Ahhh, the ever famous "even if..." response tact, where even if what I've said is true (as manifested by Brass's concession of "Technically, what you are saying is true. People do have more things today". I hope Xo was paying attention to that alledged BS, just espoused by Brass), it's not because....well because it just doesn't fit into the leftest template of how selfish "the rich" are, and how in need "the poor" are, and how evil Capitalism is supposed to be. Thus we need socialist liberals to redistribute wealth, because they know better how to spend it than those that actually make it, thus perpetuating the same proplems. But at least they feel better
Scary, isn't it
Let's try not to put worths in my mouth. OK?
Yes, I would love to see a revolution in this country and see a complete conversion to something like my long-proposed RBE plan but even I, an idealistic dreamer, know that is not going to happen in my lifetime. (I can hope and dream and help how I can though.)
This is a totally different subject on, yes, of course, the same theme.
We're talking about reality here. The only thing I might refine is the allegation that the middle class is shrinking. That may not be exactly accurate. What I feel is a more accurate metaphor for what is happening in this country is the idea that the rising tide is not lifting all the boats/ships.
As was stated before in the thread, productivity has shot up. That only benefits the owners of the companies/businesses. Wages have remained stagnant. As XO stated, the 'middle class' is in hock real bad. People graduating from college are starting out saddled with debt that will take them decades to pay off. The conservative might take the stance that those who can't afford to go to college maybe shouldn't. The same conservative might also take the stance that those borrowing the money to go to school should understand what they're getting themselves into. Caveat emptor and all that. But these are absolutes that when adhered to can only result in a less educated (more controllable) society. These ideals, when held together, actually work in detriment to the overall stereotypical American ideals of Equality and Democracy.
For, you see, while it is true that all men are created equal (and equally in the same manner), sadly, in this country especially, all men are not afforded the same opportunities. The right continually hypes the idea of supporting new businesses and small business but surely everyone would agree that small businesses by and large fail. Why do they fail? Poor business decisions, poor planning, poor standards, of course. Whose fault is that? The business owners', of course, are to blame; but, where should a business owner get the knowledge, the basic building block of every new business? Hands on experience is great stuff. A guy who gets a job as a brick layer might love to start his own company and hire brick layers to work for him and according to his standards but he might not know the first thing about how to keep the books and pay the taxes.
He might have learnt how if he had had the opportunity to go to a school of higher learning and gotten a simple business degree. This would allow Americans more choice, more freedom. If American went to college, said Americans might still opt to go into the family trade of brick-laying. This only behooves American Society as a whole.
This is where conservative ideal regarding boot straps is sorely lacking and winds up shooting itself in the foot. The conservative alleges a love for small business but doesn't want anyone getting a "free ride" even though it is in their own self-interest to give everyone a somewhat short free ride in view of the big picture. Imagine a society where everyone gets the education their want thereby giving rise to untold competition which results in lower prices, expanded economy and a better quality of life for all. Not to mention, less interest in "free rides" thus fewer Brassmask-type communists.
But they would rather adhere to strict beliefs rather than have their way.
We are living in a new Gilded Age. The robber barons have finally acknowledged that their operating costs must now include government officials, nay, the entire government, if they are to retain and increase their overall power and ability to control their entire environment of egotistical entitlement. They've acquired the American government in a hostile takeover and now intend to run it into the ground like a former competitor.
Rants aside, I'm not seeking to re-distribute wealth in the manner that you are envisioning. At this point and in realistic terms, those in the top ten percent that control the predominance of American wealth now feel secure enough in their greed and governmental insulation to throw caution to the wind and slowly re-introduce American to the 1890's way of life with the overwhelming percentage of the population looking on the ?ber-wealthy as their default royalty and sovereigns. These barons, of course, see nothing wrong with that since to them they have everything that should afford them the right to direct and control all aspects of American society. They also believe they Smith-Barneyed all that control since they either inherited their wealth and then went to the right college and belonged to the right fraternity (or shadowy cult-like social group) or they "did what had to be done".
The scariest part of all of it is they DO have that power because if there is ever anyone of high profile or, gods forfend, a fellow ?ber-wealthy person who tries to equal things up for all Americans, like a George Soros, then that person because the target of The Machine.
The reality is if the Modern Barons don't stop buying their own hype and go easy on the in-your-face $6000 shower curtain lifestyles, they are actually putting themselves in the cross-hairs of socialist revolution. The MB's have actually succeeded in de-fanging the unions for the moment. (Note the current crumbling writers' strike solidarity.) By rendering the populace politically powerless and lowering their overall wherewithal, the MB's have set themselves up for destroying their precious though precarious positions of prominence the way those types have always been destroyed: by revolutionary mobs armed at best with words and passionate persuasion, at worst with guns and blunt instruments.
Of course, through their influence with their tools in entertainment and infotainment and political plants, they have convinced many Americans that all is well and good and those who think there is a shadowy cabal controlling everything are kooks with keyboards. There need be no meetings in castles or Watergate hotels. There are like-minded individuals who may not even know of each other who act in like-mind simply because of their conservative beliefs in
self. If their actions behoove those of like wealth and power, then all the better but the main directive is to consolidate one's power thereby, if the conversation over over-priced cocktails and rubber chicken should hint at shared beliefs and necessities, allowing a few to enforce their will on the many while ensuring that the many don't catch wise.
What the CEO's and owners and stock holders of corporations and conglomerates have forgotten is everything outside of the bottom line. They get so greedy in the now, the immediate frame of mind that they lose sight of future concerns and protections of their status. They forget how the last robber barons met their downfall because groups of men and women organized and took the beatings at the hands of goon squads and stood their ground to demand more of a share of the profits.
They forget that were it not for the men and women who help them maintain their positions of power, they might have to lift a finger and do a real day's work. They forget that when they "raise productivity" by lowering staff, in reality, they are lowering the quality of life for as little as one person or as much as a whole family and sometimes a whole community.
The cries of nationality are loud and passionate when it is all about consolidating power and resources but never when it is for keeping Americans working.
If the MB's were smart they would maintain a living wage hike every year for all employees. They would take smaller bonuses and spread the profits throughout the business in perks and raises and more employees to lower workloads.
Let the tide raise all boats because when all the smaller boats start sinking under the added weight of debt, desperate heads of families will do whatever it takes to keep their families alive. And when their only hope is to climb onto the only boats afloat, convince the crew of those ships to mutiny and kill the captains of those boats in order to save their own families, who would blame them for doing so?
"Not I," said the little, red hen.
