This has been on my mind for well over a week.  I debated about posting something public about it, but when something weighs heavy on my mind for this long I know I need to ‘vent.’

The Huffington Post (along with MANY media outlets) reported on Mitt Romney’s downplaying of how much he earned in speaking fees in a one-year-time-period.  That amount:  $374,327.62!  The article goes on to report other disturbing disparities between our upper and middle class citizens.

To give you an idea of how many speeches an average-priced speaker such as myself (in the field of early childhood education which I feel is a very important topic for our country’s future) would have to give to reach Mitt Romney’s amount,  that number would be 107 speeches in one year.  

Then you get to a show like Shark Tank (which I used to watch faithfully as an entrepreneur and an American with a dream that the ‘little guys’ can make it big with the help of some of the already established ‘big guys’) where a guy like Mark Cuban arrogantly struts his wealth.  It’s not his success and wealth that continue to irk me, it’s his overall “I am better than any of you” attitude and vibes he sends off.  

When he brought up that the reason the VIP table price at an establishment shot up simply because he was in the house I turned the TV off!  Mark, there are people in our country unable to put food on their table, moms who can’t clothe their babies, teachers who take a bus to work to educate the future generation, and YOU have the audacity to smirk about how much people are willing to pay to sit near you?!?!?!  

When is the madness going to end?  I respect the celebrities that give and give grandly.  The Oprahs, the Ellens … those ladies know how to make their money and find ways to share with other human beings some of their great fortune.  I know, I know!  I am sure Mr. Cuban gives to charities too, but do you really think he does so with such genuine hope for helping humanity at large?

Thanks for listening / Gracias por escucharme ~

Boca Beth

P.S.  (Author disclosure:  BOCA the mascot and I were flown to Los Angeles in October of 2010 to pitch to the Sharks of Shark Tank.  It was a fantastic experience for us both!  We were treated very kindly by the entire staff of ABC/Sony and appreciate the opportunity to be there.  We did NOT get a deal.  I recall Kevin O’Leary shouting “Kill the chicken!” meaning “Kill BOCA!”  I beg to differ!  The negotiations were eye-opening for me as the owner of the Boca Beth company, and most of the Sharks that season were brutally honest but kind!  Now the show is turning NASTY, MEAN-SPIRITED, and not full of hope for the small guy to make it big.  Let’s end this madness and narrow the gap.  It’s everyone’s responsibility to pitch in and help our country grow stronger.)

BOCA (Daymond John) attacks Kevin O’Leary after his “Kill BOCA!” comments!