Forum Post: Rutherford B Hayes 19th President of the United States spoke thus:
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 31, 2011, 12:30 a.m. EST by csmrcka
(12)
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"In church it occurred to me that it is time for the public to hear that the giant evil and danger in this country, the danger which transcends all others, is the vast wealth owned or controlled by a few persons. Money is power. In Congress, in state legislatures, in city councils, in the courts, in the political conventions, in the press, in the pulpit, in the circles of the educated and the talented, its influence is growing greater and greater. Excessive wealth in the hands of the few means extreme poverty, ignorance, vice, and wretchedness as the lot of the many. It is not yet time to debate about the remedy. The previous question is as to the danger—the evil. Let the people be fully informed and convinced as to the evil. Let them earnestly seek the remedy and it will be found. Fully to know the evil is the first step towards reaching its eradication. Henry George is strong when he portrays the rottenness of the present system. We are, to say the least, not yet ready for his remedy. We may reach and remove the difficulty by changes in the laws regulating corporations, descents of property, wills, trusts, taxation, and a host of other important interests, not omitting lands and other property."
1887
sound familiar?
sounds good, though the property aspect is protected in the constitution. Corps. have been allowed to acquire property through "separate" entities due to the deregulation of business activities in different economic sectors. Allot has changed since then. The theme is right on.
it's the theme that counts, for me, here. it was a different day and age, but damn if it doesn't strike a chord. (the constitution was made to be amended)
remember the 16th amendment among other bad amendments like prohibition. sometimes change is for the worse, in the case of prohibition this problem was realized and corrected.
true, but that should be up to us, the people, to make the mistakes and to rectify them
I agree, unfortunately those in the position of power, as representatives, often decide what is best for us without asking. In that case it is either a scheme meant to undermine the peoples authority, or a trick to get our money. Many of these actions have occurred over the years. Those two being examples of the highest order, not withstanding the Financial "modernization"act of 1999.
he also said in an 1886 speech that "free government cannot long endure if property is largely in a few hands and large masses of people are unable to earn homes, education, and a support in old age."
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sounds like forever. this is nothing new. Keep on Truckin'!!
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definitely time to stop it. but it's been going on forever. peace and power to demonstration. i hope we can stop it before a real shitstorm comes down.
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