Capitalism Is What Made America Great

"Capitalism is what made America Great", was one of the campaign slogans that the Republican Flushing District 20 City Council candidate, now councilman-elect Peter Koo, repeated again and again once he finally began to attend the campaign forums. It's one of those cliches that don't get explained because it's assumed that its so obvious that everyone understands it. Once you accept the cliche, then your mind must make the leap that capitalism made America great, Peter Koo is the biggest capitalist running in the race, therefore, capitalism has made Peter Koo great. The next leap is since capitalism has made Peter Koo rich -- er, great - that by electing a rich man you will somehow share in his riches or greatness.

He told a classic story of "rags to riches" -- he came from Hong Kong to the United States with little money in his pocket, and was able to work his way through college at Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds, and become a pharmacist. I think that feat alone qualifies for greatness. To arrive without English language skills and find a job that many already here are competing for, is great. To take that low wage job and not only pay his rent, buy food (well maybe he ate at Dunkin and McDonald's) pay carfare, is great; but to pay for an university education with it, to become a pharmacist -- the mind boggles at his greatness. Forget Warren Buffet. If Mr. Koo can just share this secret, the poor and the working class of Flushing can find a way to remain here after all. From empty pockets to five or six pharmacies. How? There have been other Chinese pharmacists, and Chinese drugstores. What is Peter Koo's secret for success, that he thrives even after two Duane Reades open in the community? Yes, there is his personal charisma and the care he shows his customers; but he is not a boddhisatva that can appear in all six stores at once. If it's hard work alone, then every waiter would become a restaurant owner in a few years; every construction worker a developer, everyone earning money with a mahjong tables in their livingroom would become casino owners.

So far, it hasn't happened like that in Flushing. Those who work hard for low wages continue to work hard; those who have attained the middle class life are often a few paychecks away from poverty should they have a health crisis or be laid off. And it's not just Flushing -- never was there a time when so much wealth in New York City itself has been funnelled upwards, under the leadership of our billionaire Republican Mayor Bloomberg. Never has the divide between the rich and the rest of us been so wide.

How did we get here? Did capitalism REALLY make America great -- or did it make a select group rich? Does rich = great? Are your financial woes connected to their financial success?

Did the stolen land of the Native Americans and the free labor of slaves for hundreds of years, have something to do with the success of capitalism in America? Is there a similarity today, to the "ruling class" of Flushing, and the underpaid labor of the undocumented workers? Would the wealthy Chinese in the community be as wealthy if they had to pay their workers the same rates that American workers would get for the same job?

Republicrat Flushing

It's finally over. No more candidate forums with Yen Chou's rude and screaming volunteers. No more freebie meals in classy restaurants from Peter Koo. No more private meetings with the Associations, no more private donations, no more sniping and mudslinging, no more lying campaign literature, no more grins in the face and stabs in the back.

Then again, maybe its just the beginning. Maybe its not over, its just that part one of the show has ended and part two will begin with new actors. The voters, well you can get off the stage and go back to your life now; you won't be needed except for a few photo ops during the year when the politician appears at your group's breakfast or banquet (this time you will be feeding them for free). He won't be knocking on your door anymore. You will still see him on Main Street because he has businesses there.

You are going to continue to see the big expensive buildings go up. And as those buildings bring in thousands of more people you will see more dirt and filth from that increase; your schools will be more crowded, the traffic will be even slower. I predict there will be more "big box" stores and the new official will take credit for "bringing jobs to the community".

Unfortunately, these low-wage jobs will not pay enough for you or your kids to live in Flushing, unless you are able to adjust to the new "quality of life standard" that is becoming more and more widespread here. More little landlords will rent apartment space to others, even if its a studio. If you are lucky enough to own your home, prepare to rent out your basement, living room, whatever you can, to meet with the rising costs of life in Flushing.

The campaign bribes and the backroom deals may continue, but not with you. You no longer have anything that is needed -- until the next election.

The candidates remind me of the three Soong sisters.

One loved power, one loved money, and one loved the people.