Subterranean Economic Blues
With huge bonuses going to executives of many large corporations, I have to as, "What do they do with all that money?" My personal contact with the wealthy is limited to short trips in the taxi that I drove for twenty years, so my understanding of that social class is limited to that perspective. Those folks do tip big.
I left that job eight years ago when I returned to the agricultural community where I was born and raised. Most of all I miss the tips, that little bit of 'dash' that provides the instant gratification that is practically non-existant in a rural setting. Tips are a large part of the under-ground economy that you will find in any city, subterranean so to speak. I liken my sense of loss to Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues. So, what is the connection between the underground, Bob Dylan, corporate bonuses and my blues? Let me explain;
There is a line in Bob's song ( click on link above ), '...the pump don't work, cause the vandals took the handles...' That particular lyric has mystified myself and many others for years. Now I understand; Without the bonuses, corporate executives can't support the thousands of low-lifes ( like myself ) that depend so much on their filthy lucre. The pump is the economy, and the handle is instant gratification ( TIPS = to insure prompt service ).
When those executives left their homes to appear before the US Congress, I have no doubt that they tipped everybody they met along their route to those hallowed halls. I'm just guessing, but I'll bet they laid out thousands of dollars in largess that they fully expected to 'trickle down' through the economy, and thus 'stimulate' that same economy. Limo drivers, sky-caps, and valet parking assistants are just a few of those that benifit from their 'cash flow'. That is just the way the weathy contribute to society ( except for wealthy Canadians, they don't tip ).
How much of our lives, our jobs and our Government is dependent on an under-ground economy? For the last eight years, my wife and I have supported ourselves with minimum wage jobs, so we really don't feal the pinch like we would have 'back in the day'. The blues I feel are more nostalgic, than financial.
I'm also grateful that circumstances put disance between myself, and a very corrupt system that depends so much on instant gratification.
And about that pump, my neighbor has an old one in his back yard that works well ( if you work it ). I really have to wonder if the wealthy actually understand the concept of 'value'. That old pump is durable, it's a real investment that has paid off thousands of times more than it cost.
But what do I know about value, wealth or the economy? I'm just an ex-cabbie that works in pasta factory for an hourly wage. If it wasn't for this cheap emachine that I bought with my tax return several years ago, you wouldn't be reading this.
But, since you are reading this, I want to make a prediction; in the next few years, you're going to be reading a lot more from folks like me ( via the internet ), who's 'values' are less dependent on instant gratification, and you're going to be hearing a lot less from the wealthy who pay 'to insure prompt service'...
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