PLUTOCRACY & ECONOMIC APARTHEID IN AMERICA.

One of the biggest problems in America is the rising cost of health care and the lack of adequate medical insurance. The total amount of people in America without health insurance is quite shocking. In 1984 the combined total of all groups without insurance was approximately 78% of the population and in 2004 was around 69% (1) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, p 387). From the text and the table, we can clearly see that there are clear signs of "racial/ethnic disparities in coverage"(2) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, p. 387)

Some of the earlier history of America and the reasons why Americans cannot afford adequate health care or are denied adequate care must be stated.

Early medicine in America was influenced by men such as Samuel Thompson, a herbalist who lived from "1769-1843 in Boston, Massachusetts" (3) (Wikipedia). When the early settlers and Puritans came from England in the 1600s after 500 years of struggle with the Monarchy, they brought with them Culpeper's Herbal, which was written by a renowned Herbalist and Astrologer, Nicholas Culpeper, who lived in East London. Of course, the Astrological material was edited out, due to Christianity of that day, which seems to persist today. Many Americans consulted Thompson, rather than drug doctors who used such things as "mercury, arsenic, strychnine, antimony, salt peter (potassium nitrate) which is used to make gunpowder, and opium"- (4) (Wikipedia)

These early physicians who did not choose to follow Astrology or the Art of Decumbiture [from Latin "Decumb" which means to fall ill] were called drug doctors while the herbalists were called quacks and piss prophets. The term quack actually comes from the word quicksilver and refers to the so called early drug doctors and piss prophets refers to those who drew the astrological figure or a sick person, his urine being brought to the physician at that moment in time to represent part of his body.

Naturally, as the advancement of science and the age of reason took hold, herbalists were laughed at and scorned. Men like Galen did not follow decumbiture or astrological methods of diagnosis; however, he was an excellent herbalist. Prophets and prophecy have been refuted and debated since the days of Cicero and Julius Caesar.

Medicines such as herbal medicine and homeopathy died out partially due to "Thompson being taken to court" (5) (Wikipedia) over a patient's apparent death from Lobelia, an emetic used in cough preparations. The other reason is that wealthy families did not want to fund herbal medicines nor homeopathy in America. This included the Rockefellers (6) (Potshot, davidml@telus.net)

In Thompson's day, people would consult herbalists more often than ordinary physicians and his work "influenced more professional medicine."(7) (Wikipedia). The reason this did not happen in England was because during the medieval period of England, King Henry VIII passed a law which forbade doctors from persecuting herbalists. That law is still with England today and Homeopathy flourishes at such places as The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital. Despite its success in treating terminal cancer patients discarded by mainstream physicians, a hospital supported by Queen Elizabeth II who has been instrumental in the hospital's survival, and despite continuing complaints from mainstream medicine, the hospital is still successful. Herbal medicine is regulated by groups such as The National Institute of Medical Herbalists and malpractice insurance can be purchased by homeopaths and herbalists alike. Indeed Rockefeller found "oil more profitable than herbal medicine"(8) (Nelson Rockefeller, Chapter 2, Edward Jay Epstein, paragraph 2).

In America however, we cannot just blame Rockefeller for the problems that surround herbal medicine. At the end of the 19th century, herbal medicine was already in its decline, as more profit was found in drugs due to America's industrial revolution. This period of the late 18th and early 19th centuries resulted in major changes in "agriculture, manufacturing, and production"(9) (Wikipedia). Furthermore, men such as Carnegie preferred research into scientific medicines and "in 1910 appointed Abraham Flexner to complete the Flexner report" which had a "devastating" effect on herbal medicine and its practice. "The AMA was founded in 1847" and only "scientific medicines" would be funded and researched (10) "Chanchal Cabrera The History of Western Herbal Medicine." Herbalists in America had to take a "back seat"

Although herbal medicine has gained popularity in modern America, it is still under the threat of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration. For example, recently, a couple who is marketing herbal medicines on their website, with testimonials, were recently told to "cease and desist" by the FDA (11) (Portsmouth Rhode Island, Sept 10, 2008, Jennifer Toone Corrigan, In Toone Communication). Personally, I have found more people in New Hampshire to be fond of herbal medicine in comparison to the rest of the country. It has been stated that "The Rockefellers own the largest drug manufacturing combine in the world....."(12) (Potshot, davidml@telus.net.)

Modern drugs and medicines do have a place in society at combating disease, but the cost far outweighs the ability of many people to afford such medicines without adequate health coverage. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a meeting was convened. It was stated that: "prevention is going to have to be a major part of the solution for our community's health care crisis" (13) (Proquest library). These people at this seminar met, primarily to discuss obesity. I have found this to be a problem in America and in Asia where a western diet, high in simple carbohydrates, are introduced. In fact, it is cheaper to eat pasta than other foods. Pasta, such as spaghetti, pizza, and other carbohydrates such as French fries play a major role in weight gain and appetite satisfaction. Substitutes such as brown, red or black rice could be introduced, but a daily diet of these foods may be costly to many and is usually not part of the western diet,

Part of the reason for the inability of people to afford adequate health care and proper food for one's diet is due to wage disparity which affects many from different genders, races and ethnic groups. Gender means to be male or female in society (14) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 188). "Race is used to distinguish different groups of people from each other due to their origin in a particular part of the world."(15) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, p. 22). Ethnicity is closely tied to race, however, these terms do not appear to be tied to purely biological differences, but appear to be tied not only to ethnic traits, but to background, allegiance and association. A perfect example are minority Russians, who are citizens of China in Beijing.

(16) www.dictionary.com (Ethnicity defined).

"Obesity causes more than 100,000 excessive deaths in the US each year...."and it has been reported that 32.2 percent of adults and 17.1 percent of children in America, are obese"- (17) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, pages 378, 402 & 403).

My suspicion is that if we can overcome wage disparity and poverty in society, we might also be able to answer some of the health issues. However, that would also mean a diet and reeducation and teach one to explain that safe, regulated herbal medicines are to be thought of as foods, instead of just medicines as is the tradition in China.

"The US has one of the highest rates of poverty among the rich, industrial nations of the world" (18) (Smeeding, 2005, Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 160). The entire way of thinking of most Americans regarding the "American dream", taxation and wealth distribution would have to be changed to overcome this problem. The Lauer & Laurer text suggests it must involve "personal experience" (19) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 171).

Hence, as we may not be able to completely solve or understand the poverty problem in America unless those who are rich, become poor. Even high ranking Police officials complain about the wage disparity problem, so it seems to exist at every level of society, not just the poorest of Americans. For example, the Dothan Eagle news, Glenview, Illinois reported that "Police Officers must take about ten years to earn the rank of lieutenant and is on a pay scale of $45,094 to $68, 827. Senior officers are making $2,000 to $2,500 more than they are"- (20) Proquest library.

"These estimated [disparity] gaps seem to be lower for women, with work experience than men"- (21) (Proquest library.This new type of analysis seems to be "non-parametric" (22) Proquest library.However, we cannot overlook that statement "We feel like deadbeats" in which Marlene, a woman in her late 30s went from middle class, to poverty when her marriage failed"- (23) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 157). (24) As many have "reported wages below the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour"...."more of them were women than men" (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 177). I once knew an American Indian [who I bought a train fair for at Los Angeles Railway station to Fullerton, California] who told me that Caucasian bosses were paying him and his comrades $1.00 per hour, and that they had been living in outdoor shanties and alley ways so they could earn enough money to live on. How long, do we as human beings expect to get along in society when we turn a blind eye to corruption? I tried to stay in touch with "Jim"- and he called me to pay the $5.00 back, but I would not accept it and he was too proud to ask for further help.

One way of breaking this cycle for single mothers in Indiana is "Full-day Kindergarten." Under the "Indiana House Enrolled Act No. 1001 a grant program was created providing progressive funding for full day kindergarten programs in Indiana schools from 2007-2008." This action was the result of a survey taken in 2004 in which the State found that "11.1 percent of all Indiana residents lived in poverty, 15.7 percent were under the age of 18 and 19.8 percent were under the age of 5." Indiana realized this as the passage of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) "presented new problems for the US daycare system"- (25) Proquest library. People on TANF were found to be "eager for welfare reform and were supportive of work requirements" TANF does not completely solve the problem, as "benefits and food stamps "still leave those in this cycle "below the poverty level." "TANF exacerbates the problem as it requires single mothers [who are already suffering from wage disparity] to find work and become self-supporting" (26) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, pages 170, 174, 178). In my opinion "disparity" which is a fancy word for "inequality" (27) also applies to the fact that our country gives "Corporate welfare"- to the "needy"- and the "greedy"- on Wall Street (28) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 175). A prime example being the current trend of Wall Street bailouts, which are exceeding one trillion dollars (700 billion dollars passed in late 2008 and another $819 billion which is imminent as this article is being written (29) Financial Times, ft.com) (30) (CNNMoney.com). I must admit, I despise these so called people more than any other scum on the face of the earth.

This is a terrible injustice, when companies such as AIG are allowed to spend bailout money on lavish parties when I know a single mother with two children, who lost her job, only to lose her new job in two short months at AIG, Taiwan, since the company felt they had to downsize their company due to a lack of profits (31) (dvorak.org, Dvorak Uncensored). There was a report of yet another party in England which followed, yet nothing has been done to the directors who committed these acts. I would go into the argument of prosecuting the Bush administration for everything from war crimes to contract favoritism regarding Halliburton, but it would take us back in history to his Grandfather, Prescott Bush and his association with Adolf Hitler, which is beyond the scope of this article. Its discussion in this article will not solve or answer the immediate problem at hand regarding "Plutocracy."

Education alone will not solve the problem of disparity either, as we have seen among the wealthy class in reference (21) and (22) above. The "Quality of Education is much less likely to be available to the poor" (32) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 184).

Even charity workers in Northern Ireland are paid less than those of the South (33) Proquest library.

Some feel that the domination of America by the wealthy class, and the domination of Northern Ireland by the British has to cease. If we do not solve these problems and give more people a chance for equal opportunity, not just on paper and in law, but real opportunity then the "J Curve theory" which creates "a widening gap between people want and what they get leads to a revolutionary situation" (34) (Davies 1962) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 138, on violence).. This may not necessarily yield results as "The French were experiencing real economic gain prior to the revolution"- (35) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 138). The same happened in the Philippines when Ferdinand Marcos was ousted. People are now worse off than before, especially since they expelled American bases and domination as "overspending in 1969 led to higher inflation and devaluation of the peso.:" .(36) (Wikipedia) Subsequently, Filipinos failed to renew the American leases at Clark Air Base, Los Angeles City, Pampanga and Naval Station Subic Bay, Olongopo City in 199 (37), (38) (Wikipedia) .Hence, if Imperialists, such as the British were, and the American government are want to dominate a country such as is being done in Northern Ireland, then investments should be made not just home rule under the "Good Friday Agreement." overseen by the "British-Irish council"- (39) (Wikipedia) The Irish people are discriminated against in England, much as African-Americans and Hispanics have been in the United States. As for the Philippines; the Filipinos were just tired of hundreds of years by Spain and [an unjust occupation by] America.

A survey was collected regarding "Wage disparities and affirmative action in the 1980s" and wanted to find out if a relationship exists "between race, ethnicity." "During the 1980s, the gender- wage gap narrowed as women's work experience increased." "At the same time, the minority wage gap widened." "The wage gap for women decreased by 7.6%" either due to "less discrimination or women achieving better positions" but did not do so for minority groups as "the battle against employment discrimination has not yet progressed far enough to outweigh other economic changes...." "Blacks tend to be best off in comparison to whites in smaller industrial cities, than in the Deep South"- and "The worst cities in terms of the Asian wage gap are in the North East"- (40) Proquest library.

Perhaps there is no easy solution to these problems we face. However, we can take an example from South Africa and note that "The middle class is de-racializing" and "South Africa's economic managers in both the public and private sector must now get to grips with a different problem-over-performance.....with GDP growth of 5% a year over the past three years." ....."it has taken the economy 25 years to catch up." In this case we can see that the revolution was beneficial to the country (41) Proquest library.

For one and a half decades I worked under the direction of a multi-millionaire who came from a long line of Scottish bankers. During the latter days of our business in Hong Kong he saw me standing at a bus stop and wondered what I was doing there. I explained that I was "taking the bus home."- He told me he had never been on a bus and he did not know the feeling. I told him: "You should try it one day."- In reply he asked me to get in the taxi with him, so I could go to the ferry terminal from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon, where I lived. For all those years he used the "carrot and stick routine"- to get what he wanted. I only received 50% or less of what was promised. Perhaps if not for him, I may not have lasted in Asia for all these years. He is kind in many ways, but his outlook on the world is only from his point of view, like most of us.The struggle we are in today is no longer about "wage disparity or helping the poor help themselves."- The number of poor whites is substantially higher than the number of poor Hispanics or poor African-Americans, but the rate of poverty among whites is substantially lower than that among the other groups"-A paradoxical statement [indeed]. If you are white, you are less likely to be poorer than if you are non-white, but if you are poor, you are more likely to be white, than non-white"- (43) (Laurer & Laurer, 2008, page 162).

For many years, this country has been run by the elite Plutocrats. This will become a class struggle between rich and poor if the problems are not solved now. It can only lead to chaos.

1) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, page 387, www.vitalbooks.com

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomsonian_medicine

3) Wikipedia, ibid.

4) Wikipedia, ibid

5) http://www.potshot.ca/pm/index.php?n=Main.Rockefeller-FarbenTies

6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomsonian_medicine

7) http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/aof/aof2.html

8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution

9) http://www.gaiagarden.com/art/history_herbal_medicine4.html

10) http://www.naturalmatters.net/article-view.asp?article=3766, naturalmatters.net

11) http://www.potshot.ca/pm/index.php?n=Main.Rockefeller-FarbenTies

12) Potshot, davidml@telus.net.www.potshot.com

13)(Fitness & Wellness Business Week, Atlanta: Dec 10, 2008, pg108, paragraph 4).

14) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

15) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

16)click here

17) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com

18) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

19) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, involvement: From Riches to Rags), www.vitalbooks.com.

20) Debbie Ingram, McClatchy-Tribune Business News, Washington, Jan 15, 2008, paragraph 10).

"Gender Wage Disparities" are also seen "among the highly educated."

21) Gender Wage Disparities among the Highly Educated, (Black, Haviland, Sanders & Taylor, The Journal of Human Resources, Madison, Summer 2008, Vol 43, Issue 3, page 630).

22) Understanding gender and racial wage gaps among the highly educated, Haviland, Amelia M. PhD, Carnegie Mellon University, 2003, 172 pages, AAT 3110575 [abstract]).

23))Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

24))Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

25) Full day Kindergarten: A Step Towards Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Indiana, Lisa M. Brooks, Journal of Law & Education, Baltimore, Jul 2008, Vol 37, Issue 3, page 437, 5 pages.

26)Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

27) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disparity.

28) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

29)click here

30)click here

31) http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/10/07/one-week-later-aig-throws-lavish-party-to-celebrate/

32)Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com

33) (Survey finds Irish wages disparity, Emma Rigby, Third Sector, London, Dec 5, 2007, Issue 501, page 4).

34)Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com

35)Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

36)click here

37)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Air_Base, 38) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Subic_Bay

39)click here

40) Wage disparities and affirmative action in the 1980s, Leonard, Jonathan S. The American Economic Review, Nashville, May 1996, Vol 86, Issue 2, page 285).

41) Out of the doldrums, Tony Hawkins, Financial Times, London, Jun 5, 2007, page 2).

(42) It is time to get rid of "Economic Apartheid and plutocracy in America." (Economic Apartheid in America, by Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman).

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1121-21.htm

(43) Social Problems & The Quality of Life, 11th Edition, 2008, Laurer & Laurer, www.vitalbooks.com.

Authors Website: www.ancientsky.com

Authors Bio: Medieval Astrologer, 21 years + experience. Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine including Bach Flower Remedies.

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