Enough is enough

Blogger's note: I am taking a huge risk by writing this. I know some people will find it controversial and some may be offended. If that's the case, so be it. I'm fed up with hearing people moan about income inequality and I've kept my mouth shut long enough.
-----------------------------------------
Those of you who know me personally or have read my memoir know quite a bit about me.
You already know that I have a fantastic geographic pedigree. I was born in Bronxville, N.Y., an affluent New York City suburb and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, which has long had a reputation for being one of the wealthiest communities in the United States of America.
I got a world-class education and graduated from a private, all-girl Catholic School in Greenwich. I have traveled extensively. In other words, I have had an extremely privileged life.
But before you start hating on me, let's get a couple of things perfectly straight right here and now. My parents were not rich, but they worked hard and sacrificed a lot so I could begin traveling at a young age and have that world-class education.
I am extremely fortunate, but I am not rich. After graduating from college and working at a daily newspaper for a few years, I made a conscious decision to devote myself to a career in community journalism. Although I was extremely successful, in more than 20 years in that field, I never once made $30,000 per year. And just for the record, I'm not exactly making millions as an author and freelance writer/editor, either.
In other words, I'm just like millions of other people. I'm definitely one of the "99 percent."
But unlike many 99-percenters, I absolutely, positively refuse to vilify, malign or begrudge the so-called 1 percent of exceedingly wealthy people for what they have. Frankly I don't have the time or energy to resent them; I am too busy trying to survive.
Here's what I do resent. I resent people who constantly moan and cry about how unfair life is, or more accurately, how unfair it is that others are so much better off than they are. Most of us learned that life is unfair during playground fights in preschool. Grow up and get over it.
I deeply resent the fact that the same people who denounce the 1 percent are probably wiling to invest a lot of discretionary income in the purchase of mega-lottery tickets. Let's face it: Every single person who has ever purchased a multi-state lottery ticket wants to join the 1 percent club.
I resent politicians who denounce income inequality and corporate greed after they've amassed their own fortunes as private citizens and happily taken corporate donations to fund their campaigns.
I deeply resent the fact that so many people are so incapable of critical, independent thought that they can't see these politicians for the hypocrites they really are. Here's a news-flash: No one can hold a high political office unless they have personal wealth or wealthy campaign donors. Here's another news-flash: Most politicians will do or say anything to get your vote.
I resent the self-important, self-aggrandizing Hollywood elite who denounce capitalism and income inequality while they make millions for a single movie.
I deeply resent the fact that so many people are so incapable of critical, independent thought that they can't see these pithy entertainers for the hypocrites they really are.
I resent the fact that the guide on the Circle Line cruise that I took around Manhattan last weekend felt it necessary to moan about income inequality in New York City for more than two hours.
I really, really resent the fact that author Emily Giffin felt a need to take a backhanded stab the wealthy in her novel Love the One You're With saying,"To Suzanne every 'rich' person (a term she used derisively) were the same: soft, selfish, and likely 'a lying snake of a Republican.'"
Finally, I resent anyone, in any socioeconomic bracket, who has a sense of entitlement. Here's a news-flash for you: The world doesn't owe you a thing.
Until next time, "That's life..."