How America’s Middle Class Dug Its Own Grave

[jaysunb]

I know this is "elementary" for DUers , but, it may be something simplistic enough to share with those that don't seem to understand. (or are really driven by other messages)

snip
Nobody likes to be told they are responsible for some kind of wrongdoing, but as a collective, it’s hard to argue the American public has had nothing to do with the economic troubles of the past few decades.

What it all boils down to is voting, and how the choices we make in the ballot have led to the fostering and incubation of a system that is not only unrealistic, but also completely unsustainable. The middle class, unfortunately, has to take on the most blame. As the median wage-earners in the country — and also the largest segment — the middle class acts as a buffer of sorts between the rich and the poor. If it weren’t for the middle class, there would really be nothing stopping the poor from engaging in massive protests and acts of civil unrest. It’s the promise of a better future through hard work and education that keeps people more or less in line.


For the middle class, it’s the hopes of one day entering the ranks of the rich that keeps people on the straight and narrow. The idea that we will all be rich one day has deeply permeated American society, despite the fact that it will happen for very, very few of us. But it’s those ideas — that one day we’ll all be on top — that keep people voting for policies and politicians, that do enormous harm to us economically. Why are the nation’s poorest states, like Mississippi and Alabama, constantly voting for the most conservative politicians? These are people who want to institute policies that keep wages low, cut back on public assistance, and only shift money toward the rich. Citizens of those states would be much better off voting for more liberal and socialist policies and lawmakers, but they don’t.

Read more: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/business/how-americas-middle-class-dug-its-own-grave.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3AbozmrDUhttp://wallstcheatsheet.com/business/how-americas-middle-class-dug-its-own-grave.html/3/

[Skink]

1. Reagan Dems

Nuff said

[AgingAmerican]

2. Yep

Now known as the "Third Way®"

[Rod Beauvex]

9. You know...

Reagan won by a landslide, but I can't seem to find anyone that admits to voting for him.

Was it a stolen election, or are most the the past Reagan voters lying?

[Skink]

11. hmmmmm

[Rod Beauvex]

12. I have no idea what you're saying.

They were drunk at the time? :p

[easychoice]

14. IIRC The League of Women Voters said

Reagan conned 18% of the eligible voters in America to vote for him.How's that for a landslide,18%...
He won that election with less than 1/5th. of the peeps.Then his worthless ass strutted around acting like we liked him.
Look at what all the people who didn't vote bought us.

[Louisiana1976]

28. Exactly. They put an actor in the White House.

[easychoice]

31. which left Bush and his C.I.A cronies in charge.

Even moreso after they shot the lazy meat sack.Hello Iran-Contra and the great C.I.A. Cocaine Flood.
I was absolutely furious.

[Luminous Animal]

18. 50.7% of the popular vote. Landslide, indeed. Looks like a squeak to me.

[WinkyDink]

20. NIXON Democrats, 1968. VietNam was the cultural and genrational turning point. My "D" father

became an "R".

[elleng]

3. 'What it all boils down to is voting.'

[jaysunb]

5. Not just "voting"

it's more like , "uninformed" choices. And especially: Hey ! look at the shiny object. (take your pick, racism, meanness, spite etc.)
It's all about ME and MY pony. Very little sense of collective aspirations or needs. Unfortunately, it's what America has become.

[2naSalit]

27. Do you mean...

S-Q-U-I-R-R-E-L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...?

[YOHABLO]

4. No what it boils down to is apathy. And let's not forget how ridiculous they make voting.

Perhaps if they could make election days a holiday, we'd get more people involved in the voting process. How about extending the voting to two days instead of one day? People would like to believe that their vote counts. I just don't think that this is happening. Bottom line is, people are just lazy. As long as they have gas in the car and money to buy a burger or three, they're happy campers. They think politics is bogus and that nothing will ever change. Apathy folks.

[jaysunb]

6. Apathy is a result of false choices. n/t

[Skink]

7. Early voting

Even Texas has it.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Some entire States vote by mail, nothing could be easier. Your State could do that too.

But only residents of your State can make that happen.

[Thinkingabout]

8. Too many people vote for a candidate on one issue and for many it is abortion.

If the candidate says they are against abortion then they get the vote. The same candidate will tell those listening they want to cut food stamps, cut public education, cut social security or any other program which helps the lower income but that's okay. No health insurance to care for he babies born, no funds for birth control. They can say they want to cut the taxes for those making $250,000 a year but that's okay, they are against abortion.

[Ruby the Liberal]

25. I know someone who does exactly this.

Once, I asked if they realized this is why abortion will never be illegal again - because they need the talking point to get the single-issue voters to the polls to vote against their own interests. Person was PISSED at me, but didn't have an answer...

[Thinkingabout]

30. I ask one who had a 12 year old granddaughter should she be raped would she want to

Punish the granddaughter by forcing her to have the baby. The answer was "that's different". I told her this is a very good reason to keep abortion legal and safe. I sure wish they could see past this, at least tell those they are voting for to stop the war on poor people.

[msongs]

10. buying cheap stuff from china nt

[Arthur_Frain]

15. Exactly! But there's more to that too.

Every time we purchased a product not made in the U.S.A. We helped corporate America send our jobs to sweatshops overseas.

Used to be you could make quality products in the states and they were only marginally more expensive than similar quality products made in foreign nations. Then we got hit with the double whammy of the price of U.S. made goods became significantly more expensive, while the quality of the same goods began to move in inverse ratio to the cost.

Yes we did this to ourselves, but it's a little more complicated than just voting the wrong people in. We voted with our pocketbooks too, and now we have to figure out how to reverse the process, but because of who we've voted in and how they've gerrymandered the entire system to protect their interests I'm kind of at a loss for where to start.

[LiberalElite]

13. Absolutely positively nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. And being anti-union.

Because they're brainwashed to believe "I'm a individual, I don't need a union" "I hate paying union dues" etc.

[bonzo925]

17. i think the whole idea of being middle class is simple

and its something both parties can support -

Begin by recognizing that there is no single, universally accepted definition of “middle class” other than a class between upper and lower. But, the older understanding of middle class rested on psychological traits, and these were manifested in certain outward behaviors. The core of being middle class was a strong work ethic, self-discipline, a willingness to defer gratification, an aversion for flashy consumption, and an embrace of what might be called “respectability,” i.e., sobriety, a morality that stressed honesty, a solid family life, being law-abiding, and valuing education (though not necessarily being “intellectual”). These inner dispositions were associated with acting politely. A bit complicated for a definition, for sure, but you knew it when you saw it.

Yes, these traits were associated with material well-being but this prosperity was a result of middle class values, not its defining elements. Nobody believed that the causal flow was reversible–home ownership could inculcate middle-class values. In principle it was possible to be lower class despite owning middle-class objects. A well-paid person may live well but could still be considered lower class if he exhibited lower class behavior and conversely, families could sustain middle-class status by sticking to these outward respectable behaviors even if their incomes certified them as “poor.” Outside of money, being middle class in the psychological sense brought material success. Home ownership, for example, was only the visible sign of thrift, sobriety, and a stable marriage among multiple other conventional virtues.

In the passing decades since WWII, the simplified university-manufactured definition came to dominate. Imagine a presidential candidate announcing an anti-poverty program that entails teaching morality, a passion for work, self-reliance, restraining consumption, etc. He/she would be vilified and probably be clobbered. Equating outward appearance with underlying traits is typical of underdeveloped countries and America is increasingly drifting in that direction. In these societies, possessing a fancy paper saying “diploma” becomes irrefutable proof of being “educated.” “Education” may also be acquired by dressing as an educated person–glasses, a three-piece suit, a briefcase, a fountain pen and similar theatrical props. Translated into current American society, one becomes “middle class” by owning a college diploma even if the acquired learning is less than what was once gained in high school and acquiring the degree required a small army of helpers.

Today’s policies trying to build a “middle class,” absent promoting the core psychology, makes failure inevitable though a financial windfall for those supplying ersatz diplomas. Employers will quickly grasp that the “college graduates” they interview are imposters with little self-discipline who lack the tenacity for tough tasks. If forced to hire them, the employer will relocate or substitute a machine rather than deal with an employee unable to show up in time. In other words, with no effort to inculcate middle class values, “middle class” status is being counterfeited and the shoddiness is quickly discovered by employers.

[Snarkoleptic]

19. Welcome to DU!

George Carlin struck the main nerve here-

[jaysunb]

23. +1 n/t

[hifiguy]

24. More bedrock truth is spoken by Carlin

in those three-plus minutes than in anything else I have ever heard.

[leftstreet]

26. "Prosperity was a result of middle class values" Seriously?

I thought it was good paying jobs

[Louisiana1976]

29. I did, too.

[KG]

22. the middle class has been voting gop for decades. they're getting thier ROI