The Misperceptions of Wealth
I was inspired to write this post after reading a blog post penned by my friend Roz – “In Defense of…Orangy County?” This post isn’t meant to support or repudiate Roz’s post. Rather, I want to put on paper (screen?) the transformation of my ideas about “wealth” over the past six months or so.
A lot of liberals (not all, but a lot) see “wealth” as a scarlet letter. The wealthy are automatically classified as self-satisfied and corrupt. They are seen as uncaring about the community, unappreciative of society, and interested only in their own bank balance. More critically, they are seen as brats with fortunes passed down as heirlooms.
This view has been met head on by many before me. Roz, in her post, does a good job of exemplifying how there are those who aren’t absorbed by their own wealth, and those who were not meant to be wealthy the day they were born.
However, after my parents got to know them, and after they told me, I found out that all of their new friends’ wealth was self-made. There is a family who came to America with no more than $1,000. There is another family that went from rags to riches, back to rags, and, once again, came to riches.
The argument is also made that the rich do not keep their wealth by drinking wine all day. They have to work tremendously hard and run small business and large corporations.
Our society nowadays reacts so quickly to the label “rich” and “wealthy” that I think sometimes we don’t give enough credit to those self-made men/women out there. For them, their workdays are nonstop. Their stress levels are constantly high, because not only did they have to and continue to have to worry about everyday life and all that comes with it, but they also have to worry about managing their small businesses, which can be anywhere from 5 employees to 50 employees. That’s a hell lot of people and weight on their shoulders.
Both arguments are very valid. Not all “wealthy” people inherit their wealth, and they work tremendously hard to build and maintain their wealth. So shouldn’t they be spared of the criticism? More practically, shouldn’t they be taxed less and allowed to spend more of their money as they will?
No.
While the “rich work hard to build their fortunes” argument is made repeatedly, the other side of the coin is very rarely talked about.
To equate wealth with hard work by default is a huge disconnect in reality. Yes, the CEO of Goldman Sachs puts in 15 hours a day and manages thousands of employees. But is he really working harder than the single mother, living in East Los Angeles, working three jobs at Walmart, McDonald’s and 7-Eleven? There are millions of people who work incredibly hard across this country – the auto workers in Michigan, many of whom have second jobs; the masses of Hispanics that inhabit Los Angeles, many of whom have to not only feed their families, but send money to relatives back home; the civil servants that keep the government functioning on a daily basis – that don’t wind up with ten million dollars in their bank account at the end of every year. To say that the rich deserve to keep more of their money because they work harder is, quite simply, absurd.
Why the disparity? How does the CEO of Goldman Sachs work hard and earn millions of dollars while the single mother from East LA has to work three jobs to barely survive? The answer is opportunity. Economic disparity in our society is defined by an inequitable spread of opportunity.
Many claim that Bill Gates is the perfect example of self-built wealth. I would claim otherwise. They say that he dropped out of Harvard and still built the largest fortune in the world. I argue that his parents had the resources to bring him up in a decent Seattle neighborhood, send him to an exclusive preparatory school, and then fund his education at Harvard. Even when he dropped out of Harvard to start Microsoft, it was never life or death for him. Had Microsoft been a miserable failure, Gates’ parents would undoubtedly have been there as a safety net. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a huge fan of Bill Gates and his work. But to say that he is entirely responsible for his wealth is betraying the opportunities that Gates had access to through his entire life.
Contrast that with the son of the single mother living in East LA. He is growing up in a neighborhood infiltrated by gangs and crime, learning that selling drugs is the only way to upwards economic mobility. His mother does not have the resources to send him to a private school, so he has to attend the local public school – over 5000 students in a school built for 1800 and not enough textbooks or desks for all the students. As soon as he graduates, he has the choice between going to college or getting a job at McDonald’s to support his mother and siblings. For him, the choice is between an education or feeding his family. He could be as brilliant as and work as hard as Bill Gates, but he will most likely never see the $1,000,000 figure.
Just like every other rule, there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes, a combination of committed parents and childhood brilliance can buck the odds. But largely, it is a systemic inequality of opportunity – the chance to live in a crime-free neighborhood, access to a quality education, access to basic health care, exposure to a culture of hard work and progress – that provides the impetus for progressive political and economic policies.
My take away from this revelation is not to dismiss the humanity of wealthy people. Rather, it is a recognition of the fact that they were not alone in getting where they are today. It is only fair for them to contribute in providing such opportunity to those who do not even know what they’re missing out on.
Finally, consider that the “rich” are called that for a reason. By definition, they have more than the average, and are comfortably stocked with the necessities of life. It is only logical to conclude that, just like any other resource, the utility of each additional dollar decreases for them. When it is a choice between someone being able to buy a yacht (and if bought in California, they won’t even pay taxes on it!) and an entire school being funded, I know where I’d stand.
(What Could Have Been) A New Kind of Politics
Republicans. I hate them SO much.
Let’s go back a few years. I was young and naive. I was new to politics. And I hated the concept of political parties. I don’t know whether it was because I grew up in India and the only thing BJP and Congress did well was point fingers. I don’t know whether it was because I was an idealist (doubtful). I don’t know whether it was because I had no idea what it was like to see a working political system.
Besides the point. I hated parties. Democrats and Republicans. What was the point?!
Then I got more interested in politics. I wanted to make some sort of difference. I wanted to take just a little bit of control of the way our political system governed our lives. And, most importantly, I realized that one has to work within the system to reform it. Hard choice to make, but one that I now believe in strongly. For better or worse, I decided to get involved with the Democrats. The choice was obvious – slight economic differences aside, they were fundamentally closer to my viewpoints about the world, and more importantly, my viewpoints about governing philosophies and policies.
Then came Obama. This is not the post to wax eloquent about Barack Obama. For more on that, refer to two posts ago. But it is important to mention that Barack Obama is a Democrat, and one who won office as President of the United States. A Democrat in the White House. A Democratic House of Representatives. An almost fillibuster-proof Democratic Senate. And to top it all off, a President who believed not in rolling over oppositions with majority of numbers but in working with alternate viewpoints and compromise. Too good to be true?
At first I thought it was. There was no way the Democrats would listen to the Republicans after 8 years of Bush. There’s no way a Democratic President would care about the Republican Party, the same one that produced George W. Bush. But it wasn’t too good to be true. Obama listened. Even Pelosi listened. Rahm Emanuel put away the half-finger and compromised. Certainly, this government will bring change to Washington. Right?
Wrong. Did it matter that Obama visited Capitol Hill to personally discuss his stimulus plan and ask for the Republicans’ suggestions? No. Did it matter that he invited both Democratic and Republican leadership to the White House to produce a compromise that pleased both sides? Wrong. Did it matter that Obama put aside his belief in spending and put more tax cuts in the stimulus package than even the Democrats in Congress were happy to concede? No. A thousand times no.
Every single Republican voted down the stimulus bill in the House. Twice.
Three Republican Senators voted for the stimulus bill. Three. Out of 41 Republicans.
That is disgusting. Not once in the 8 years of George W. Bush – in the 8 years of the most idiotic presidency in recent memory – were the Democrats so disdainful of the American President and so uncaring for the American people. They voted for the Iraq War to support the troops. Debate about the wisdom of that vote aside, the Democrats never completely deserted the political process in such a partisan and disruptive manner.
And yet, in a time of emergency, in a time where more Americans are suffering nationwide than at any other time since the Great Depression, the Republicans care more about their electoral victories than policy to aid the American people. They care more about a national debt (which, by the way, was built up almost single-handedly by one of their own) than the expenditure of money out of citizens’ pockets to protect the citizens from suffering and even death. They’re playing with people’s livelihoods and health over arguments of economics! People, where is the sanity in this?
And that is aside from the economic argument. The wisdom of tax cuts compared to stimulus spending is foolhardy, at best. Government spending and creation of jobs is essential at this time where America needs recovery and investment, and the Republicans just care about giving the rich more money back in their pockets.
There was a time when I hated partisanship and believed in compromise. There was a time when I believed that the political system would benefit most from leaders working together across the nation. But, apparently, there is one group in our country that cannot look past the “R” in their title. They cannot realize that they’re there not to represent the Republican Party, but to represent the constituents that cast a ballot for them. They cannot realize that the American political system is created to promote debate and compromise, not gridlock and stubbornness.
If I, at the age of 19, can go from a desire to compromise to a state of complete loathing for the Republicans, surely there’s something they’re doing wrong! I’m almost at the point where I wish President Obama started completely ignoring the Republicans and using the Democratic majorities to his benefit. I almost wish that Pelosi had the privilege of being able to streamroll over the Republicans’ protests.
I believe strongly in the American political system. I believe that the founders did a masterful job of protecting the rights and opinions of people from all across the nation and from different backgrounds. I just wish that the Republicans realized that they’re part of something bigger than a political party. I wish they’d realize that the American people care more about their jobs and a prosperous future for their children than economic philosophies. And I wish I didn’t hate the Republicans. But I do. So much.
Surprises and Reactions
Happy 19th Birthday Sarah! We threw Sarah a surprise party at Pegah’s last night. Details aside, the entire thing was hugely amusing and very successful. Every word that came out of Sarah’s mouth in the past week was essentially on the record, and used against her fully. Wine, cheese, Indian food…the whole dealio.
But more importantly, surprises rock. I suspect I might have posted about this before, but in typical me fashion, I’m too lazy to check. So I’m going to tell you again about how much I love reactions.
I made this realization a while back. I realized that, almost always, I do favors, help people out, and plan surprises for the fleeting reaction. That reaction. That one moment where the person realizes what I’ve done for them, that moment when their face is pure gratitude, or pure joy, or a mixture of the two. That one moment where they’re blown away and they just want to take it all in. I’m a complete sucker to be this way, but that reaction for me is worth all the work/sacrifice/effort it takes to get that reaction.
So, thanks Sarah. To be a bit selfish on your day, thanks for producing the perfect reaction last night. Utter surprise, extreme happiness, and just appreciation…it was worth every minute. It was just the icing on the cake, the cake that consisted of laughing about stealing all of your ideas for your own party, and knowing that you had no idea what was lying in wait for you.
Oh and all credit to Lindsey and Marlena and Pegah, all of whom did most of the work to put on the party. I was glad to be part of the unofficial planning committee, and to feel like I deserved just a bit of credit for that reaction. That reaction.
A New Belief in Government
Quick side note: I really wish I had more time motivation to blog. I’ve gone from posting every day or two to posting once in a couple of months, which is so antithetical to the very point of having a blog. I will try to write more, even if it requires me to branch out on topics.
President Obama. President Barack Hussein Obama. 2 months and 19 days after the election, 3 days after the inauguration, it still hasn’t quite sunk in. After all of those long years of Bush, all those months of CNN evenings waiting for primary results, all those calls and door-knocks, he did it. We did it. No more “Yes We Can.” Make that “Yes We Did.”
The Obama campaign was an exhilarating roller coaster. It was a year and a half of high and low emotions, both distant and invested. The times when he almost didn’t get the nomination, the times when it was hard to believe his lead in the polls, the anticipation of election results, accompanied by the terror that all the polls would be wrong once again. Fortunately, the fears were not to be, and today we can all proudly proclaim him as President Obama. It feels awesome to just say it. To see him sitting in the Oval Office.
But Obama is not where it begins or ends. Obama is just a symbol of this new generation. Obama’s rise has made me think about my perspective on politics. And how much it has changed.
About two years ago, I had no idea who Barack Obama was. When Barack Obama declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, I had no idea who Barack Obama was. About a month before the Iowa caucuses, I started to think that I might like this guy. By the time of Super Tuesday, he was my favorite for the nomination. By the time of the Pennsylvania primaries, I was positively gushing over the guy. By the time of the election, it was personal. But even after campaigning for him in Nevada, calling people in Missouri, watching him get elected on November 4, and seeing Berkeley turn into one giant party, there remained that small question in the back of my mind: when is he going to turn into a politician and it’ll be more of the same old?
I remember a distinct conversation with a friend about how no intelligent man would ever pursue the American presidency. Today, I can happily say I’m wrong. Today, I can happily say that I have put aside my reservations about Obama showing his true colors and turning out to be a typical politician. It has been a pleasure to see the business-like transition and the first days of the transition – appointing competent people, creating an open and transparent government, reversing Bush’s unreasonable policies, and establishing that America’s ideals are its greatest strength. Today, I can happily say that I truly believe that government can do good, after all. And it is such a pleasure to be able to say that.
Over the years, people have lost trust in government’s ability to do good. The fact that I care about politics at all is remarkable, considering I grew up in the apathetic and corrupt political environment of India. But even people in the United States – the greatest functioning democracy in the world – are disillusioned. Nixon ruined the unbreakable trust in government. Reagan emphasized deregulation and a return to the individual. But whether it is the return of competent leadership to the White House, or the economic doomsday that has made people sit up and take notice, people are looking to government again for solutions.
And that’s what got me thinking. When I started becoming interested in politics a few years ago, it was mostly about ideological issues – oftentimes issues that people around me were passionate about, or big-ticket issues that everyone talked about, if only to sound intelligent. And that’s not a bad thing – it’s certainly better than nothing. That passion was fueled by JSA. In retrospection, the debates in JSA were so superficial and lacking, but they’re a lot more than I could have achieved otherwise in high school, so no regrets. But then college happened. College was good – there were more people who gave a shit about the world around them. I joined the Cal Democrats. It was the first time that I had gone past the “liberal” tag and actually identified myself with a partisan group.
And that’s how I got involved with Obama. While much of senior year was spent following the progress of this guy on CNN, college gave me a chance to make it personal. I went to Reno to campaign for him, ran a phonebank, made calls myself. The political cause becomes that much more important when you’re part of something larger than yourself. And it felt good. It felt so good, that I wanted more after the election. And that got me thinking.
So, after this long-winded regurgitation of my political life/thoughts/career, I kind of get to my point. I think I’ve realized that politics is not just about elections. It’s not just about government and it’s not just about corrupt leaders. It’s not just about power. It’s not just about legislation. Politics is about the people around us. At least in this country – the world’s greatest democracy – politics is so much more about creating a sustainable nation. Sure, elections and getting competent people into power is a big part of it. But that’s not where it ends – that’s just the beginning. Legislation has to be shaped and lobbied for. Messages need to be communicated and explained, from the academics at Berkeley to the soccer moms of the South. Leaders need to be trained, for today and for tomorrow. The community has to be united in its efforts to create a better lifestyle for every one of its members.
One thing that has impressed me about Barack Obama more than anything else is that he doesn’t think he’s the solution to our problems. Instead, he recognizes that the people are the solution to their own problems – but what they need is a leader. A year ago, as a high school senior, I looked upon community service as a resume title. Today, as a freshman in college and an involved resident of the United States, I look upon community service as an essential component of our role as citizens and residents of this nation.
I don’t know whether I want to pursue a career in politics, one way or another. What I do know is that I can never escape politics for the rest of my life. I might never run for office, I might never work on a campaign…but I will always strive to create a better community, to be informed about the course of our nation, and strive to create new leaders.
The youth did not rise up for Barack Obama. The youth rose up to say that it’s our turn – we give a shit and we want our turn at shaping this country. And I want to be a part of that movement. Thank you, Barack Obama. You might not be a messiah, but you’ve inspired a nation to return to its roots and rebuild itself on the very ideals it is based on – hard work, liberty, equality.
A Pat on the Back
Wow. It’s the second to last day of the semester, and I choose now to write my first blog post since becoming a full-time Cal student. I came into college intent on writing a retrospective on the five years of my life on America (still on the cards). A little later, I planned to write about my first impressions of college and Berkeley (perhaps one day). The guilt of never having written those posts, and the promise to myself that I would get around to them eventually, kept me away from writing anything at all. But I’m washing my hands of that guilt. Those posts will materialize in due time, if ever. Until then, the randomness must go on!
With that aside, on to the topic of today’s post: living in a self-congratulatory society. I hate it.
Okay, so that was a bit dramatic. If I don’t hate it, it is something I have definitely noticed more lately. And it annoys me, at the very least. Let me explain…
I wasted an hour of my life today at this thing labeled the RHA (Residence Hall Association) Leadership Reception. Basically, it was billed as a semi-fancy event, where tables were setup for Hall Association members from all over the campus to attend, enjoy free snacks, and listen to a boring speech about how good and terribly important they are to the Berkeley community.
Being bored aside, I couldn’t help but think of how little I’ve accomplished as a Hall Association member. And self-adulation aside, I’ve been one of the more productive “Hall Ass” members, at least in the Unit 2 group. And from the few encounters I’ve had with Hall Ass members from other residence halls, their situation is not much better. So, basically, we get a fancy event telling us how brilliant we are, when most of us signed on to dress up our resumes, find a way to make new friends, or just kill time. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want to take any credit away from the few who work tirelessly to make Hall Ass and RHA effective organizations. But the large majority of us want credit without any real work. Which is why it somewhat disgusts me that we dole out appreciation with very little accountability. Not only is it counter-productive, in my not-so-humble opinion, it takes away from the due appreciation that should be awarded to those who really do give a shit.
But I can hardly blame Hall Ass. Or RHA. Or Berkeley. Or even the American education system. Ultimately, it comes down to our society. Because all of us think we’re just amazing. And we can’t stop telling ourselves that. As long as you rolled out of bed and volunteered to help out with something that you’re not legally bound to do, you’re suddenly a “critical volunteer” and “promising leader.”
I get the concept of “encouragement.” I understand that appreciating people’s effort gives them more incentive to repeat their efforts. However, by billing every small extra step as a step towards finding the cure for cancer, we’re diluting the meaning of recognition. By making 40 valedictorians to increase “inclusiveness,” we’re stripping the honor and distinction achieved by the “real” valedictorian. By patting each and every one of ourselves every step of the way, we’re forgetting that there are people who go miles without looking for credit. We are forgetting that there are people who actually give a shit about results, and not so much about the certificates listing the number of hours that their contribution can be quantified as.
Encouragement and recognition are important elements of a hard-working society. But if we want to achieve real results, and honor the real heroes, let’s spend less time congratulating ourselves, and more time working on fixing real problems.
UPDATE: I somehow forgot to link to the very article that planted this thought in the back of my head a few days ago: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education.
Keeping It Real
My mum forwarded me this. I’ve quoted the whole thing below.
Most of us are familiar with the idea of keeping it real and have an intuitive sense about what that means. People who keep it real don’t hide behind a mask to keep themselves safe from their fear of how they might be perceived. They don’t present a false self in order to appear more perfect, more powerful, or more independent. People who keep it real present themselves as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide, sharing their full selves with the people who are lucky enough to know them.
Being real in this way is not an easy thing to do as we live in a culture that often shows us images of physical and material perfection. As a result, we all want to look younger, thinner, wealthier, and more successful. We are rewarded externally when we succeed at this masquerade, but people who are real remind us that, internally, we suffer. Whenever we feel that who we are is not enough and that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down.
People like this inspire us to let go of our own defenses and relax for a moment in the truth of who we really are. In their presence, we feel safe enough to take off our masks and experience the freedom of not hiding behind a barrier. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a parent who was able to keep it real may find it easier to be that way ourselves. The rest of us may have to work a little harder to let go of our pretenses and share the beauty and humor of our real selves. Our reward for taking such a risk is that as we do, we will attract and inspire others, giving them the permission to be real too.
I strive to keep it real as much as I can.
Earthquake!
5.8 magnitude, centered in Chino Hills.
I felt it pretty strongly here in Aliso Viejo. And it lasted for a while!
After having lived in earthquake-devoid India for 13 years and sleeping through every earthquake for the past 5 years, I have finally experienced an earthquake!
Don’t Leave Me Behind
I wrote an editorial in The Growling Wolverine at the end of junior year. Today, something someone said reminded me of it, and I felt it might be an opportune time to look back at it.
Social relationships are inherently biased towards chaos and confusion. As citizens of a modern civilized society – as teenagers in a predominantly social high school environment – we get entangled in a larger web of social relationships every single day. New friendships are formed and fresh alliances established, but also old connections are replaced and opponents recognized. Ultimately, the root of all social turmoil is the human desire to feel accepted, to feel involved, and to feel loved. This innate human tendency – the necessity of human beings to have a sense of belonging – can manifest itself in a variety of ways, many of which result in little other than “high school drama.”
High school is really the first time in life where an individual become mature enough to form a deep, meaningful relationship. Usually, this relationship takes on the form of a best friend, oftentimes a person that the individual has known for many years – since middle school, since elementary school, and sometimes since the day they were born. However, just as high school produces the perfect environment to develop a friendship that goes beyond the scope of sharing ice cream and gossip, it also has an uncanny ability to enable individuals to turn a blind eye towards people that have stood by them through every step of life, for longer than they can remember themselves. The high school social web has a tendency to attract people to others of a different mentality, who are seemingly able to get more out of life, regardless of the far greater value of the friends they are leaving behind. As impossible as this sounds, it is part and parcel of teenage life. Subtly, but surely, friendships are displaced. Old friends – the ones who identify you for the person you are – are often left behind in favor of the “friend of the month.”
But, at least from where I stand, the greatest evil of the high school experience is the clique. The clique is a lethal weapon. The clique isolates, the clique unites. Try to simultaneously participate in two, and you will become the new object of competition. While this feeling of being a desired companion is extremely satisfying as far as ego-stroking is involved, it inevitably leads towards the deterioration of social relationships. Don’t get me wrong here – I am certainly not supporting the isolation of each individual clique. What I rather ask is: why the clique? High school students should certainly be mature enough to be able to distinguish their best friends from their acquaintances. Then what is the need to separate a certain group of people from the larger part of society? What purpose does this serve besides fractionalizing friendships and creating arbitrary boundaries? My answer stands firm: absolutely none. Take friendships as they come and accept friends for the people they are – don’t choose new friends as a ticket into that group you really want to hang out with.
There is one social institution that, more than anything, makes me laugh. This institution in question is the high school couple. It is not so much the idea of the high school couple that induces the laughter in me, but rather the ideal it represents for a typical teenager. The idea of someone in your life – someone that shares a more intimate bond with you than anybody else – makes perfect sense. It is the perfect solution to the inherent human desire to feel loved. However, the perception of a high school relationship has to be perceived in practical terms. A high school relationship is where we first explore the boundaries between friendship and the next step. Therefore, it is entirely foolhardy and downright pathetic to assume that your first relationship is the love of your life. Every day, I see people invested completely in their special someone – walking to class together, eating together, and spending all their time…together. While it’s a great sensation to feel loved all the time, spare a thought for your friends. Spare a thought for those who have chosen your company as their friend, as their confidante, as their support through the high school life. Spare a thought for the ones you have spent countless months, if not years, with. I fail to understand how one can perceive their new “love life” to be completely superior and worth sacrificing the friendships they have built over multiple weeks, months, years, classes, and schools. A high school relationship, one with a “special someone,” is certainly welcoming, but remain grounded. Just don’t forget that it’s very, very unlikely that this person will be with you for the rest of your life, whereas there’s a good chance that you will be on the phone with your best friend from high school when you decide to get married.
I have to admit that the tone of this article has sounded rather cynical and negative. More than anything, this has been a response to what I witness around me every day. I am not trying to suggest that social relationships are impossible, and that you should give up trying. Neither am I saying that new friends aren’t worth meeting. What I am trying to say is that true friendships are something we build over time, with effort, with dedication, and with a common desire to feel loved. Hanging out with new people is okay, as long as you are not doing it simply because their activities of choice seem more risqué. Starting a relationship – logically on a higher step than friendship – is also okay, as long as you realize that there should be a balance of companionship. Meeting new people is an inherent part of the high school experience – don’t stop now. Just make sure that when you get closer to a new group of friends – friends that you truly appreciate for the people that they are – just take the opportunity to glance back. Make sure you didn’t leave anybody behind.
Awesomeness
Awesome is the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. It was absolutely phenomenal! Heath Ledger turned in a masterful performance as the Joker. The entire movie was incredibly intense, extremely entertaining, and somewhat sad, but very much gratifying. Go watch it if you haven’t already!
Awesome is House, M.D. For the first time in my life, I’m enjoying a mainstream television show, but I have never loved a television show this much. It’s just the best show ever! House is sarcastic, cynical, rude, and incredibly hilarious. The entire show is intense, funny, and unendingly addictive. Go watch it!
Awesome is the new Facebook profile design. It’s much neater, makes it a lot easier to hide all the nasty applications, and just looks cool. If you don’t already see it, you can probably access it by going to www.new.facebook.com. Go try it!
