In the 1970s timeframe you're talking about, wealth inequality began to explode in the U.S. Oligarchs like Musk and Bezos were unthinkable at that time, or at least the scale of the disparity was. I think this inequality is the most destabilizing force in American society now.
I’ve come to believe Michael Moore is a hypocrite and his millions in wealth proves it. Although skilled at pointing out the powerful’s profiteering on the backs of others he’s also learned how that game is played and uses it for his own aggrandizement as you suggest.
Likely, we all agree that the income disparity is the fulcrum where either an inflection or tipping points. Either way, from there, I feel America charts its course toward history's well trod path of ichor and ash.
As I look back to my father’s OK upbringing where his father died when he was a kid, leaving his mom to support 4 sons on a very small Oklahoma farm. He quit school at 13 or 14, left home, and drove trucks in MI in the winter, he went down to Panama and ended up in north Louisiana working as a mechanic at Barksdale AFB. I often wondered how he managed to survive. He was thankfully OK with having fathered 2 daughters and was very supportive of us and really expected us to get college degrees so that if something happened (to the expected spouses), we would be able to support ourselves and any children that we might have. He insisted that my mom have her own checking account from her wages from working at the local bank and they had a joint account where his check from working for the electric power company. That generation survived the depression and men were stoic and women were “string savers”focused on getting on with life. Although he couldn’t verbalise his feelings, when I would say I love you Daddy, he managed a ditto girl. I will never know all of the things that shaped him..but his was not an easy life.
No offense taken. I'm flattered by your thoughtfulness. Honestly, I think my parents were just trying to survive, which they did, but not well. Five of their six children found their way, the oldest could not. I think my parents' Post War story is pretty common, though. But my father referred to my career choice as "them TV doin's" and could not figure out how TV worked because pictures and words could not fly through the air, he said.
Beautifully descriptive, as always. But would you not have given the interview for Fahrenheit 9/11 if you had not received a promise for some type of book credit in exchange for your participation? I'm sure you've been on the other side of that exchange many times.
Fair question, Al. But I had asked for nothing; he offered without any prompting, and made it sound like my book titles would be a part of the narrative and an on-screen super. The inducement was unmistakable, which makes his failure to deliver something altogether different than just asking a source for an interview without conditions.
In the 1970s timeframe you're talking about, wealth inequality began to explode in the U.S. Oligarchs like Musk and Bezos were unthinkable at that time, or at least the scale of the disparity was. I think this inequality is the most destabilizing force in American society now.
I’ve come to believe Michael Moore is a hypocrite and his millions in wealth proves it. Although skilled at pointing out the powerful’s profiteering on the backs of others he’s also learned how that game is played and uses it for his own aggrandizement as you suggest.
Mr bishop you is a good writer too
Likely, we all agree that the income disparity is the fulcrum where either an inflection or tipping points. Either way, from there, I feel America charts its course toward history's well trod path of ichor and ash.
Well put, as usual.
As I look back to my father’s OK upbringing where his father died when he was a kid, leaving his mom to support 4 sons on a very small Oklahoma farm. He quit school at 13 or 14, left home, and drove trucks in MI in the winter, he went down to Panama and ended up in north Louisiana working as a mechanic at Barksdale AFB. I often wondered how he managed to survive. He was thankfully OK with having fathered 2 daughters and was very supportive of us and really expected us to get college degrees so that if something happened (to the expected spouses), we would be able to support ourselves and any children that we might have. He insisted that my mom have her own checking account from her wages from working at the local bank and they had a joint account where his check from working for the electric power company. That generation survived the depression and men were stoic and women were “string savers”focused on getting on with life. Although he couldn’t verbalise his feelings, when I would say I love you Daddy, he managed a ditto girl. I will never know all of the things that shaped him..but his was not an easy life.
What touching story. Sometimes it takes adulthood for us to realize how much our parents really did for us, it did in my case anyway.
Forgive, I never intended to discount your own wisdom in charting to your path!
I understand it well.
It often hard for our parents to understand our decisions. You chose well!
In reality you did just as they did, you just took a different road.
I know they were very proud of you.
No offense taken. I'm flattered by your thoughtfulness. Honestly, I think my parents were just trying to survive, which they did, but not well. Five of their six children found their way, the oldest could not. I think my parents' Post War story is pretty common, though. But my father referred to my career choice as "them TV doin's" and could not figure out how TV worked because pictures and words could not fly through the air, he said.
A beautiful heartfelt story of your Mother and Father and their determination to make a better life for their children and themselves.
People today, with few exceptions have no idea what our parents went through. Thank you
Beautifully descriptive, as always. But would you not have given the interview for Fahrenheit 9/11 if you had not received a promise for some type of book credit in exchange for your participation? I'm sure you've been on the other side of that exchange many times.
Fair question, Al. But I had asked for nothing; he offered without any prompting, and made it sound like my book titles would be a part of the narrative and an on-screen super. The inducement was unmistakable, which makes his failure to deliver something altogether different than just asking a source for an interview without conditions.