food for the 1%

Now that I work in the Real World where people go to their offices every day and work like drones until 5 or sometimes 6 and then march home only to wait to start it all over again, I've discovered that office buildings around here throw Christmas holiday parties as a way to treat their tenants to something nice (or in my case, a way to placate us because they only turn the heat on once a week and, naturally, that makes us a little angry). Our building isn't super fancy and I doubt we have the highest rent in the neighborhood. Here is a selection from our menu:

bacon-wrapped scallops; meatballs; vegetable spring rolls; a cheese platter and crackers (with pepperjack, cheddar, and mozzarella); shrimp and crab dip; assorted cakes and pastries

It was nice, but nothing too spectacular, as was the quality/flavor of the food. Now let's look at T-rav's building party, which, might I add, was serenaded by a live harpist:

individual lamb shanks; duck and mango kebobs; a cheese platter (with fancy cheese); mushroom stuffed phyllo wraps; assorted tarts, pastries, and other delectables; an open bar with drinks all around

Let's just say Trav's was definitely a step up from mine. So is his building (in addition to the party, the partners in his company each received a holiday ham). I don't know if they would be considered part of the 1%...maybe the 5% (on a side note, isn't it interesting that 6 months ago, me saying "the 1%" would have had little to no meaning without context, but now it's common jargon for everyone in America! I love how language changes!), but as nice as it is to have a party (and I do like a party), I couldn't help but wonder if the world wouldn't be a better place if they donated all this extra money they have floating around rather than waste it on duck on lamb shanks. Surely the building budgets these extravagances into their leasing prices and part of what makes their building more desirable than others is their extravagance.

I just find it frustrating that so much money goes into a party "celebrating" a holiday that people are afraid to name when there are/were people protesting the economic gap a few blocks away, the national debt is rising, and people are starving in Africa. And Afghanistan. And China. And America.

And this is where T-rav jumps in and calls me a communist.