PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: There’s Rich, Then There’s Greedy

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — I am responding to “They’re rich for a reason” (Public Viewpoint, Feb. 1). Yes, they are rich because they are too greedy to pay their workers a decent wage. They could not get rich without people producing their product for them. However, too many of “them” have gotten so selfish and self-centered that millions weren’t enough, they had to be billionaires. So they took the jobs to China and Mexico and Vietnam and India and “Timbuktu.”

Henry Ford paid his workers good wages. Why? So that they could buy his cars. When you eliminate all the good-paying jobs, you no longer have anyone to buy your products. Has anyone noticed all the second-hand clothing stores around these days? Those do not help the economy. The ownersmake money but very few other people do. Retail jobs and fast-food jobs do not pay enough to buy anything. People struggle just to live. They resort to second-hand stores or garage sales for clothes.

They start growing gardens to buy less food. They eat a lot of macaroni and cheese or Ramen noodles. The big-shot CEOs think they are worth more, like the head of a body.

But the head cannot survive without the arms, legs, hands, feet and heart. The workingclass people are the hands, feet, arms, legs, heart and soul of this country. The greedy wealthy few are destroying it with their greed.

And, no, I do not mean all wealthy people are greedy. I am referring to the greedy wealthy people.

All people should be treated with respect no matter what jobthey have. All jobs are important.

All people cannot be doctors or lawyers or actors or CEOs or pro athletes. Someone has to do all those other jobs. It is like the body; you can’t live without your head, but life wouldn’t be worth living without the rest of your body.

The economy in this country is never going to improve until the jobs are brought back. Imports need to be taxed heavily and American companies getting their products made elsewhere need to be taxed to the hilt. If we had not been importing so much for the last 30 years or so, there would be plenty of oil to last for hundreds of years. Products need to be made as close to where they will be sold as possible.

LINDA CHRISTY / Springdale