My Political Two Cents: Elizabeth Warren's Comments and the notion of "Job Creators."

Elizabeth Warren's comments that have gone "viral" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcFDF87-SdQ), challenge the notion that "spreading the wealth" and "shared responsibility" are not socialist, "job-killing," "class warfare."  She fiercely claims that those who have succeeded did so by the help of others--society.  Part of our social contract entails that society provides the means and structure where people can succeed.  Therefore, anybody that succeeds does so on the back of everyone else who contributed to society.  

Socrates, when faced with the death penalty (see Socrates-Plato's Apology), had a chance to escape or ask for forgiveness for his "crimes."  Socrates refused those options because he knew well that he was raised, fed, sheltered, (loved?) among his people of Greece.  He followed and imposed the laws that his own society developed.  If his same society, rightfully or not, then prosecutes him, it would be ingenuine of him to escape that society that he was part of.

In the same manner, it would be ingenuine of those who benefit from US's laws, infrastructure, compassion, culture, etc. to believe that their riches were created in a vacuum, independent from society’s contract.  I agree with Elizabeth Warren's challenge.

However, if we are going to follow this assertion, we must follow it down the rabbit hole.  Not only must we be aware of our codependent social contract, we must be aware of our codependent global contract.  The US could not have been as wealthy if the rest of the world did not support their cause (willingly or otherwise).  The US gained power and wealth on the economic demands of other countries and peoples.  Other countries willingly joined diplomatic ties and U.N. Peace Treaties with the US which allowed this country to prosper.  Mexico and Canada did not cause too many problems for the US.  Instead, many countries and societies decided that the US was a worth-while leader of products and ideals so they followed and enjoyed what prosperity the US shared around the world. 

The US made its wealth on the backs of the world.  Germany and the EU prospered on the backs of the world, including Greece.  More controversially, Israel prospered on the backs of the world (including the Arab world) as well.

As a supporter of Elizabeth’s Warren (I endearingly call her Mama Warren), I admire that she challenged this absurd dialogue among some of the Republican base.  However, her statement goes way beyond and deeper than the current US political landscape.  I hope that she is aware of what her statement entails.