Being reminded by Bill Maher the other night that the top one percent (1%) of Americans control more of this country's wealth than the bottom ninety-five percent (95%) COMBINED, and enduring another recent round of "what's good for the rich...bla bla bla..." rants from a clueless and deluded trickle-down economics "friend," I'm thinking that there's some cosmic-trippin' Divine Intervention happening when I get "A reading from the Letter of Saint James 5:1-6" dropped on me out of nowhere that goes like this:
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one who offers you no resistance.
Ouch. A bit biblical for my personal tastes, but that sounds like a major "you greedy bastards" smackdown, ya think? I do love the "devour your flesh like a fire" line. It top's the Talking Heads "Burning Down the House" by at least a cubit or two...
