I do not know exactly where to put this. But I found this situation really interesting. I was called to a meeting this A.M. to assess a guy who might have been doing some work with me. I know enough not to talk politics and absolutely not to disagree with my boss.
I do not think my boss much cares about politics. He has tried to invite candidates from both parties for events to his home. He is probably one of the wealthier people in Cleveland (don't try and figure out as I'd probably be breaching confidentiality).
At some point in this meeting, after this attorney drops his number (450/hr-justified because he was the most smug/arrogant) attorney I have listened to.
The conversation got more general. And I heard That is Mitt Romney's problem People do not trust Rich People . . .
That is right I thought. But I did not say. It fell flat. I believe the woman across from me, a high level exec, but certainly liberal, ignored it as I did.
But I thought about it. Why should we? The person saying this was the same person who I heard say "we shouldn't raise the debt ceiling". Then looked at me like I was an idiot when I said "that's like speculating about what you do the day after you commit suicide.
I thought about the things I know. The reasons I would not trust the rich people that I KNEW in the room.
About how they complain (literally) constantly about the banks. Cry where's our bread, then say we should just listen to someone because they are rich.
I thought about what I know of their backgrounds. No business degrees, college, hard work, and yes success. But there is nothing there other than a speech I once heard due to philanthropic endeavors that I realized the guy really cares about people (although not as much as his capital gains tax I think).
I wondered, is this what the people at the top think? They must. The sub-prime mortgage crisis was the result of un-regulated markets at their finest. I wondered back then how anyone could ever seriously argue in favor of such a stance (as I thought that the near ending of the civilized world would put an end to Republican's main fiscal platform) only to see, no it was because banks had to lend to the poor. Right. Someone needs HBO because they did as fine a job as any.
I thought about it broadly- do we ever just want to "trust" the president. The way it was said it was as if you didn't have four attorneys in the room discussing some acquisition your vote should be 1/2. Let alone "trust" ok he's rich he knows what he is doing.
I do not know now what is scarier; the idea that this is what people at the top think, or the fact that the people who our jobs depend on simply do not even think.
"Trust Romney- He is Rich" it almost makes a great bumper sticker to make me laugh. It's like "Trust Trump" then look into how he got rich. Trust any of the robber barons and see how they (we'll use JP Morgan) got there. Morgan I believe sold a number of "new arms" at the on-set of the civil war to the union. In reality they were outdated, and cost the union a number of lives. Somehow he won the suit (curious). The money he made from selling flint lock muskets from the French and Indian war that cost the union lives, is what propelled him forward.
I am not going to trust any politician. I have seen on here, they do not have what it takes without constant reminders. I do not even trust Obama. I have hope for him, and what he has and will do, but I do not go to sleep with ease because he is at the the helm.
Perhaps what baffles me the most is not just the idea that the Rich, who I dare say no one has gotten to extreme levels of wealth without screwing over someone else, should be trusted. But that their fellow rich think that the rest of the country voting in its own interest will be to blame.
/rant
UPDATE Don't know how to Change the Poll: I meant to say should we trust rich people. I would be exceedingly interested to hear other examples of how congnitive dissonance is the only way the rich can skate by. I think the JP Morgan story is pretty typical, although not to that extent. It is my understanding anyone who has ever worked with trump has gotten completely screwed (see Condos in Chi).
7:17 AM PT: I had an idea about a site I'd like to start re Romney. I want to do it anonymously though. If anyone knows how, pm me. I will fill you in. I'll pay the costs. And whomever really can be admin.