It’s a good time to be wealthy in America. In case the system didn’t seem unfair enough with the top one percent seeing their incomes rise by 34 percent since the end of the last recession,  now comes word that those at the very top of the pay scale are benefitting from huge bonuses and ridiculous tax breaks.

Billionaires, many of whom are bathing in riches raked in through financial schemes that helped bring down the economy during the first decade of this century, are back for more. Benefitting from a tax code that has more holes in than a city street after a spring thaw, they are paying less in taxes than middle-class Americans. They are also taking advantage of farm subsidies meant to support family farms, not fat cats.

So how are things for the average worker? Not so hot. Fair wage jobs are evaporating. Federally funded unemployment insurance is set to expire at the end of the year, which could cause 310,000 more job losses. Meanwhile, Congress is on the verge of cutting food stamps even while child poverty approaches 25 percent.

Taken together, unemployment insurance and food stamps kept 7.4 million people out of poverty in 2012, according to a new Census Bureau report. So it really does boggle the mind why Congress would try to reduce these benefits, while at the same time permit 50 billionaires or billionaire-owned businesses to take in millions in farm subsidies.

At the root of the problem are groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) which increasingly have taken hold of the political process.  Want to improve this country, they say? Tax less! Reduce regulation! But hidden in the language is their true view that it is important to put corporations above workers.

The problem with that view is the U.S. is not a nation of companies; it’s a nation of people. They work for a living, help businesses become successful, and bring money into the economy. These workers pay their taxes because they understand that is how the U.S. prospers.

Not everyone holds that view, unfortunately. Average Americans increasingly see the wealthy and corporate elites are seeking special privileges. Just because the rich have more dollars to throw around at lawmakers, however, doesn’t mean they should be deciding policy.

Elected officials need to do what is right for the future of this country. Special handouts for billionaires and their businesses won’t ensure a stable future, just an unbalanced one.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via email