I often hear the platitude that everyone needs to carry their own weight, and that there are too many people wanting a free ride. I agree. If only…

If only corporations would pay the taxes that they owe.

If only corporate welfare was ended.

If only Wall Street quit begging for handouts and stockholders quit demanding more and more tax breaks.

If only corporations quit off-shoring jobs to slave-labor countries and calling themselves “American” companies.

If only monopolies quit masquerading as free-market capitalism.

If only Citizens United was overturned and corporations were not given human rights.

If only the rich couldn’t buy the laws of this country.

If only we realized that no one is self-made, that no one “did it on their own”, that everyone owes something to someone else.

If only this country believed in actually educating its citizens.

If only the middle class didn’t have to support the industrial-military complex for the sake of jobs to a few and the endless wars that corporations fuel.

If only these things were addressed then I would have no problem picking up the slack of those few others that might want a free ride.