What Not to be Thankful For

There is not much to be thankful for this season; it's been a horrible, painful year. Millions of people unemployed, millions thrown out of their homes, trillions of dollars in savings lost to the bank crash.

Oh, wait. Not everyone is hurting. Goldman Sachs is doing so well the company has set aside $16.7 billion (so far) for executive bonuses this year. And that's just the one bank that is the poster child for wretched Wall Street excess. Some predict that the total bonus amount this year for the top six banks will exceed the $162 billion paid in 2007.

Did you see Goldman chairman Lloyd Blankfein's apology last week? “We participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret," he said. "We apologize.”

Regret? Apologize? He and his banker brethren brought down the financial system of the entire world and he apologizes? Apologies are for when you accidentally drop the F bomb in front of your grandmother, not when you've destroyed the lives of millions of people and lined your own pockets while doing so.

And Goldman Sachs' commitment of $500 million over five years to help small businesses is nothing more than shabby attempt at image rehabilitation - an embarrassing pittance, not quite three percent of the company's bonus fund. Why isn't Mr. Blankfein (and the rest of the self-anointed "masters of the universe") embarrassed? Never mind - don't answer that.

What gets overlooked as the frightening numbers of lost jobs, homes and wiped-out savings continue to pile up astronomically while Nero Blankfein fiddles, are the stories of real people.

Picture these people. Think about them. Make them real:

Parents who have not worked in months. Or a year. Or more. Some are crammed in with relatives – too many kids to a bed. Some are in shelters – hundreds packed into a room filled with cots and not enough bathrooms. Some live in their cars – if they still have one. Others are homeless. Some are cold. There are sick people with no money for a doctor. Mothers and fathers and children who are hungry. A lot of them had a traditional Thanksgiving last year. Imagine their holiday tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Blankfein.

If I appear to picking on him alone – well, he asked for it with that fatuous apology. But he is only the most obvious of modern-day robber barons who will celebrate in elaborate comfort on Thursday with linen napkins, expensive china and fine wine. May they all choke on their turkey.

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At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Brian McGovern: Making Magic

Comments

[NancyB]

Happy Thanksgiving indeed. And also, let us not forget the GOP who have put themselves above every US citizen without health insurance.

And add Beck and Limbaugh who have done more to instill hatred and mistrust in this nation than any 2 people I can think of.

And every CEO of managed care companies and financial institutions who will spend Thanksgiving with privately cooked meals, and paid help to bring their obscenely rich family and friends together.

For me, I will think of my colleagues who are still without work (ok me too) but many of my colleagues have lost homes, health insurance and won't be able to buy the goods needed for a true Thanksgiving meal.

Fortunately, I will be with my wonderful children and won't be cooking this year. Trust me, it's a good thing.

I wish for all of us the ability to have wonderful happiness and health for which we will all be thankful.

[Nance]

Hoo, Ronni, you nailed it hard! There's a huge cultural pull to focus aggressively on gratitude and thankfulness, not just for the season, but as a way to keep our will above water. Pulling in the other direction is the anger that fuels political battles these days. I can find myself swinging from one extreme to the other, which demobilizes me and triggers a helpless hot flash. Hope to locate my personal LaGrange point between the two, lest I harsh out the holiday. Took guts to write this post today...I love it!

[janinsanfran]

I sometimes feel I am surrounded by people who are maintaining their self-respect by being cheerful about situations where a little well-directed anger would be highly appropriate. Case in point: I have a friend whose husband has now been on lay-off for 14 months. Unlike most people fired in the Recession, he can realistically hope to get back to work someday, though probably not for quite equivalent money. But they insist on being upbeat: he's getting around to cleaning he garage, putting in shelves, ...

On the one hand all of that is great and life-affirming. Making the best of what life throws us is attractive and helpful. But folks like him didn't screw up the company -- he's just collateral damage for a bunch of bankers ...

[Darlene]

If ever there was a cause for a rebellion in this country, the past eight years should be one. Rebel at the ballot box every time you vote. Check to see who voted for what and if they didn't vote for health care reform or other important issues throw them out.

Happy Thanksgiving, Ronni, and to all who read this.

[Kay Dennison]

I couldn't agree with you more!!! And I can't say more without cussin'.

[Rich]

Amen to that!

[Mage B]

Ah, but Ronnie, one of the ways we bottom dwellers make it through to the other side is by being doggedly positive. No job here for him or me, but the unemployment check will cover the mortgage. He's out there job hunting, but since he isn't young, he's looking twice as hard. He was turned down for Kaiser coverage that included prescription coverage as he took antibiotics last month. But he has some coverage and is appealing.

We are going to a Thanksgiving potluck, and you bet we are grateful. Best of all, we can afford to bring something with us.

Sometimes we live only a moment at a time, but we are very thankful for those moments.

[doctafill]

Creeps, they're all creeps. Too bad we can't ship them to some island, nothing but rocks, leave, see what they do without their relentless greed. What do they see when they look in the mirror?

Success?

Money can't buy character or dignity.

A good ass kicking would serve them well.

[KS]

Well I second everything you said. Do you realize that next year congress will need to do something about the expiring Bush tax cuts?

I am for surtaxes on billionaires. Anyone who's gross compensation or stock options or cap gains exceed a reasonable level (10 million or less?) should be taxed back to the stone age. They can view it as helping pay off the national debt.

Remember it was only 30 years ago that the top federal tax rates were above 70%. I say we should try that for 10 ten years and see how it works out. A reverse Bush Tax cut for the wealthy. I like the sound of that.

[Claire Jean]

All so true, and all so sad...

[Kay Dennison]

i'm gonna br good and just say:

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

[Nikki]

Right on!

And Happy Thanksgiving, Ronni.

[Georgie Bright Kunkel]

I am thankful that my widowed mother taught me to be frugal. I saved off the top of every paycheck that I ever received. I never expected a man to take care of me so have my own retirement check.

I never maxed out a credit card or even paid any interest. I never paid for a fancy cup of coffee at Starbucks or any other coffee house. I never buy retail except undies and bathing suits. I exchange White Elephants at Christmas. I never go to the beauty salon but cut my own hair.
I combine shopping and never drive out for one item. I never buy movies or books but go to the library for them. I mend my clothes instead of throwing them away. I never gamble unless you call walking across the street in the city as gambling!I never drink alcohol or pop. I never smoke.

And yet I have the most wonderful life corresponding with my friends or meeting them to plan speeches about Corporate Personhood, giving programs with my Rosie the Riveter Group, going on the comedy stage to entertain, giving speeches about my husband's WWII ambulance driving experiences, acting in non-profit videos about the excesses of credit card practices, singing solos at church and jazz scat on Open Mike, dancing every chance I get and writing a column for the local paper and articles for many other publications as well as my third book and interacting with my grown children who live close by.

Many people wish they had saved like I did now that things have crashed around them. Hopefully this latest depression will teach people about what is really important in life. It is personal interaction with family and friends and using your talents and creativity. So express yourself and enjoy.

[Cynthia Friedlob]

Righteous anger well said, Ronni.

[joared]

I listened to local news accounts on TV and radio -- what a huge increase in numbers for free Thanksgiving turkeys, free dinners, visitors to food pantries -- less donations from canned goods makers and others who previously contributed. Seems even they are hurting.

Too many undeserving men, women and children are suffering and those that really should be remain unscathed.

[Marian Van Eyk McCain]

"The rich man in his castle
the poor man at the gate..."

It was ever thus. The New World is no different from the Old World in this respect. It's just that we have merchant bankers and CEOs now instead of kings and dukes and princes. Plus ca change...