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Open Poetry #22
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D.Lester Young
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1219
Austin, Tx

0 posted 2002-08-29 03:12 AM


The land of opportunity
Retirements are drowning in such deep sorrow
Loosing billions, Middle America weeps
Losses which cannot be deducted from incomes
For it is tax deferred from accountability
But penalized so bad if you retrieve it
To keep from living in welfare

A 401 program that have been accounted for
To a 50 percent devaluation of the dollar
Creative funding that has build mansions
And bought respect from cash cow politicians
Now everyone says they are doing more for less
For they only have less than 30 percent to deal with

A company paid retirement is probably gone
From the losses of asbestos lawsuits
For the money paid out in legal claims
Will send the funds into a fairy tales
And instead of future profits
They will rob the future of its ex-employees
So Mr. Vice President we are to trust you
Look what you have as a role model

You have paid years into social security
They say that it will go bankrupt
When you will really need it
And your payout will go
For pennies for the dollar

Savings have dwindled in taxes
Because as poor Americans
We can not afford oversea tax shelters
And have to pay taxes on interest
That does not keep up with inflation

So in the land of opportunity
We get 40 cents on the dollar
And get taxed for the privilege
Of a land so blessed that politicians
Now say it is the American way

You must now climb the mountain
And reap the privilege of creative accounting
With bonuses for losing money
Hiding everything in secret accounts
Made from employee and stock holders hopes

In all honesty look what politicians have created
A land where we slave for a future
That is increasingly profitable for others
So we now must work ourselves into our graves

Having to pay fees of this opportunity
While they figure out a way to charge a toll
To get past heaven’s gate into the only area
That truly offers total relieve
For that welfare system is in gifted hands
And will never go bankrupt


Thought: I will be chastised as un-American for using my right of free speech to use words to express the frustration with many here with their futures put in jeopardy by political and corporate frauds in accountability. Some will tear me up and say I am a troublemaker but when has it become wrong to question our policies in a democratic union. In my words that investigate the worst in our country come from that heart of a man that loves it so. For in questioning responsibility of the actions of our leaders is a Constitutional right, even if the means to do it are increasingly controlled by the media and groups that promote for themselves, stifling dissent. Question, in all honesty would you raise your child in the morals of some of today’s leaders? If you said yes, then this country is doomed, for it is our children that will have to live in this mess in the poverty that no retirement can satisfy.

Thought: When did it become so wrong to speak out and not accept things as perfect, when in truth this is a great mirage!!

Comments are welcome email me at davelyoung1@hotmail.com.

D.Lester Young (08/29/02)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Copyright © D.Lester Young (White Eagle poetry)

© Copyright 2002 David Lester Young - All Rights Reserved
doreen peri
Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812
Virginia
1 posted 2002-08-29 08:35 AM


hey!! great phrase, "creative accounting"!!

listen, you don't have to apologize for your thoughts on anything.

political and social commentary make for powerful topics in poetry.

you think people will berate you for being "unAmerican" for this piece? hell, if any American does that, then they'd  be unAmerican because that's what America's all about, as you said... speaking out..

and not only that, that's one of the main job of the Poet..... to present Truths....

thank you for this piece!... you covered the topic well and with a good amount of appropriate frustration and honesty.... i like that in a poet

RSWells
Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

2 posted 2002-08-29 08:51 AM


You certainly won't be chastised by me. This country has changed to a place of peeling paint, empty storefronts and average folk nursing along older cars. These same salt of the earth Americans who proudly display their flags while the barons of energy (read pollution) and deceit live large. A war on a handful of terrorists, soon exhausted will be rejuvenated to include an old Bush enemy, Saddam and just in time for a sorrowful anniversary indeed. A needed reproach this. Poets lead the way!

[This message has been edited by RSWells (08-29-2002 08:52 AM).]

Zall
Member
since 2002-08-25
Posts 214
London, England
3 posted 2002-08-29 10:17 AM


Think you got it bad,
Try living in the UK,
Same SH*T, No Sunshine!


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