The greedy trample on the needy

By James Clingman

 "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." — Ecclesiastes 5:10

In recent history, there has been no better time than now for us to see the chasm between the so-called haves and the have-nots. We are witnesses to the biggest rip-off since the Great Train Robbery. As if Halliburton and all the rest of the Iraq war crooks were not enough, the bar has been raised even higher now with the housing/mortgage/banking crisis.
A couple of years ago, folks were making so much money via unethical and illegal means that they must have thought their gravy train had no caboose. Now they realize that the light at the end of the tunnel was that of an oncoming train.
I have long been amazed at the arrogance of the powerful and the greed they display in their endless quest for filthy lucre. Anything goes. No holds barred. No rules. No ethics. Many of those who benefited tremendously from their financial shenanigans, making billions of dollars along the way, are now wringing their hands and whining about how we have to fix the problem they created.
Yes, we do need to fix the problem; but all indicators point, once again, to the fact that the needy will suffer because of the misdeeds of the greedy.
How long do you think this country will be able to get away with the way it treats and mistreats those most in need? How long will we last under corrupt, money-grubbing, profit-at-any-cost shysters and politicians who couldn't care less about our children's future? How long will America survive, perched high upon its throne of world leadership, if it continues to arrogantly thumb its nose at "the least of these"?
Over the past decade, we have seen some of the worst behavior by some of the worst characters, perpetrated upon those who can least afford another financial blow in their lives. Greedy corporate executives who rape and pillage their companies get away with their dastardly acts with a bundle of cash in their bank accounts, while the needy watch their 401(k)s deflate. Greedy political insiders cut deals and structure contracts that fatten their pockets, while the needy try to figure out how to pay the rent and stay warm this winter.
If these are not signs of societal decadence in its highest form, I don't know what is. Right now, no one, virtually no one, is running this country. George Bush is an afterthought to most folks in Washington and around the world; Cheney is living out his "bunker mentality" only God knows where; Cabinet members are shopping their resumés to find that next job; and Congress is too busy with one-upmanship as members jockey for position in the next administration. In other words, brothers and sisters, we are definitely on our own.
The greedy are certainly sticking it to the needy, and most of us feel like there is nothing we can do about it. Well, there are things we can do about it. We have to muster up the will to act on basic economic principles to protect against economic predators and the hazards of being dependent on folks who have no interest whatsoever in our well-being.
That old adage spoken and implemented by our elders, "Do for self," rings even truer now. Black people are at the mercy of those who own the resources of this country and the world; we are too dependent upon the largess of folks who see us only as a group to pacify and dismiss; and while the elitists among our people continue in their reveling and conspicuous consumption, much of which is mimicked by our youth, collectively we are caught in a downward spiral of economic despair.
In light of the tremendous amount of resources we have at our command, both financial and intellectual, we can do more for ourselves by working closer together and sharing those resources with one another.
Black people across this country should set up bartering groups through which goods and services can be traded instead of being purchased with U.S. dollars. It makes sense that if the value of the dollar is dropping, we will need more of them to purchase the necessities of life.
How do we get more dollars? Barter a portion of our goods and services with one another. Especially now, in a time of financial uncertainty when banks are on the ropes, Black folks should form collective banking group chapters across this country and leverage reciprocity from the banks that we often complain about.
Churches must get together across denominational lines and beliefs to take care of their business. It makes no sense to complain about anything that you are not willing to do something about.
Black folks should establish their own investment pools and loan funds, in order to create and grow Black businesses. How can we expect to advance in this country if we don't create and maintain jobs for our children? Are they to grow up and continue the cycle of seeking jobs from others, rather than creating jobs for themselves and their peers? It's one thing to rail against the greed and corruption that has overtaken this country; it's another thing to act appropriately to take care of ourselves, despite the actions of the greedy.
Collectively, we have already demonstrated that we can do whatever we want and need to do. The lessons are there for us to use over and over again. We must follow them.
The greedy will continue to trample the needy — if they are allowed to do so. It's time to rally around the economic principles that led our ancestors to own and control economic enclaves all across this country. Get busy!

James E. Clingman, an adjunct professor in the University of Cincinnati's African American Studies Department, is former editor of the Cincinnati Herald newspaper and founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce.