Middle Class Aided Its Own Decline

Rasmussen Reports ^ | Tuesday, December 27, 2011 | Froma Harrop

[raygun]

This was the Year of the Middle Class -- as in, its falling incomes, loss of job security and anger. The global economic forces fueling the decline, such as foreign competition and computers, have been well reported. But what about cultural factors? Is the middle class going down partly because it stopped acting middle class?

For those who remember the American middle's golden era of 40 years ago -- or see it reconstructed on TV dramas -- the cultural losses are pretty shocking. The middle managers in "Mad Men" returned to orderly homes with tidy children, even as their personal lives spun into chaos. While comfortable, their houses were modest by today's McMansion standards. That's because they were living within their means.

[desertfreedom765]

“Since I have to spell it out, I actually hold the American voter most responsible for it, because politicians ultimately do what the voters want.”

Sadly this is no longer true.

To overturn the will of the people they will:

Find a compliant judge to throw the law out.

Redouble propaganda efforts.

Ignore the law or minimally enforce the law.

Change the Demographics of the state or country.

Create another problem or crisis to divert the attention of the people.

Sometimes the people win, but in the long run not very often.

[houeto]

You make me sick to my stomach.....

.....because your words ring true to my heart but, we knew it was coming.

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

Interesting times indeed.

[Fledermaus]

As Shakespeare pointed out it’s called “bread and circuses” or in today’s language “fat and happy”.

They just don’t pay attention because, frankly, they are mostly too stupid. Besides, American Idol starts up again soon.

[Jonty30]

For sure.

We should make a point of asking those, if they prefer stupid tv, and feed those that do to the crocodiles first.