Main Street Vs Wall Street

DEMOCRACY OR WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF A FEW?

              “We can have democracy in this country or we can have great

                wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t

                have both.”( U. S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis)

             The above quote by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis is the motivation behind the viewpoints set forth in this book. Judge Brandeis was regarded as a great thinker and served the court from 1916 to 1939. His words profoundly describe an age old dilemma for all citizens about how wealth should be distributed in a democratic country and the dilemma has now manifested itself into a monumental problem in America. In fact, disagreement among leaders about how wealth should be distributed was the underlying cause of most major problems the country faced as it moved nervously into the 21^st century.

Now, as the 21^st century works its way into its second decade, the United States has suffered from a lack of leadership that once made it so well respected by countries around the world. Leaders have had many wake-up calls to reverse that decline, but, as will be seen herein, the calls have been neglected. As Barack Obama became President an economic crisis infuriated citizens and befuddled leaders and sent the nation spinning into chaos. Bankruptcies of major businesses, foreclosures of homes, unprecedented unemployment rates, homelessness and people losing life savings, medical insurance and pensions were only some of the essential elements in our society that had not been seen in such turmoil since the Great Depression. The distribution of wealth was, obviously, out of kilter as many suffered.

Media outlets made it clear that Americans were upset with the direction leaders had taken the country. Polls constantly showed that Congress and state governments and CEOs on Wall Street were not held in the high esteem they once were. A new term described America’s work force as Main Street as disgruntled workers of all kinds were

trying to strike back against government and business officials who had let them

down. The chaotic, nerve rattling conditions could be looked upon as a war or a heavy weight fight advertised as Main Street vs. Wall Street. The American dream was evaporating. Main Street was losing the battle to Wall Street and the federal government struggled to find a balanced playing field between the two.

 Leadership in the United States, mainly that of the Republican party under President George W. Bush, had helped tilt the playing field in favor of big business and those in power on Wall Street. This economic policy brought about a concentration of great wealth in the hands of a few that Judge Brandeis clearly cautioned leaders about. Due to the restlessness of Main Street workers, and  near the end of his time in office, President Bush’s popularity with the American people was judged by the news media to be at an all time low for a President. All of this turmoil came about after President Bush proclaimed to the nation in his last acceptance speech on Sept. 2, 2004 that, “Each of us is responsible…to help a neighbor in need and corporations are responsible to treat their people fairly.” He would not have made the statement if employees were being treated fairly. It was like the President was begging Wall Street to be to nice to Main Street.

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