Buying Time

Politics... Economics... I didn't really think I'd be getting into that sort of stuff on my blog. Politics is one of the most vicious worlds around with almost no room to actually accomplish anything. It's somewhat bothersome. Really, just what do people expect to accomplish with political debates. Everyone believes their way is better, and most people won't change their minds with any amount of convincing. The only way to actually change people is through experience. Over the weekend I had a small discussion with an acquaintance on libertarianism. As it turned out, my friend and I also lean libertarian, but he was righty and we were lefty. So while he was saying regulations should be lifted to better suit industry and corporations, we were saying regulations should be changed to better suit the individual. Mostly I didn't really start getting into anything until we got onto the topic of banks.

For the record, I hate banks. I can't stand'em, and it's only a matter of time before they're almost completely automated anyway. So I was really focusing on the fact that the only reason banks are still around in the current fashion is because we're used to them, and that banks are currently at the point where they don't need to care about their customers and how aggravating they are. My examples revolved around using federal regulations to their fullest advantage instead of using their discretion to assist and serve their customers. His examples revolved around the risk that banks were at because of fraud. He seemed to miss the point that even in the cases where verification of funds had already taken place and fraud was no longer a threat banks still can and will hold onto your money if they can. They aren't using their discretion in a manner that assists their customers or clients, but instead use their discretion in such a way to financially harm their customers if at all possible. If that is the purpose of a bank, to take money from people and make it their own through any means at their disposal, then we really should abolish this practice. I understand the value of making and earning money, but the fact of the matter is they aren't actually earning that money. They're taking it. It's legal so it's not stealing, but it's the equivalent of keeping someone's wallet if they drop it in your house. Basically the ultimate dick move.

So really, this all just made me think a little more about money and power and all that. How attached to our previous selves are we? By that I mean, is the power struggle for the strongest still as strong today as it was when we were apes? Monkeys? Rams? The only part of us as a whole that seems to have evolved is our ability to protect our power. We have cunning, we have goods, and we have money, all of which we keep tight control over. Well, not we per say, but the ones in charge know who they are. So basically, what does all of this money and power separate us from? It's surely not the animals. We can call the most financially wealthy people in the world the alphas, but their command and control aren't exactly the same as it would be in the rest of the animal kingdom. Where a wolf that disobeys the alphas commands would receive a quick mauling, a man that disobeys his orders will most likely get paid until he folds. At which point, the one that is disobeying is benefiting from his disobedience. At least, in the law and politics world it works that way. Among the "family businesses" things might turn out a little differently. Tangents aside, it brings us to the point where the controller-controlled relationship starts to skew. Like a safe word in heavy bondage. The submissive technically has the power over the dominant by deciding when things stop. This is kind of where the unions' power comes up.

The alphas of society do, in fact, need and rely on the lower classes much more heavily than in a community of apes. That's why they have to point the money gun more often to keep the population appeased. But what exactly are we getting when we start scooping up the money that is dropped down to our feet? The elite obviously aren't giving enough for their authority to be challenged, nor are they giving enough so that the layman can even smell the same lifestyle. Just what is in the power of wealth that is so coercive that they must protect it at all costs? And there are two things that I can truly think of: the ability to control and possess as they desire, and the ability to live longer.

The phrase "time is money" is a rather common adage these days. But I never really thought it worked both ways. I always kind of considered it to work one way, like a rectangle-square thing. Think about it. The more money you have, the longer you can pay to keep yourself alive. Granted it doesn't always work out that way, but if you are wealthy or influential, doctors and paramedics will spare no expense to keep you alive. If you're lower class, then there's only so much you can do before you have to say, "Okay, guess I'll have to die now." Now when it comes to everything else, I can deal with the wealthy doing their thing, having their control, their fancy cars, and expensive tropical vacations and whatever else. But why should they have the right to live longer lives simply because of their class? Managing expenses and golfing doesn't seem like a lifestyle that needs to be continued at any cost. Especially when the men and women working on the manufacturing lines that make the equipment to keep those people alive are left to die and put their families in debt to cover just being put in the ground.

But Resi, that's why we have Health Insurance. You spend money based on your "risk" factors and the company will pay to help you. If only it were that easy. Insurance companies are banks. They take your money, and look for ways to keep it without giving it back. Of course, that's because there's the risk of fraud, so of course they deserve to keep your money. These wonderful companies accept money from you despite the fact that they might accidentally have to pay someone who doesn't deserve it. And because of that, regulations and fail safes get stacked so heavy that when someone does have a legitimate health issue that is killing them, they have every right to hang onto your money until the cost of the medical needs exceeds the coverage placing the bill back into your hands so that you can't afford to get the medical attention you need. It's one of the most villainous practices out there, far worse than the bad loans that the banks were putting out. "Sorry, you're not sick enough to be helped yet. Oh wait, what was that? Oh you're about to die? Okay well to save you you need to spend $100k of your own money. What's that? You can't afford that. Okay, then we won't put up our 200k. Have a nice day."

What the f*** ever happened to customer service? I know not everyone can be expected to be the "Good Samaritan," but even "Halfway Decent Samaritans" are hard to find. You'll be lucky if you can find a "Won't-crap-on-your-face-for-$200 Samaritan." In the end, are the people who will crap on your face and claim any valuables you happen to leave at their place the kind of people you want to keep alive?