Death to the Middle Class

[Mr. Peepers]

I am concerned that their is a shifting mentality among the middle class and poor in which people refuse to hold themselves accountable for their outcomes and are entitled to certain outcomes.

You mean like the American dream? You remeber that, right... work hard, go to school, get a decent job and you'll be ok - at least that has been the path that all of our ancestors have pointed us down in this country up until now.... Fact is, it doesn't work that way anymore and people are panicking. The cost of living is now far outstripping wages that should support a family, and people feel trapped and overwhelmed. I don't see that as an entitlement issue. I also don't see that as a healthy or productive way to live... And it seems like this has become the norm due to corporate greed and corporate welfare... that no matter how much they make and how many breaks they get, the employees that are not at the very top just seem to get further and further behind.

 

[Truthmatters]

There are some who think the American dream is dead.

They have replaced it with a may the richest man win dream.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Are we talking trickle down prosperity or trickle-up proverty?

They are all pretty prosperous. There is no trickle at all, which is probably why. There is little to no poverty in Sweden.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

We are solidly in the middle.

Obviously not. If so, we would be "average" in regards to income inequality as opposed to "above average".

 

[rightwinger]

This is a very enlightening graphic. The USA has a very balanced distribution of income. The death of the "middle class" is populist hyperbole, nothing more. Not happy about it? Move to Sweden!

Sorry Zander....but I read this to mean that Sweden has the "most even income distribution of any nation"

While the US "has above average uneven distribution"

If you look at your own charts, the US is closer to third world nations than to Sweden

You read it right. If you want better income distribution than the USA move to Sweden- they tax the shit out of the wealthy there.

May I suggest a nice hut in Namibia for you Zander?

 

[Bern80]

I am concerned that their is a shifting mentality among the middle class and poor in which people refuse to hold themselves accountable for their outcomes and are entitled to certain outcomes.

You mean like the American dream? You remeber that, right... work hard, go to school, get a decent job and you'll be ok - at least that has been the path that all of our ancestors have pointed us down in this country up until now.... Fact is, it doesn't work that way anymore and people are panicking. The cost of living is now far outstripping wages that should support a family, and people feel trapped and overwhelmed. I don't see that as an entitlement issue. I also don't see that as a healthy or productive way to live... And it seems like this has become the norm due to corporate greed and corporate welfare... that no matter how much they make and how many breaks they get, the employees that are not at the very top just seem to get further and further behind.

I'm not really sure how that notion was started. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's a truism. The cost of living has not increased dramatically. The perception is that it has increased because a lot of people have come to view things that our parents may have had and grandparents never heard of at the time as necessities. Cable TV, cell phones, multiple vehichles, multiple tvs. All these luxury items that people just don't consider as luxuries. They are now considered 'standard' in your 'standard' of living.

Factoid number two that I don't know if people just don't understand but should be intuitively obvious is the concept of work. The richest of this country are self employed. It should be intuitive to most that the amount of money you can make working for someone else is relatively limited and the money you can make working for yourself is relatively unlimited. It is simple risk vs. reward. Working for yourself is a challenge and a risk most simply are not willing to take. If you don't like the system where your boss gets a raise and you don't, don't participate in the system. Just don't sit their and complain about the situation you don't like all the while refusing to take any action yourself to fix it.

 

[manu1959]

I am concerned that their is a shifting mentality among the middle class and poor in which people refuse to hold themselves accountable for their outcomes and are entitled to certain outcomes.

You mean like the American dream? You remeber that, right... work hard, go to school, get a decent job and you'll be ok - at least that has been the path that all of our ancestors have pointed us down in this country up until now.... Fact is, it doesn't work that way anymore and people are panicking. The cost of living is now far outstripping wages that should support a family, and people feel trapped and overwhelmed. I don't see that as an entitlement issue. I also don't see that as a healthy or productive way to live... And it seems like this has become the norm due to corporate greed and corporate welfare... that no matter how much they make and how many breaks they get, the employees that are not at the very top just seem to get further and further behind.

utter bullshit ..... it can be done ..... one just has to match ones abilty, income, wants and needs and move to a place where they align .....

 

[Zander]

May I suggest a nice hut in Namibia for you Zander?

why? I am not the one complaining about the USA. I love it here.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

I'm not really sure how that notion was started. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's a truism. The cost of living has not increased dramatically. The perception is that it has increased because a lot of people have come to view things that our parents may have had and grandparents never heard of at the time as necessities. Cable TV, cell phones, multiple vehichles, multiple tvs. All these luxury items that people just don't consider as luxuries. They are now considered 'standard' in your 'standard' of living.

I am not talking about THINGS! I am talking about COST OF LIVING (I will use myself as an example).

Rent: My rent has gone up $183.99 in three years. That's roughly 4.5% a year. As opposed to:

Income: I have received an increase totalling @ 3% up until now. Increases were frozen last year and probably this one (for us peons, anyway, I'm sure the exec's will get theirs).

Utilities: My power bill has almost doubled in three years.

Transportation: Metro card for 30 days has increased 20% in three years and will probably go up another 20% soon.

Insurance: My insurance premiums on my HMO went up about 15% last year for no reason.

Food: Good god, I looked at generic store butter yesterday and it was $4.99/ LB!!! I would say that food has gone up 20-40% depending on where you are.


I used to be able to put $200 in saving s every month - as of '06. I am now lucky if I am able to put in $40 or $50.

 

[noose4]

I'm not really sure how that notion was started. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's a truism. The cost of living has not increased dramatically. The perception is that it has increased because a lot of people have come to view things that our parents may have had and grandparents never heard of at the time as necessities. Cable TV, cell phones, multiple vehichles, multiple tvs. All these luxury items that people just don't consider as luxuries. They are now considered 'standard' in your 'standard' of living.

I am not talking about THINGS! I am talking about COST OF LIVING (I will use myself as an example).

Rent: My rent has gone up $183.99 in three years. That's roughly 4.5% a year. As opposed to:

Income: I have received an increase totalling @ 3% up until now. Increases were frozen last year and probably this one (for us peons, anyway, I'm sure the exec's will get theirs).

Utilities: My power bill has almost doubled in three years.

Transportation: Metro card for 30 days has increased 20% in three years and will probably go up another 20% soon.

Insurance: My insurance premiums on my HMO went up about 15% last year for no reason.

Food: Good god, I looked at generic store butter yesterday and it was $4.99/ LB!!! I would say that food has gone up 20-40% depending on where you are.


I used to be able to put $200 in saving s every month - as of '06. I am now lucky if I am able to put in $40 or $50.

Exactly, I just had to discontinue buying U.S. Savings bonds and reduce my 401k contributions.

 

[Oddball]

I'm not really sure how that notion was started. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's a truism. The cost of living has not increased dramatically. The perception is that it has increased because a lot of people have come to view things that our parents may have had and grandparents never heard of at the time as necessities. Cable TV, cell phones, multiple vehichles, multiple tvs. All these luxury items that people just don't consider as luxuries. They are now considered 'standard' in your 'standard' of living.

I am not talking about THINGS! I am talking about COST OF LIVING (I will use myself as an example).

Rent: My rent has gone up $183.99 in three years. That's roughly 4.5% a year. As opposed to:

Income: I have received an increase totalling @ 3% up until now. Increases were frozen last year and probably this one (for us peons, anyway, I'm sure the exec's will get theirs).

Utilities: My power bill has almost doubled in three years.

Transportation: Metro card for 30 days has increased 20% in three years and will probably go up another 20% soon.

Insurance: My insurance premiums on my HMO went up about 15% last year for no reason.

Food: Good god, I looked at generic store butter yesterday and it was $4.99/ LB!!! I would say that food has gone up 20-40% depending on where you are.


I used to be able to put $200 in saving s every month - as of '06. I am now lucky if I am able to put in $40 or $50.

Cry me a river.

All of my construction contracts got put on hold last January, and I've had next to zero income in the meantime. Yet, you don't see me coming here every day bellyaching about how much my life sucks and I can't pay my bills.

 

[Big Fitz]

I further wonder how easy is it in Sweden to go from the bottom of that scale to the top of that scale is it is in the US?

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Socialists need to get rid of the Middle Class. The Middle Class is their biggest enemy. Socialists desperately need Class Warfare to win elections and advance their agenda. They need a very poor lower class and a very wealthy upper class. A Middle Class only gets in their way. They simply need more very poor citizens. They can then stir up anger and resentment amongst the poor citizens and promote Americans fighting Americans. The Middle Class simply can't be relied on to vote for the Socialists therefore they must be eliminated. If the Socialists do get their way,there will only be the very poor and the very rich. It's the only way they can truly advance their agenda. Without Class Warfare the Socialists cannot win. It is very sad but it is what it is in the end.

 

[rightwinger]

I'm not really sure how that notion was started. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's a truism. The cost of living has not increased dramatically. The perception is that it has increased because a lot of people have come to view things that our parents may have had and grandparents never heard of at the time as necessities. Cable TV, cell phones, multiple vehichles, multiple tvs. All these luxury items that people just don't consider as luxuries. They are now considered 'standard' in your 'standard' of living.

I am not talking about THINGS! I am talking about COST OF LIVING (I will use myself as an example).

Rent: My rent has gone up $183.99 in three years. That's roughly 4.5% a year. As opposed to:

Income: I have received an increase totalling @ 3% up until now. Increases were frozen last year and probably this one (for us peons, anyway, I'm sure the exec's will get theirs).

Utilities: My power bill has almost doubled in three years.

Transportation: Metro card for 30 days has increased 20% in three years and will probably go up another 20% soon.

Insurance: My insurance premiums on my HMO went up about 15% last year for no reason.

Food: Good god, I looked at generic store butter yesterday and it was $4.99/ LB!!! I would say that food has gone up 20-40% depending on where you are.


I used to be able to put $200 in saving s every month - as of '06. I am now lucky if I am able to put in $40 or $50.

Cry me a river.

All of my construction contracts got put on hold last January, and I've had next to zero income in the meantime. Yet, you don't see me coming here every day bellyaching about how much my life sucks and I can't pay my bills.

Nobody is bellyaching about their plight in life...just commenting on the state of the economy

 

[Mr. Peepers]

All of my construction contracts got put on hold last January, and I've had next to zero income in the meantime. Yet, you don't see me coming here every day bellyaching about how much my life sucks and I can't pay my bills.

I am not crying. I didn't say my life sucks and I never said I can't pay my bills. AND I wasn't complaining. Them's the facts. The poster I was responding to stated that the cost of living was not going up. My post proved him wrong.

 

[Oddball]

Nobody is bellyaching about their plight in life...just commenting on the state of the economy

Bullshit.

If you Fabian socialist snivelers think things are such great shakes in Sweden or France, shut your cake holes and GTFO.

 

[Oddball]

All of my construction contracts got put on hold last January, and I've had next to zero income in the meantime. Yet, you don't see me coming here every day bellyaching about how much my life sucks and I can't pay my bills.

I am not crying. I didn't say my life sucks and I never saidI can't pay my bills. AND I wasn't complaining. Them's the facts. The poster I was responding to stated that the cost of living was not going up. My post proved him wrong.

The only thing your post proved is that you are a sniveler.

Move the fuck to Sweden.

 

[rightwinger]

Nobody is bellyaching about their plight in life...just commenting on the state of the economy

Bullshit.

If you Fabian socialist snivelers think things are such great shakes in Sweden or France, shut your cake holes and GTFO.

Fabian? I liked Bobby Darrin

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Corporatists need to get rid of the Middle Class. The Middle Class is their biggest enemy (because they want a piece of the pie). Corporatists desperately need Class Warfare to win elections and advance their agenda. They need a very poor lower class and a very wealthy upper class. A Middle Class only gets in their way. They simply need more very poor citizens. They can then stir up anger and resentment amongst the poor citizens and promote Americans fighting Americans. The Middle Class simply can't be relied on to vote for the Corporatists, as it is against their interests, therefore they must be eliminated. If the Republicans/Corporatists do get their way,there will only be the very poor and the very rich. It's the only way they can truly advance their agenda. Without Class Warfare the Corporatists cannot win. It is very sad but it is what it is in the end.

Fixed.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Socialists cannot tolerate a Middle Class. The Middle Class simply gets in the way of their Class Warfare agenda. They desperately need a very poor lower class vs. a very wealthy upper class. There can be no in between. The Middle Class simply cannot be relied on to vote for the Socialists and they understand this. However a very large poor population can be relied on to vote for the Socialists. Just stir up some anger & resentment hysteria against the very wealthy class and there's your Millions of votes for the Socialists. This is the only way the Socialists can gain complete control. I'm just waiting for Middle Class Americans to figure this game out. They better figure it out soon or it really will be R.I.P. for the American Middle Class.