How about a thriving working class?

[davidthegnome]

All of this talk about the middle class fires my mind with the knowledge that most of us are on the bottom end of it. That is - to use dirty words... the working class. Lots of college grads, union workers, and people with technical or vocational training fall into this category. There's also a rising number of them with advanced degrees, or people who are over 50 and have had to settle for lower paying jobs due to lay offs, over-qualification, and so on.

It seems to me that this group - as well as the group beneath it (those living in poverty, or "working poor&quot are largely ignored by our politicians when they are giving a speech, or talking about how to strengthen America. For instance, did you know that here in Maine, if you earn less than about 11,000 a year (before taxes) you do not qualify for insurance under the ACA? They tell you to apply for Mainecare or Medicaid - which is becoming kind of like applying for disability - damned difficult, and you will most likely be denied. Our Governor just loves to swing his budget axe at these programs.

Also, there are thousands, heck, maybe millions of people who angrily rant on facebook or political websites - or even at watering holes... that anyone who receives food stamps, financial assistance, or any kind of assistance... should be drug tested or sterilized - and that's only the kinder things I have heard said.

So uhm, guys, while I hate to piss all over the middle class parade - as my family, for several generations, has been middle class... I have to ask - what about the rest of us?

What about a waitress who earns 800 bucks a month? What about the disabled man next door making 600 (without state or federal aid)? What about walmart workers, part time cooks, struggling students? What about fast food workers, window washers and substitute teachers? What about business owners who continue to operate at below poverty level income?

It is apparently convenient for politicians to pretend we don't exist, which might explain (in part) why many of us don't vote. Not since FDR has there been a President or a system in place that was truly ready to talk about, to support - and to rebuild from the ground up... which is precisely what we need for a thriving middle class. A middle class, or even upper class, without a reasonably steady lower working class... cannot remain strong, anymore than a tree which has lost it's roots.

We do a whole lot of living and working and paying and dying in this Country of ours - and all over the world. Isn't it time that someone mentioned us? I think a lot of people are getting tired of not having health insurance, of not being able to pay bills, or feed their children, in what is supposedly the greatest, strongest, wealthiest Nation in the world.

The first politician to make me even suspect they understand this situation and are willing to work for us... is going to get my vote - and a big bag of candy.

[Mass]

1. Poor people do not vote (and do not contribute). At least it seems to be how Democrats think.

This has driven me nuts for a very long time. BTW, one of the very few pols to talk about poverty and working class is Bernie Sanders. Hopefully he will run, at least to put these issues on the map.

BTW, this is also why I feel so mad each time the DNC or the DCCC asks for money in such a demeaning way. For some people, even a few dollars are too much.

[Trillo]

5. Some poor people do vote.

They don't have money to donate, but they do have a vote. All they have to do is get there, or vote by mail.

[Mass]

6. Yes, but the Democratic Party always seems to think otherwise.

[gwheezie]

2. Great post

I currently make a good salary but only because pell grants and food stamps allowed me to go to school. many of my coworkers who do not have professional credentials make 1/3 of my salary and work harder than I do. They support families but also have some kind of assistance from government programs. Drug testing them is insulting. These are responsible grown people with jobs but don't make a lot of money. Who stands up for them?

[2naSalit]

3. It is, after all

one main ingredient in the push to drown the government in a bath tub. This is an orchestrated plan from many years back which most were too distracted to notice until it hurt them personally.

Now we are here and you can bet your last drink of clean water that the lead footed oiligarchs can see the finish line ahead and are mashing the gas pedal like Suzanne Serandon in Thelma and Louise as they speed over the edge of the abyss.


The big question is, will we be able to slam on the brakes before it's too late? It's going to require the vast majority of us to accomplish that task. And we will also have to convince those who wear badges and military uniforms to see our argument as their argument so they will refuse to kill us for taking our country and our rights back.

This is a tall order but it is the only way we will thwart the efforts of those who would enslave us (and are enslaving us already).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Politicians, like bank-robbers, go "where the money is".

The comfort of the rich requires an abundant supply of the poor. Voltaire

[Trillo]

7. The challenge as a citizen and voter is to avoid getting demoralized.

"The first politician to make me even suspect they understand this situation and are willing to work for us."

There's another motive for oligarchy to corrupt politicians. Get them to say one thing to get in office (because the politician wants to win), do another once in office. With sufficient numbers of times, it gets demoralizing. As if, "Why bother to vote, they never do what they promise anyway."

Gotta get rid of Citizens United, and that other one I can't spell, McCutcheon. Also need public funding of elections.

[ND-Dem]

8. K&R