Heroes and idols

Everybody has heroes, people that they look up to and want to copy, emulate.

My heroes are Lao Tzu, Buddha, Jesus, Wyatt Earp, Malcolm X and Warren Buffet, to name a few. I look up to all these guys and try to follow what they said or acted. They make me want to better a better person.

A better person, in my mind, is kind and generous, especially to the weakest, most vulnerable: children. When I start making my millions from my book, Hot and Cold Health, 50% will go to American schools and children, college funds, preschool,  etc.

A better person is charitable, especially to those in need, women and children, and not those who have no need, the rich and powerful.

In a news story, that wasn’t played up to much, Warren Buffet, billionaire, had his yearly charity auction in San Fransisco to benefit the homeless. This year, he raised $400,000. Last year was $600,000. He does quite a few of these projects.

He also believes that the tax system is unfair to the common worker, anyone making below $95,000 who end up paying more taxes, higher rates than Warren Buffet pays. Warren earned $40,000,000+ last year.

He objects strongly to the ceiling on social security, which is presently set at $95,000. He thinks the ceiling should be lifted, eliminated as he believes the rich should carry a greater load than those less fortunate.

$40,000,000  x  .0765 (Social Security tax) = $3,000,000

Warren Buffet, billionaire has no problem paying an additional $3 million to the U.S. Treasury. He has no problem paying higher property taxes, automobile taxes, etc. as he believes the rich should carry a greater share of the burden.

What about the other two American success stories, billionaire’s? 

What is Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey position on income tax? Do they have a position or do they just reap the rewards, tax breaks just like everyone else, George Bush, Dick Cheney, etc?

What is Bill and Oprah’s  position on the war in Iraq?

What is Bill and Oprah’s position on Immigration, Amnesty and the construction of fence, barrier along our southern wall? What was their position on NAFTA?

Do they have a position? Or is it a secret because they do not want to upset the status quo. Jesus, didn’t he upset the status quo?

Bill, Microsoft, MSN has been outsourcing for years to Mexico where the Windows Cd’s are made, and now India. He, like everyone else is going global, to remain competitive,  as he, everyone else can no longer afford to pay bloated wages and benefits when everyone else, Mexico, India and China (prison labor) are paying less.  It’s all about the bottom line which is why jobs are leaving America and why his billion dollar fortune (3-5) constantly grows because he is a better business person and invented the ultimate computer,  program.

Charity begins at home, Are you telling me that Microsoft, Bill Gates can not automatically create 100,000 American jobs @ 10.00 per hour, $40-60 million  per year is a hefty price tag that would hurt the bottom line (executive salaries), but how much, especially if they are paying out $50-100 million in executive compensation. The only people benefiting from outsourcing are the executives or whoever controls the purse string. It certainly is the common American worker who has seen his position, skills eliminated in favor of 20 year old throw away employee?

Charity begins at home. While it is wonderful to pay the world’s poor  a better wage it is also better to  pay a better wage at home. One reason why many leaders of industry want to go outside of America is that other countries educate their children better, especially in science and math. Why do you think Bill Gates is going to India and not Detroit?

Why do you think America’s schools have deteriorated to the point where we have to go looking outside for a better qualified workforce? America use to be the best until its educational system, schools were tossed to the side as money became better spent somewhere else, Iraq, defense, pet projects, pork, all more important than a child’s education unless you believe the crap of ”No Child Left Behind” which ended up pulling a Pharaoh and worsened the graduation rate.   

The biggest joke on Americans is the vote, as most bills, laws in Congress are written by the lobbyists, corporations they represent. Look at the new Democratic Congress. They just tried, unsuccessfully to open up the borders to illegal aliens to flood the American market with cheap, undocumented salary, no benefits labor, the kind that corporations, big business love, because they are all losing money due to global competition so they are going global as owning ten homes, five yachts, etc. is just not enough, so everyone else, schools, children, infrastructure, etc. are going to have to make cuts, tighten their belts, make sacrifices as it takes money to go on vacation, fight a war, etc.

Oprah Winfrey is building her first school in Africa as she is also going global. She has turned her back on America’s school children, especially those who need her most, inner city kids, broken families, etc.

What is she doing to help inner city kids, single parents, dilapidated schools, etc? She has a billion dollars, can’t she take some time out, get together with her friends and try to create a local solution that not only works but can spread national and then global. Start from the inside and work your way out, charity begins at home.

But instead she turns her back on the inner cities because of her feud with rap stars and their glorification of violence, the “n” word in addition to referring to women as bitches and ho’s, which is very disrespectful to all women, mothers. I know that all rappers have mothers. The only way she will defeat, change them is through love, through commitment, structure, carrying and  discipline. There is always a way to succeed. These kids feel no love, attention, money, respect or caring which is why they are violent. They need more teachers, security, money, oversight, etc.

Why can’t Oprah and Bill get together over a cup of coffee or something and tackle this issue once and for all. We don’t need any more forums, debates. We need answers, action that starts locally, from within and not globally, from without.

Oprah and Bill are not my idols nor my heroes unless they rise to the occasion and start spending more time and energy at home. They are like errant fathers that neglect their own family, and who suffers, everyone, especially women and children.  Be a daddy and take care of your duty. Spend money on American children, schools and their parents.  

If you wish to defend Bill and Oprah. Please do so. They need all the help they can get. Did you know that the Dali Lama called Oprah, “stupid”.  She admitted it on her show and to this day remains confused. Are you?

These people need to be better. We all do.

Are you connected?

Richard Heft