A tale of two worlds... and I forbid you to say, "Yes, but... " in response to the second world.

This is MacKenzie Scott. She was married to the world's richest man, Amazon's Jeff Bezos until recently. She is the world's richest woman at somewhere around $60 billion net worth.

Don't feel too bad for ex-husband, Jeff Bezos. Even though his amicable divorce cost him billions, he remains the world's richest man, having to get by on only $113 billion. If he were to see a one-million dollar bill (not that there is one, because there isn't) lying on the street, it would cost him more--measured in time spent in the effort to pick it up--than he would typically earn for that moment. That's how rich he is.

What does one do with all that money? The answer: anything he/she wants, pretty much.

While I have repeatedly talked about how the most rich have benefitted by every tax break and option in life to increase wealth, which they have, many have shown a benevolent side. MacKenzie Scott has, in the last few months, given $4.1 billion to 384 most worthy causes helping fulfill basic needs for many Americans struggling in these times.

"This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling," she says. "Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires."

Recipients of her 'no strings attached' benevolence include community colleges and universities like Blackfeet Community College in Montana; food banks and meal providers like Feeding America, America's Second Harvest and Meals on Wheels' and other non-profits.

Many billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are benevolent with large foundations organized to donate to worthy causes in the United States and around the world to fight poverty, disease and hunger. Some donate to further their own interests and political influences. Those who have billions can spend without fear of going hungry. It would seem that no billionaire can go broke even if they tried.

That is the world at the top.

This is the world at the bottom as told by one incredibly articulate woman who lives it. 

No writer could tell her story better than she does. Watch! It's just five minutes long-- five of the most real and revealing  minutes you might ever spend. This is Amy Jo Hutchison of West Virginia giving her testimony on February 12, 2020 in front of a Congressional Committee on Oversight and reform about poverty guidelines in America.

Watch here... and don't say "Yes, but... " when finished. 

(you can "skip ads" after a few seconds.)

This is the same America, isn't it? Depends on who you ask. Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour remains unchanged for the last 11 1/2 years. The cost of living has risen 23.4 percent in that same time. Really! We ought to be ashamed of ourselves.