and by god we are stupid

Appearing on the front page continuing to page A-6 of the 10-12-08 issue of the Arizona Republic is an article … Retail worker flood heath plan … I could sure use your help…? Can anyone explain to me how the largest corporate retail company in the world – WAL-MART - and the largest employer in the State of Arizona can have the more than 5% of its Arizona work force covered by tax-payer public financed health care…?

Like moths drawn to the proverbial flame “we” flock to Wal-Mart for the “cheapest” all the while patting ourselves on the back for our “good-fortune,” blatantly choosing to ignore contrary or contradicting information, which informs us on the EXTERNALITIES our own greed permits the Wal-Mart’s of the world to push off onto others in our world society, including their own employees.

Before we choose to point our finger and shake it at Wal-Mart, or McDonalds or any of the major food purveyors, i.e. Frys, Basha’s, Safeway, Target, let us take long hard look at exactly who is looking back at us in the mirror…? It’s me, it’s you, it’s us - we are accountable and responsible for the disgraceful plight of today’s health care in America.

Serendipitously I happened to watch the DVD … SICKO … yesterday, and as I was reading this article I was forcible struck by a scene in this movie where while engaged in conversation with Americans now residing in France the comment of one of them … Americans are afraid of their government, in France the government is afraid of the people … this is most poignant and reminds me of the line from the motion picture … “V” … people should not be afraid of their government, government should be afraid of the people …

I find I am awed that the Walton family in aggregate is the largest, biggest, grandest, greediest capitalists in America. And every day giving into our own “greed” we increase their wealth while at the same time decreasing our own. By our very actions we vote and take action against our own best interests. Like Forest Gump noted … stupid is as stupid does … and by God we are stupid.