Satirical Booyah

For those of you who aren't comic book geeky, the above image is based on the first issue of Action Comics. Action Comics debuted in June 1938 and featured Superman's first appearance. The rest, as they say, is history.
Superman has changed a lot over the years. The comic book publisher has trotted out many tricks to try and keep the character fresh and relevant. Even people who have never read one of his comics know who he is and what he stands for. The character is just that iconic.
What makes the character so well-known is that it has appeared in radio, TV and movies in various ways since Action Comics #1 appeared on newsstands. No matter what actor portrayed him, it was still about a guy who worked as a reporter as a day job and when action called, he took of his disguise (a pair of glasses and a dress suit) and showed who he really was: Superman. Superman would then take off and fly to stop evil from happening or to save someone. All the while, he fought for Truth, Justice and the American Way.

It's been almost 70 years since the character first appeared and the publisher still makes money off of the character. He's still around and still of interest to those who read comics, watch TV shows based upon him or who are waiting for the next movie featuring him. He's a cash cow.

The comic book publisher is DC Comics. They've been around almost as long as Superman. Some decades ago, they were bought by what was then Warner Communications. At the time, Warner Communications was a multimedia conglomerate. Movies, TV, Records and Publishing. Since then they've become one of the largest corporations in America. The own everything from Superman to Bugs Bunny to Time magazine to AOL. Nowadays the firm is called Time-Warner, Inc..

The Chief Executive Officer is Richard Parsons.
Like most C.E.O.'s he's quite well-off. In fact, he's one of those guys who could be fired and would get a golden parachute to break his fall. That gilded safety device would like be a severance package worth millions of dollars. Yes, Parsons, already likely a millionaire would be fired for doing a bad job and would get millions more as punishment. He's of a different class than most of us.

Despite his wealth and his being well-connected, he really only needs Superman for the money Superman brings into his company. If he were ever in need of financial security, well, he can afford it. He could quit his job right now and never have to work again. C.E.Os--well, the ones who aren't in prison or headed for prison--have the luxury of knowing their security is safe; their futures are sound. The rest of us could use the help of a Superman every so often. Too bad we can't always afford one.

In May 2001, Parsons was chosen by President Bush to co-chair a commission to look at the future of Social Security. He accepted this obligation with relish because he is a proponent of privatizing Social Security. In fact,
many of the people involved in the commission, from members to staffers were aligned with the CATO Institute's decades old policy of ending the near 70 year old program* and forcing workers to use private, market based retirement accounts.
(*For some reason, that link to the Social Security Administration's site will want to place a cookie on your computer called "ForeseeLoyalty_MID___________" I guess it is up to you to make the call on accepting it or not.)

In a time when American workers worry about their jobs being outsourced overseas, Parsons is one of those millionaires who lament that there won't be enough American workers to fund Social Security in the near future. So, why isn't he, or any person who wants to reform Social Security, including and especially President Bush talking about creating more jobs here at home? They do have that ability; they are all well-off and well-connected.

Are they truly concerned with the future of workers' retirements if workers' pension systems are being eliminated across the country? Are they really concerned with the financial well-being of the average middle-class American if they loosen restrictions on corporations and employers responsibilities to their workers? Do corporations really have the average workers' best interests in mind when they try and make it harder for people to make ends meet, like with this bankruptcy reform legislation or denying cheaper prescription drugs or limiting when and how people can sue to reclaim damages from medical mistakes?

No. They don't really care about workers or consumers or citizens. They don't have to care; those people are already set for life no matter how bad it gets for them. Like Parsons or like President Bush, most in Congress are millionaires. They only need to work for about 4 years at their jobs and voila, they get a pension. They get retirement security. So, like a C.E.O who loses his or her job, they really don't have to work again if they are fired from their jobs.

While you or I need a Superman to get through tough times, the people who don't care about your tough times--those who want to reform Social Security and reform other consumer-friendly laws-- would prefer that you spend your money ensuring their financial well-being, their retirement. It is like the corporations who back Social Security reform are interested in not helping people, but, in making Kryptonite for the middle-class and the poorer people of America.

You know, what gets me? We let them get away with being more like Lex Luthor than like Superman. Every day we get more Half-Truths, InJustice and the Corporate American Way.

You know what you should do? Express yourself to your congressperson. Tell them that you think your, your friend's and your families futures matter. Tell them you don't want them to make it more difficult for you all. If you don't do that, they will just keep making Kryptonite. It won't matter that you play by the rules when the rules are being changed to make it more difficult for you to get by.

Print this out and cut out the coupons. Give those coupons to your friends.
This year, stop your pathetic whining about not winning and realize that there are
millions of others out there who are just like you. All of you voted for the other guy.
The vote was statistically close.

(edited to be less preachy)