May 19, 2011
To Those Who Regulate Wall Street:
My husband and I are 63. We have worked hard in our own small business and for our community all our lives and saved what we could for retirement. But because of the unregulated greed of the financial industry, our nest egg has shrunk. Even our deferred earnings (Social Security) and health care (Medicare) are being threatened, and pensions will be taxed. Although we would like to retire and enjoy our golden years, we have to keep working.
Under the present system the rich are getting richer – 1% control 40% of this country’s wealth – and the poor are getting poorer. This is short-sighted because we’re all on the same boat. The ship of state is listing badly, and when it capsizes we all go down.
“A chain is as strong as its weakest link”, a nation is as strong as its weakest citizens, and the future of all is interrelated.
Please create and enforce laws that protect the many from the financial exploitation of the wealthy few. Restore socioeconomic justice to our land.
Celia Hastings