The State of the Middle Class

[TheRobin3212]

Such a terrible loss for the true Progressives of America!

[BT4free]

search youtube fairtax, solution for the middle class

[criticalsection]

Historically, the 3 "classes" were defined as upper class inherited their money, middle class earned their money, and lower class existed on the charity of others. The more people you have earning their money the better.

[TheRich0000]

Do you feel that the public took advantage of the businesses by practicing "predatory purchasing" tactics.

Each party played a role, but one party certainly had more impact on the actions of the other party. The question is, which party do you want to help support while we get out of this mess.

[TheRich0000]

All Americans, as well as American businesses, have put us in this situation. The is a large amount of personal debt that all Americans are carrying and need to pay off. This debt build up over many years, and even transformed from secured debt to unsecured debt.

No recovery will be lasting until the public pays down their debt, regardless of what any politician tries to do.

[Volomonoh]

Public education is worse because of a total disconnect between affordability, objective and devotion and the subsequent bureaucratic displacement in which soo many resources and capital are wasted. The problem is government intervention and my principle making over a hundred grand and driving a Mercedes while I sit in an old, tarnished desk.

[msrebelnardcore]

@Volomonoh Principal (I learned that from "Grease" when I was 10 y/o).

[qwertypoiu4321]

Class warfare is just an empty misdirection to demagogue the poor and promote coercion.

[john51880]

I don't question he means well. But when he uses the term "Middle class" I am saddened because I know he it committing economic discrimination against high income earners. Class war fair is low rent. Why not tax every earner at the same % per $? Because he likes spending beyond what should be fair. God forbid government live with in there means!

[afewtube]

The question that intrigues me is, how do you create, or re-create, a middle class?

The answer might be, you have the right kind of economy for this and\or the right kind of taxation system for this..

We might have to look at the emerging economies such as India to find the answer. It has a middle class, not a wealthy middle class by Western standards, and its economy is not as technologically advanced as Western economies.

Even so, it does have a middle class.

How does it do it?

[candoyja]

It would not be the coming of Jesus that would threaten the world. It would be revolts or protests from people who worked hard but could not pay for things, like increasing rates of medical insurance and living expenses and decreasing benefits and wages and salaries.

[afewtube]

I find it interesting that an American is studying the English civil war, even more interesting that you say you aren't taught much about it.

I'm English and of course studied the civil war at school. We were taught that the King believed that he ruled by divine right and because of this Parliament took up arms against him.

There was a thriving middle class in this period; many of the officers in the New Model Army were middle class, appointed on ability rather than aristocratic connections.

[biancademonet]

@afewtube In the USA continues on its path, our second Civil War is inevitable. And woe to the Domestic Axis of Evil(plutocrat, Theocrat, Corporatist) will face a dire fate. Oppress the masses long enough, they rise up in righteous fury against their oppressors. The sound of "Off With their Heads!" will resound across America, much as it did in England in the mid 1600s....

[afewtube]

@biancademonet Your comparison between the English civil war and the American economy is interesting.

The English civil war was a political war rather than the kind of economic war that you might be thinking of, because of your economic situation in America.

Even so, as you say, there are similarities.

We wanted democracy, democratic justice, and to make sure that we got it we killed a King.

You want economic justice and to get it you want to kill or at least control 'corporatism.'

[biancademonet]

@afewtube In our nation we have our own aristocracy consisting of Corporate, Religious, and Plutocratic interests, when they abuse the masses for too long and the average citizen feels he/she has nothing left to lose , the rebellion AGAINST the "Have Lots" by those they have exploited will begin and I have ZERO SYMPATHY for them as it will be their just reward for their crimes against our Republic

[afewtube]

@biancademonet

Let's keep in mind that there's a big economic difference between killing a King and killing corporatism.

A King has no economic value, but corporations do.

They can, in the right circumstances, create jobs, including middle class jobs.

The question is, what are the right circumstances?

This is a question for America that only Americans can decide.

[biancademonet]

@afewtube The only downside of Cromwell was that he was a religious extremist. Under Cromwell the Puritans BANNED anything they deemed "sinful" until their tyranny was in turn overthrown...what a lot of people do not know that the Roundheads replaced Royallist tyranny with their own. It took further struggles to first limit the English monarchy's power, then break the back of wannabe theocrats like the Puritans. We in America are STILL suffering the effects of the Puritans....

[chisler000009]

What a guy. This guy is a huge asset to the government of America. And it's true, the States have been shitting on their middle class for some time now.

[thesparitan]

We are going to be mexico soon

[ninemen123]

What's better about America in my view compared to here in England, although I suspect Obama may fuck it up for you is: In America there are winners and losers, you see poverty, you see people unable to get operations without medical insurance, you see people starve; whereas we don't see any of those things, but we have no winners either, we live in a state of communism where no matter how hard you work, you're taxed to pick up the slack and end up the same as the lazy cunt down the street.

[Finallythankyou]

@ninemen123 When you win. A dude comes and nocks on your door and says "I'll protect you from danger for $... Fucked up. America is italy. That's why we have soo many gangs, biker gangs, mobs, counter mobs, klans it's crazy. Youre taxed by the gov. and the gangs the gov ignores because they are taxing the gangs. 16000 murders a year that's 1 every 32 seconds. So nobody starts business and if so cooperate/gangs eats it up. Top 1% have like70% of the $

comm. sucks too no doubt.

[ninemen123]

@Finallythankyou We're not actually communist lol, I live in England, but our taxation makes yours look like a joke How would you like to pay 9-10 dollars for a gallon of petrol, or 40% income tax, or 12 dollars for 20 cigarettes, or 17.5% on anything you buy, or 18% capital gains tax on the sale of your second house that's just the beginning. The price it costs for an employer to keep an employee in work is insane, pays the government, then the employee pays them, try starting a business here

[Finallythankyou]

@ninemen123 Good day. I meant 1 every 34min or some shit.. I think they both suck. Socialism sucks too 40% is crazy. I think it's all about the size of the tax. 7% for police army and health sounds nice what do you think. we pay 30% and spend the money on politicians. Don't let anybody tell you welfare is big if you don't know all ready. It's so small you couldn't put it on a pie chart. America is like that show rome on hbo.. or whatever you have. If you have an army youre good... maybe.

[Finallythankyou]

@ninemen123 I know you guys are not Commi's I just wanted to take it a bit further lol It's been time to trade something without help from the government. Only I have noticed that you need an army or gang in this country. My friends think I'm crazy. When I say lets start a business they are scared shitless because they know it means battling very rich people who notice you quick. I like the low taxes, though it really is fucked up. we have more homeless people than vacant houses lol.

[ninemen123]

@Finallythankyou Yeah mate but that's what I mean, people do lose out, there is no healthcare and there are more homeless in the US, but people do have the opportunity to make it through entrepeneurial skill, and that is far superior than all of us being in the middle.

[Finallythankyou]

@ninemen123 Not anyone living today,but.. you try to tellilng the people that England funded racism to kill off America only the whites get upset.. Why get upset?.. Your off the hook..This happen in the 1800's.. blacks explain.. we still have a system that can make who ever you want poor if not that politicaly void.. An old Roman system. It's secret. It employ's millions. It's genius. It's sucks. It's what Robert Kennedy Jr. calld Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor.

[Finallythankyou]

@ninemen123 I've just started my research on the PEOPLE of England and I see that the American revolution really started in England. I didn't mention that it was the Royalist who pushed racism btw. When the people of America and England Canada start woking together I guess....Over here they didn't teach us S&^% about the English civil war and when I talk to these fake ass old money Capitalist they act like it never happened? Matter of fact they don't want to talk politics at that point hmm??

[biancademonet]

@ninemen123 last time I checked England was a democratic constitutional monarchy..NOT a Communist dictatorship...the "RIGHT" as usual...IS WRONG

[ninemen123]

@biancademonet People are so frightened to touch the NHS it stays in place even though eveyone knows it's a waste of resources, I like many others have never used that system but we pay into it all our lives.

[arzoyan]

Capitalism is the wage slavery of immense humanity in a politically manipulated MARKET SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY to perpetuate wage-slavery/exploitation in the interest of a tiny elite ruling class across the world. We have the Choice of Sharing the Earth in cooperation for our common needs and well being. We have all the means for plenty in harmony. We are emotionally manipulated and our reasons controlled for a world of MINORITY CONTROL AND DOMINATION.

[arzoyan]

The historic tendency of capitalism is concentration and accumulation of capital in the hands of fewer and fewer capitalist and increasing misery and needless suffering of immense humanity .

[hyperseauton]

I like this Weiner fellow. Looks a bit like the dad from "Full House".

[Nezahualcoyotl7]

How many US citizens belong to the lower and middle class?, and ho many to the upper class?

[CorisDavis913]

Why's he holding the mic like a creep?

[sz42781]

Because your probably used to a uptight, old, crusty, hypocritical, bullshit artist who doesn't have a clue, at the mic. He's a little more down to earth. "Just pay attention to the topic, the mic is really of little importance".

[CorisDavis913]

Still creepy.

[WarrenERock]

As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed...God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless. ~ Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Col. Wm. F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864.

[AlanCom1]

Mr Weiner is the champion of bullshit, as if somehow, the middle class feels less secure if there are rich people around.

It is obvious however that the government tries as hard as it can to protect the rich by erecting ever increasing taxation for those who want to go from upper middle class to upper class. So why work hard, when the govt taxes the bulk of your income.

2) Houses are expensive because the city does not allow taller buildings in some places (remember zoning laws).

[catgumart]

I think we should find ways to get rid of class, or if it has to exist then sand down the mountains as low as possible and with that dust fill in the valleys..metaphorically speaking..make class as compact as possible and find healthy ways to distribute energy,money etc..

[Chokula99]

Middle class is what makes the difference between the way Americans live and people from Mexico where the middle class is almost inexistent. if America loses the Middle class then the ones who will be jumping the border are the Americans not the Mexicans,off course some tuxedo people want America to come back to the Industrial Revolution a handful of landlords and an army of Industrial slaves thats their goal bring America back to the Rockefeller era.

[EasyEs]

The problem is the entitlement people in the United states have. They think that they are entitled to a full time 100k a year job with a giant house with a simple collage education. Never mind the fact your collage education was in Lesbian Art Studies with a minor in African Languages, but you deserve to have the government take money from others and give it to you.

[Bravesfan4500]

@EasyEs Yes CEO'S and big bankers on Wall Street have an entitlement that they can gamble peoples pensions, savings, use credit default swaps, derivatives, destroy their companys and receive a golden parachutes, and destroy the global economy and receive a taxpayer bailout. I think you are looking at the wrong people buddy.

[EasyEs]

@Bravesfan4500 Hey nutcase the same financial products existed in the Canadian banking system in which I have worked. They didn't lead to financial ruin, the difference was that the Canadian government under the Liberal Party never mandated the creation "assets" or spent a decade tinkering with the financial markets to keep financial institutions holding these while GSE's raced to buy them up.

If you want a big pension you pay into it or you take risks to get high returns. No other way..

[jobedied]

America elected George Bush two times we get what we want .

We always believe the liar. Anyone who tells the truth will never get elected a political truth.

[randy95023]

China and India now graduate more Engineers (Mechanical/Software/Electrica­l) than the U.S. does each year. Their education system is now almost equal to ours AND their graduates or possibly more qualified than ours. Did I mention that Chinese/Indian Engineers will work for compensation packages equivalent to an American Janitor?? Competing in the global economy is the death of the U.S. middle class and "Protectionist Solutions" are merely a postponement of reality.

[randy95023]

In a "world economy" the U.S. is gonna have to get used to a declining standard of living. Blaming the "rich" isn't going to change a d@mn thing but if it makes you feel better to have a scapegoat go ahead...

[CenterLeftLiberal]

Very insightful indeed. It is the gap between the top 1% and everyone else that is cuasing the great injustice (and inefficiency) that is plagueing American society today.

[legodude10000]

the exercist is better than this

[heinleinb]

All of our representatives should have this level of insight.  Thank you.

[FartheadOgre]

The Weiner's hate the working class Irish who look up to JFK. Watch how he says, "fuck you Catholic bastards, my people are the chosen ones!"

Filthy Jewish bankers and politicians created this mess. The slaves have become the masters.

[Deztitute]

Capitalism is a one-way system and always has been. Within individual countries, the middle class shrinks, as the majority gets poorer and a (tiny) minority gets filthy rich. On a global scale, it's exactly the same. The people/entities with money only grant the working class enough money, for them to survive (if they're lucky) and continue working for them, never realizing that their time/effort/freedom is worth far more than any amount of money. Capitalism is thinly veiled slavery.

[He101A]

People like you forget a few things in this world. We have global competition, and the internet which keeps prices down. There is no way, American companies can survive by producing TVs. VCRs, DVD players, Ipods, network routers, computer parts, etc and compete with products made in 3rd world nations. The American worker and other first world workers cannot compete with a worker from India, Indonesia, and China who will work for 10% of your wage. The middle class will be wiped out.

[runkaballe]

What you don´t understand is that someone has to buy the products that are produced.

The filthy rich wont buy 100 ipods or 50 fords each year to cover for the shrinking middle-class, it´s a balance.

This is what happened in the great depression no one had the money to buy the products and the system crashed.

The problem with a market economy is that companies hate the system. The fundamental rule of business is monopoly, apple MS..

Capitalism is a terrible system but it´s the only working one.

[He101A]

The people in those developing economies will buy the stuff the American workers will no longer be able to buy. These developing economies will use more of the oil, and other commodities Americans will not be able to buy. At the same time, they will revalue; their undervalued currencies and buy the stuff Americans and Brits can't buy.

[ftggog]

great analysis.

but just a comment. It's not only an American thing. Many states around the world are facing the same problem too. Objective analysis should not be America-centric.