.
NOTE: No matter which end of the political spectrum is elected, the employment (peasant) class will not be helped. Wait, that is already true.
Ultimately, the owner class’s ability to appoint ministers, cabinet secretaries and department heads, like the monarchy and nobility of old appointing Bishops and Archbishops, and sometimes even Cardinals and Popes will have little effect on the daily grind of the Bureaucratic class. Next time…..
###
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
###
“I know.” The CEO had a thought and grinned because of it. “I’ll take the assistant treasury secretary out on the golf course. I’ll get him walking all day, and then take him to the club house for dinner with plenty of wine. Call the club and make sure they have plenty of the kind he likes. When he is in the right frame of mind, we can feed him the information we want him to take back to Washington. Do you think?”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages.
So, the Barron had his jester, treasurer, court magician and astrologer, physician and chamberlain. So also the owner class has its entertainers, accountants, lawyers (to cast spells or spins to keep off the dreaded bureaucrats and the tax man), the best medical care money can buy, and a personal secretary to keep track of it all.
As the government or bureaucratic (church) class strives to take over more and more of the private sector, the owner class will strive to resist. There will be and already are massive compliance departments in the corporations, not to be sure the company is in compliance with all the oppressive rules and regulations of the bureaucratic class, but to find ways to get around those rules and regulations. Compliance lawyers, accountants and public relations (spin) people will command premium prices in the New Dark Ages to defend and build up the company the way engineers, architects and military experts in the Middle Ages commanded premium prices to defend and build up cities.
What is important for the owner class to understand is when their people of a liberal or socialist perspective are elected, like the days of a weak monarchy and weak nobility, the bureaucratic class (church) will grow in power, thus further eroding the owner class’s ability to resist. Conversely, when owner class people of a more moderate or conservative perspective are elected, like the days of a strong monarchy and strong nobility, the power of the bureaucrats (church) will be limited and the power of the owner class will be strengthened.
NOTE: No matter which end of the political spectrum is elected, the employment (peasant) class will not be helped. Wait, that is already true.
Ultimately, the owner class’s ability to appoint ministers, cabinet secretaries and department heads, like the monarchy and nobility of old appointing Bishops and Archbishops, and sometimes even Cardinals and Popes will have little effect on the daily grind of the Bureaucratic class. Next time…..
###
-Michael The Fiction Side:
The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The New Dark Ages: Nobility or the Owner Class.
Once upon a time, a Baron brooded in his hall. “Lord,” the Chamberlain spoke up, but the Baron just shuffled his papers.
“I don’t get these accounts,” the Baron complained. “The harvest is in and our sales have been made, plus the taxes have been collected, but it doesn’t make any sense.” He waited for an explanation, but the Chamberlain wisely remained silent. “Send for my treasurer, and while you are at it, send in my court jester. I could use some entertainment.”
“Lord,” the Chamberlain tried again and spoke when the Baron looked up. “The Archbishop has come for the tithe.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“And the bishop is with him.”
The Baron blanched. “Tell him to sit on it.”
“And the King’s representative is coming here in the morning with a group of priests to check the books for the taxes.”
The Baron jumped to his feet. “Quick. Get my court magician, my sage, my court astrologer. I need a spell against these dreaded men. And while you’re at it, cancel my jester and get my physician. I have a headache.”
###
Once upon a time, a CEO brooded in his office. “Sir,” the Secretary spoke up, but the CEO just shuffled his papers.
“I don’t get these accounts,” the CEO complained. “The product is in port and our sales have been made, plus the taxes have been collected, but it doesn’t make any sense.” He waited for an explanation, but the secretary wisely remained silent. “Send for the CFO, and while you are at it, turn on some music. I could use some entertainment.”
“Sir,” the secretary tried again and spoke when the CEO looked up. “The EPA has come for the carbon credits.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“And the FDA is with him.”
The CEO blanched. “Tell him to sit on it.”
“And the Treasury assistant secretary is coming here in the morning with a group of accountants to check the books for the taxes.”
The CEO jumped to his feet. “Quick. Get my lawyers, accountants and PR people from the compliance department . I need a spin against these dreaded men. And while you’re at it, turn off the music and get my doctor. I have a headache.”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages
In our day, the owner class might not actually own anything outright, but they run things. They function as chief officers in the corporations, sit on each other’s boards as directors, and make money from having money. What they own are investments and with interest and dividends they constitute the top one or two percent or so of wage earners (covering maybe two to three million people in the United States).
Curiously, like the medieval lords, the harder you and I work, the more money they make in bonuses and increased stock values. Too bad we don’t (generally) make more as well. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, when one of these people does such a terrible job they ruin a company, they don’t stay unemployed for long. They get another CEO or CFO or COO job quickly.
Now, these are the people who could retire after working only one or two years. They would have enough money to buy a modest house, travel when they want, buy a new car every year, pay all their own medical expenses as they age, and still have some left to leave to their descendants – and after only one or two years of work. Of course, these people don’t think this way. And they will tell you, honestly enough based on what they consider “work” that they have worked hard for all they have gotten. Then comes the fib: “And you can too.”
Sure. I mean the son of a serf can join the army and through good service be granted lands, be knighted, maybe even given a real title, and though appropriate marriages perhaps see a great-grandchild on the throne…but not likely. These days, these things are more by blood than you might think, and they are also by networking: who you know, not necessarily what you know. And most of all, the old adage is true. It takes money to make money.
True, an entrepreneur might have the greatest idea in the world, but they still need financing. If you ever saw that show “The Shark Tank,” you might have noticed that the people with money can command a controlling interest in the product or service. Then, with success of those products or services, the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those sharks might not have to work a day in their lives; but as I said, these people don’t think this way.
The Owner Class is appropriate because these people make so many decisions about the products and services available to us they affect all of our lives. This is even more true when they are elected to office. And don’t be fooled, most of the people who run for “public office” are part of the Owner Class. And, once in office, they can appoint people to head various departments and such, like the nobility of old appointed second sons and the like to various high church offices. The point of that, however, will have to wait, because first I need to explain about the various servants of the Owner Class.
The Barron had his jester, treasurer, court magician and astrologer, physician and Chamberlain. Owners have entertainers, accountants, lawyers and physicians at their call as well. Next time…
-Michael
The Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
“I don’t get these accounts,” the Baron complained. “The harvest is in and our sales have been made, plus the taxes have been collected, but it doesn’t make any sense.” He waited for an explanation, but the Chamberlain wisely remained silent. “Send for my treasurer, and while you are at it, send in my court jester. I could use some entertainment.”
“Lord,” the Chamberlain tried again and spoke when the Baron looked up. “The Archbishop has come for the tithe.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“And the bishop is with him.”
The Baron blanched. “Tell him to sit on it.”
“And the King’s representative is coming here in the morning with a group of priests to check the books for the taxes.”
The Baron jumped to his feet. “Quick. Get my court magician, my sage, my court astrologer. I need a spell against these dreaded men. And while you’re at it, cancel my jester and get my physician. I have a headache.”
###
Once upon a time, a CEO brooded in his office. “Sir,” the Secretary spoke up, but the CEO just shuffled his papers.
“I don’t get these accounts,” the CEO complained. “The product is in port and our sales have been made, plus the taxes have been collected, but it doesn’t make any sense.” He waited for an explanation, but the secretary wisely remained silent. “Send for the CFO, and while you are at it, turn on some music. I could use some entertainment.”
“Sir,” the secretary tried again and spoke when the CEO looked up. “The EPA has come for the carbon credits.”
“Tell him to wait.”
“And the FDA is with him.”
The CEO blanched. “Tell him to sit on it.”
“And the Treasury assistant secretary is coming here in the morning with a group of accountants to check the books for the taxes.”
The CEO jumped to his feet. “Quick. Get my lawyers, accountants and PR people from the compliance department . I need a spin against these dreaded men. And while you’re at it, turn off the music and get my doctor. I have a headache.”
###
Welcome to the New Dark Ages
In our day, the owner class might not actually own anything outright, but they run things. They function as chief officers in the corporations, sit on each other’s boards as directors, and make money from having money. What they own are investments and with interest and dividends they constitute the top one or two percent or so of wage earners (covering maybe two to three million people in the United States).
Curiously, like the medieval lords, the harder you and I work, the more money they make in bonuses and increased stock values. Too bad we don’t (generally) make more as well. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, when one of these people does such a terrible job they ruin a company, they don’t stay unemployed for long. They get another CEO or CFO or COO job quickly.
Now, these are the people who could retire after working only one or two years. They would have enough money to buy a modest house, travel when they want, buy a new car every year, pay all their own medical expenses as they age, and still have some left to leave to their descendants – and after only one or two years of work. Of course, these people don’t think this way. And they will tell you, honestly enough based on what they consider “work” that they have worked hard for all they have gotten. Then comes the fib: “And you can too.”
Sure. I mean the son of a serf can join the army and through good service be granted lands, be knighted, maybe even given a real title, and though appropriate marriages perhaps see a great-grandchild on the throne…but not likely. These days, these things are more by blood than you might think, and they are also by networking: who you know, not necessarily what you know. And most of all, the old adage is true. It takes money to make money.
True, an entrepreneur might have the greatest idea in the world, but they still need financing. If you ever saw that show “The Shark Tank,” you might have noticed that the people with money can command a controlling interest in the product or service. Then, with success of those products or services, the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those sharks might not have to work a day in their lives; but as I said, these people don’t think this way.
The Owner Class is appropriate because these people make so many decisions about the products and services available to us they affect all of our lives. This is even more true when they are elected to office. And don’t be fooled, most of the people who run for “public office” are part of the Owner Class. And, once in office, they can appoint people to head various departments and such, like the nobility of old appointed second sons and the like to various high church offices. The point of that, however, will have to wait, because first I need to explain about the various servants of the Owner Class.
The Barron had his jester, treasurer, court magician and astrologer, physician and Chamberlain. Owners have entertainers, accountants, lawyers and physicians at their call as well. Next time…
-Michael
The Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The New Dark Ages: Class Structure.
Thank God we live in America, right? In America we are free and equal, aren’t we? Anybody can achieve the dream. Isn’t that so?
Long, long ago in Europe, in a land not so far away, there was a kingdom called Amorica. The people there fretted because the Glory that was Rome was gone, and now the Franks stood on their doorstep and threatened invasion. The people of Amorica trembled, because the Germans, that is the Angles and Saxons, already overwhelmed their cousins across the water and now the Franks were threatening them. What could the people do?
The Priest stood up to say some comforting words to the people. Unfortunately, because of the Glory that was Rome he said everything in Latin so none of the people understood what he was saying. That language was already dead as far as the people were concerned.
Then the King stood up and gave a rousing speech in High Britain because of the Glory that was Arthur, but that was not much better, though the people caught a few of the words. Their own language was more closely related to Welsh than Britain. Still, the King roused some of the nobles and perhaps that was a good thing, but what could the people do?
One of the beggars, the lowest of the low stood up last and looked at all the people. “Go back to your homes, ye idiots. At least ye got homes,” he yelled. And so that was what the people did because they figured life would just go on as it had and, as far as they knew, it would go on the same forever. So the Franks came and the people were right.
The King and his nobles owned the actual land and ruled the kingdom, except for the land owned and ruled by the church. The King passed decrees. The Church passed decrees. But the people just went on like the land itself. They were peasants, the serfs who worked the land, some merchants and craftsmen in town, perhaps guild members, and artisans of a sort, but all of them really peasants. They got up with the sun, worked until dark, had families before they died so their families could do the same thing after they were gone. And the beggars, the lowest of the low, still hung around the fringes of all this and…begged.
Let me be the first to say, welcome to the New Dark Ages.
Today the chief commodity isn’t land, it is industry, and the nobility is money-made, but this makes sense because today conquest is not by the sword. Instead it is by mergers and acquisitions. I call it the Owner Class, but a more detailed description of how medieval it really is will have to wait for a future post.
The Church, of course, has been neutered in our present society, but it has not gone away. It has been replaced by Federal, State and local bureaucracies. Trust me, for every decree your CEO hands down, the government is handing down three. Again, the details will have to wait, but I might say that the more actual daily power our elected officials hand over to the bureaucracy, the more medieval we are becoming.
We, or most of us anyway, are the peasants, what I call the employment class. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck. Some of us do well enough, but only as long as we have a job. Lose the job and we risk losing our house, all our perks and benefits, and becoming part of the group that lives paycheck to paycheck. Note: when someone in the owner class loses their job they get a package generally worth more than what you or I would make in our whole working careers.
Serfs: workers, laborers, artists, craftsmen, small businessmen (merchants) entrepreneurs (for the most part) and etc. Most of us, anyway.
Then, of course, there are the beggars. We treat them better these days. We have welfare and plenty of other programs, but they remain a drain on the rest of us, a useless, non-working, permanent underclass of people. Again, more on that to come
-MichaelThe Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Long, long ago in Europe, in a land not so far away, there was a kingdom called Amorica. The people there fretted because the Glory that was Rome was gone, and now the Franks stood on their doorstep and threatened invasion. The people of Amorica trembled, because the Germans, that is the Angles and Saxons, already overwhelmed their cousins across the water and now the Franks were threatening them. What could the people do?
The Priest stood up to say some comforting words to the people. Unfortunately, because of the Glory that was Rome he said everything in Latin so none of the people understood what he was saying. That language was already dead as far as the people were concerned.
Then the King stood up and gave a rousing speech in High Britain because of the Glory that was Arthur, but that was not much better, though the people caught a few of the words. Their own language was more closely related to Welsh than Britain. Still, the King roused some of the nobles and perhaps that was a good thing, but what could the people do?
One of the beggars, the lowest of the low stood up last and looked at all the people. “Go back to your homes, ye idiots. At least ye got homes,” he yelled. And so that was what the people did because they figured life would just go on as it had and, as far as they knew, it would go on the same forever. So the Franks came and the people were right.
The King and his nobles owned the actual land and ruled the kingdom, except for the land owned and ruled by the church. The King passed decrees. The Church passed decrees. But the people just went on like the land itself. They were peasants, the serfs who worked the land, some merchants and craftsmen in town, perhaps guild members, and artisans of a sort, but all of them really peasants. They got up with the sun, worked until dark, had families before they died so their families could do the same thing after they were gone. And the beggars, the lowest of the low, still hung around the fringes of all this and…begged.
Let me be the first to say, welcome to the New Dark Ages.
Today the chief commodity isn’t land, it is industry, and the nobility is money-made, but this makes sense because today conquest is not by the sword. Instead it is by mergers and acquisitions. I call it the Owner Class, but a more detailed description of how medieval it really is will have to wait for a future post.
The Church, of course, has been neutered in our present society, but it has not gone away. It has been replaced by Federal, State and local bureaucracies. Trust me, for every decree your CEO hands down, the government is handing down three. Again, the details will have to wait, but I might say that the more actual daily power our elected officials hand over to the bureaucracy, the more medieval we are becoming.
We, or most of us anyway, are the peasants, what I call the employment class. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck. Some of us do well enough, but only as long as we have a job. Lose the job and we risk losing our house, all our perks and benefits, and becoming part of the group that lives paycheck to paycheck. Note: when someone in the owner class loses their job they get a package generally worth more than what you or I would make in our whole working careers.
Serfs: workers, laborers, artists, craftsmen, small businessmen (merchants) entrepreneurs (for the most part) and etc. Most of us, anyway.
Then, of course, there are the beggars. We treat them better these days. We have welfare and plenty of other programs, but they remain a drain on the rest of us, a useless, non-working, permanent underclass of people. Again, more on that to come
-MichaelThe Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Anger, Hate, Divisiveness and Vitriol
I think there is something wrong with the human ear – some of them, anyway. Lord Acton suggested that power corrupts but I rather think power interferes with the ears. Elitism in general, but elitism empowered in particular makes hearing a lost art.
To be fair, it isn’t just elitists. I have counseled numerous couples in their marriages and I have guided several boards through their decision making processes. I heard one spouse say calmly and sincerely, “You are right. I was wrong in that and I am sorry.” But all the other spouse heard was spit, spit, criticize attack. And when board members disagreed, I have gotten from both sides, instead of constructive words, complaints that the other side is being negative and obstructionist. To be sure, on a grander, national scale it is much worse.
People are concerned in this nation that all humane discourse has ceased, and in some ways they are correct, but it is not because people have ceased to try. It is, I believe, because the ears are clogged. I honestly feel that apart from a very few on the far left and far right, Americans are willing to reach out reasonably across the aisle, share their perspective and position and calmly discuss the issues. First, though, we have to fix the ears.
I think it depends in one part on how strongly we feel about our side of the issue, how important we believe it to be and how likely we are (the power part) to implement our point of view if we can just overcome the opposition. Thus, discussing the issue to find a reasonable solution takes a backseat to overcoming the opposition. In that case, we no longer hear the reasonableness of the words presented. We look only for mistakes and loopholes to overcome those words, and when we find none it often becomes spit, spit, criticize, attack for real.
When people on the right hear someone on the left express a legitimate concern about (for example) an environmental issue, the only thing the people on the right hear is loony, environmental whacko. Conversely, when people on the left hear someone on the right express a legitimate concern about (for example) immigration, the only thing the people on the left hear is divisive, hate-filled bigot. Neither characterization is correct. But how can I say what people will not hear?
I think this problem with the ears also depends in part on the discussions themselves. I know those on the left will find this hard to believe, but people on the right, including the infamous talk show hosts, present passionate (to be sure) but extremely reasonable and well thought out positions on the issues. Sadly, those on the left only seem to hear anger, hate and vitriol (spit, spit).
On the other side, people on the left tend to talk, not in reasonable arguments, but in conclusive statements, often assuming that any educated person has read the same books and studied the same reports they have – those books and reports where these arguments have all been dealt with in length. Sadly, all that people on the right hear is this lefty is an idiot with no reasonable argument to support their position and no leg to stand on.
To be fair, people on the right could read the books even if they are disagreeable from premise to conclusion. At least you will know where the other side is coming from. And people on the left could make more effort to frame their positions in a reasonable way, backing up the ideas with a few facts might not be a bad idea, and maybe stop treating conservatives like backward, ignorant rubes simply because they have not read (or not been convinced by) the same books you read in college.
I think a final part of this problem depends on how we view life, the universe and everything. The liberal worldview or mindset sees things one way, and though not all liberals think alike or see things exactly the same, the underlying foundation is equivalent Likewise, the conservative worldview or mindset may be equally equivalent though non-universal. Those foundations, the place where all discussions and arguments must begin, the place where all ideas originate and the foundation on which those ideas stand are obviously incompatible, liberal to conservative. What is true, and any psych 101 student can tell you this, is anything that challenges our foundational beliefs is seen as threatening.
If you believe that individuals are the problem, and especially individuals with power like private company executives or the rich, and that the collective (government) is the only fair and just way to keep such individuals in check, you will react vehemently if not violently against any words that threaten that way of thinking.
If, on the other hand, you believe that government is the problem, and especially when it caters to certain groups or attacks liberty with bureaucratic rules, regulations and punitive taxes, and that individuals by voice, vote and in exercising their liberties are the only way to keep government in check, you will react equally badly against any words that threaten that point of view.
Thus liberals claim conservatives hate all people (groups) who are not like them. Thus conservatives claim that liberals hate everyone (the whole nation). Thus liberals see conservatives as practical anarchists who don’t care if a few get rich and everyone else suffers. Thus conservatives see liberals as practical tyrants who don’t care if no one gets rich and everyone suffers. So it goes.
We don’t hear each other. And we won’t as long as we perceive the other side to be threatening our most deeply held and cherished beliefs about life, the universe and everything. And we won’t, as long as we are virtually speaking different languages: one presenting reasonable argument and the other presenting conclusions as if they are foregone conclusions. And we won’t, as long as our focus is not on what the other person is saying but on how we can overcome this opposition and accomplish our agenda.
Now, one final note would be this: this is not a new phenomenon. The Prophet Elijah had to run for his life when Queen Jezebel did not like what he was saying. She did not want to hear it! Likewise, Jeremiah was held in prison because the king said he always prophesized such negative, hateful things. Generally, people have never wanted to hear the other side of the story when it cuts to the core. King George and the British Parliament were offended and angered by what the Continental Congress had to say. And sometimes it comes to war.
I re-read the Barmen declaration not long ago, drafted in Nazi Germany by Barth and Bonheoffer (and others). Essentially, all it said was Jesus Christ is the Lord of all life. Adolf Hitler is not. Of course Barth was a neutral Swiss, but Bonheoffer was easy to throw in jail. He died in jail for his angry, hate-filled, divisive and vitriolic words………
-Michael The Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
To be fair, it isn’t just elitists. I have counseled numerous couples in their marriages and I have guided several boards through their decision making processes. I heard one spouse say calmly and sincerely, “You are right. I was wrong in that and I am sorry.” But all the other spouse heard was spit, spit, criticize attack. And when board members disagreed, I have gotten from both sides, instead of constructive words, complaints that the other side is being negative and obstructionist. To be sure, on a grander, national scale it is much worse.
People are concerned in this nation that all humane discourse has ceased, and in some ways they are correct, but it is not because people have ceased to try. It is, I believe, because the ears are clogged. I honestly feel that apart from a very few on the far left and far right, Americans are willing to reach out reasonably across the aisle, share their perspective and position and calmly discuss the issues. First, though, we have to fix the ears.
I think it depends in one part on how strongly we feel about our side of the issue, how important we believe it to be and how likely we are (the power part) to implement our point of view if we can just overcome the opposition. Thus, discussing the issue to find a reasonable solution takes a backseat to overcoming the opposition. In that case, we no longer hear the reasonableness of the words presented. We look only for mistakes and loopholes to overcome those words, and when we find none it often becomes spit, spit, criticize, attack for real.
When people on the right hear someone on the left express a legitimate concern about (for example) an environmental issue, the only thing the people on the right hear is loony, environmental whacko. Conversely, when people on the left hear someone on the right express a legitimate concern about (for example) immigration, the only thing the people on the left hear is divisive, hate-filled bigot. Neither characterization is correct. But how can I say what people will not hear?
I think this problem with the ears also depends in part on the discussions themselves. I know those on the left will find this hard to believe, but people on the right, including the infamous talk show hosts, present passionate (to be sure) but extremely reasonable and well thought out positions on the issues. Sadly, those on the left only seem to hear anger, hate and vitriol (spit, spit).
On the other side, people on the left tend to talk, not in reasonable arguments, but in conclusive statements, often assuming that any educated person has read the same books and studied the same reports they have – those books and reports where these arguments have all been dealt with in length. Sadly, all that people on the right hear is this lefty is an idiot with no reasonable argument to support their position and no leg to stand on.
To be fair, people on the right could read the books even if they are disagreeable from premise to conclusion. At least you will know where the other side is coming from. And people on the left could make more effort to frame their positions in a reasonable way, backing up the ideas with a few facts might not be a bad idea, and maybe stop treating conservatives like backward, ignorant rubes simply because they have not read (or not been convinced by) the same books you read in college.
I think a final part of this problem depends on how we view life, the universe and everything. The liberal worldview or mindset sees things one way, and though not all liberals think alike or see things exactly the same, the underlying foundation is equivalent Likewise, the conservative worldview or mindset may be equally equivalent though non-universal. Those foundations, the place where all discussions and arguments must begin, the place where all ideas originate and the foundation on which those ideas stand are obviously incompatible, liberal to conservative. What is true, and any psych 101 student can tell you this, is anything that challenges our foundational beliefs is seen as threatening.
If you believe that individuals are the problem, and especially individuals with power like private company executives or the rich, and that the collective (government) is the only fair and just way to keep such individuals in check, you will react vehemently if not violently against any words that threaten that way of thinking.
If, on the other hand, you believe that government is the problem, and especially when it caters to certain groups or attacks liberty with bureaucratic rules, regulations and punitive taxes, and that individuals by voice, vote and in exercising their liberties are the only way to keep government in check, you will react equally badly against any words that threaten that point of view.
Thus liberals claim conservatives hate all people (groups) who are not like them. Thus conservatives claim that liberals hate everyone (the whole nation). Thus liberals see conservatives as practical anarchists who don’t care if a few get rich and everyone else suffers. Thus conservatives see liberals as practical tyrants who don’t care if no one gets rich and everyone suffers. So it goes.
We don’t hear each other. And we won’t as long as we perceive the other side to be threatening our most deeply held and cherished beliefs about life, the universe and everything. And we won’t, as long as we are virtually speaking different languages: one presenting reasonable argument and the other presenting conclusions as if they are foregone conclusions. And we won’t, as long as our focus is not on what the other person is saying but on how we can overcome this opposition and accomplish our agenda.
Now, one final note would be this: this is not a new phenomenon. The Prophet Elijah had to run for his life when Queen Jezebel did not like what he was saying. She did not want to hear it! Likewise, Jeremiah was held in prison because the king said he always prophesized such negative, hateful things. Generally, people have never wanted to hear the other side of the story when it cuts to the core. King George and the British Parliament were offended and angered by what the Continental Congress had to say. And sometimes it comes to war.
I re-read the Barmen declaration not long ago, drafted in Nazi Germany by Barth and Bonheoffer (and others). Essentially, all it said was Jesus Christ is the Lord of all life. Adolf Hitler is not. Of course Barth was a neutral Swiss, but Bonheoffer was easy to throw in jail. He died in jail for his angry, hate-filled, divisive and vitriolic words………
-Michael The Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
Saturday, May 1, 2010
For Government Workers Everywhere:
A great deal has been said on the right that the government is getting too big—poking its nose into every nook and cranny of individual lives and making decisions best left to the people.
The counter from the left has been that the government is us—that it is only made up of people and so it is people making these decisions after all.
Actually, the former is a matter of opinion as to what is too big. (Too big to fail)? The latter is not at all correct. No government is people. Government is (hopefully) based on law, but in practical action it is applied rules and regulations. It is only people in so far as it is people “doing their job,” which is applying the rules and regulations.
Auschwitz and Buchenwald were staffed by government people doing their job. That was the chief excuse at Nuremburg after the war. “I was just doing my job.” It wasn’t a good defense.
Rules and regulations, applied. That is what government is. And some will always say government is too big, though I suppose it could be a bit smaller. Still, as long as it is as big as it is, allow me to make this suggestion:
For anyone working in any sort of bureaucratic, governmental work, my suggestion is: WORK PERSONALLY… I mean, take it personally.
DMV, IRS, EPA, etc., before you decide anything, adjudicate anything, approve or disapprove anything ask what if this was me? What if this was my grandparents, parents, children, home, job in the balance? If I do this (or don’t do this) what if it was my life at stake here? How would I want someone to decide if it was me?
I am not advocating breaking the law, just finding a human way around the rules and regulations for the sake of humanity.
WORK PERSONALLY. Make it personal. Take it personal. Do nothing without consideration.
True, ideologues on the left will be unhappy when, for example, their environmental regulations can no longer ruin human lives or destroy jobs or keep people from using the bountiful resources of this great land or the IRS stops fining people who are barely making ends meet as it is.
And, people on the right will no doubt still think government has gotten too big and intrusive.
But whether you are on the left or the right, think of this: When the next Nuremburg comes, “I was just doing my job” won’t be an acceptable excuse then, either.
-MichaelThe Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
The counter from the left has been that the government is us—that it is only made up of people and so it is people making these decisions after all.
Actually, the former is a matter of opinion as to what is too big. (Too big to fail)? The latter is not at all correct. No government is people. Government is (hopefully) based on law, but in practical action it is applied rules and regulations. It is only people in so far as it is people “doing their job,” which is applying the rules and regulations.
Auschwitz and Buchenwald were staffed by government people doing their job. That was the chief excuse at Nuremburg after the war. “I was just doing my job.” It wasn’t a good defense.
Rules and regulations, applied. That is what government is. And some will always say government is too big, though I suppose it could be a bit smaller. Still, as long as it is as big as it is, allow me to make this suggestion:
For anyone working in any sort of bureaucratic, governmental work, my suggestion is: WORK PERSONALLY… I mean, take it personally.
DMV, IRS, EPA, etc., before you decide anything, adjudicate anything, approve or disapprove anything ask what if this was me? What if this was my grandparents, parents, children, home, job in the balance? If I do this (or don’t do this) what if it was my life at stake here? How would I want someone to decide if it was me?
I am not advocating breaking the law, just finding a human way around the rules and regulations for the sake of humanity.
WORK PERSONALLY. Make it personal. Take it personal. Do nothing without consideration.
True, ideologues on the left will be unhappy when, for example, their environmental regulations can no longer ruin human lives or destroy jobs or keep people from using the bountiful resources of this great land or the IRS stops fining people who are barely making ends meet as it is.
And, people on the right will no doubt still think government has gotten too big and intrusive.
But whether you are on the left or the right, think of this: When the next Nuremburg comes, “I was just doing my job” won’t be an acceptable excuse then, either.
-MichaelThe Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/ The Non-Fiction Side: Word & Spirit http://michaelkizzia.wordpress.com/
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