Middle Class Shrinks Further as More Fall Out Instead of Climbing Up [Obamanomics]

NY TIMES ^ | 1/25/15 | DIONNE SEARCEY and ROBERT GEBELOFF

[SoFloFreeper]

.....it is clear that millions are struggling to hang on to accouterments that most experts consider essential to a middle-class life.....

Lisa Land, 49, is one of those who have dropped through the hatch. She gets by on her father’s $1,300 monthly Social Security checks and by having her adult daughter pitch in for groceries.

Her circumstances are a stark change from just a few years ago, when she considered herself firmly in the middle class. Despite a relatively modest salary, her pay and other resources went a long way in tiny Eden, N.C., where she worked for 13 years in customer service at a textile factory.

In 2008, however, Ms. Land was laid off. Faced with ailing parents and a recession that tore up the region’s economy, she moved in with her father to offer full-time care.

[SoFloFreeper]

The SLIMES has published this tripe to try and COVER for Obama.

Nearly the ENTIRE article IGNORES the past six years and the devastation of Obamanomics.

Instead, the SLIMES tries to blame all other administrations for the shrinking middle class.

The fact is, in 2009 53% of Americans considered themselves "middle class". Today, that number is 44%.

Obamanomics is a failure.

[Steely Tom]

Earlier.

[ArtDodger]

“Obamanomics is a failure.”

Actually the plan is working well. Destroy the middle class, so a class war can drive the final stake in the heart of the Republic.

[Morpheus2009]

Obama didn’t do much to oppose the trends, that’s for sure. I am tired of people trying to make excuses for Obama of the kind saying that he couldn’t do anything about x. Well, the POTUS can contest a law and force the hand of Congress if he feels like doing so. He could have opposed carrying out the bailouts if he really wanted to, and forced the Supreme Court’s hand, is just one example.

[jsanders2001]

Obama’s economic policies have devasted our household income especially these last 2 years which I think have been the most stressful years of my life that I think I’ve ever been through if I’m being honest. It decimated our savings and I know I’m not alone. I have heard the same from many people who’ve said they also had to dig into their savings to keep pace with the rising costs of everything. I dont know if I (or America) can take another 2 years of this guy.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Its all part of Obama’s plan — take as many people as possible who are being self sufficient and making a middle class living and turn them into wards of the state.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Actually the plan is working well. Destroy the middle class, so a class war can drive the final stake in the heart of the Republic.

I was thinking about OVH (Obama, ValJar, Holder) and what drives them. I think Holder's "disparate impact" is more than just a prosecutorial ploy, and might be central to a part of OVH thinking.

"Disparate impact", as we know, is an excuse to award benefits to favored groups (read, non-white, and especially OTMW--other than white males). It's really a form of a less frequently and more inflammatory phrase, "racial justice." It's the OVH version of "por la raza, toda, por los otras, nada." It's racism mixed with non-racial greivance politics, but I think racism is the major component.

Here's a couple of examples, and in each case ask "cui bono", or who benefits. Think of the answer statistically rather than in terms of individuals.

* Equalization of discipline in schools (in other words, distribution of suspensions, reprimands, expulsions by race rather than by individual offence) This is an easy one.

* Free community college--for the most part, remedial. Who benefits? Unmotivated, untalented students. What will be the racial breakdown of the group? What will be the racial breakdown of those taxed to pay for it (and what is the breakdown of those who use 529 Savings Plans, which would be taxed/tapped)?

* Obamacare. Statistically, whose premiums went up? Statistically, which group received the majority of the benefits?

* Immigration ("invasion"). Who is hurt the most? Who benefits without having to assimilate (hint: Not whites, not Judeo Christians).

And so it goes, on and on. OVH are racists, but also power-hogs, Marxists, and Islamic sympathizers. I doubt there's unity of purpose throughout their cabal on all of these issues, but on racial justice, they stand as one.

/rant off... time to prepare for snowpocalypse. I'm almost out of rum.

[Phillyred]

My jaw just dropped looking at Zillow today. I haven’t been on there in a long time. Four years ago you might have seen 2 or 3 in my neighborhood. Now the map is dotted with foreclosures! Now it is like a breakout of the chicken pox! Really alarming! Some great economy. I live in a very nice middle class area in SE PA.

[jsanders2001]

The authors. Anyone surprised? Nope...to be expected

[jsanders2001]

The authors. Anyone surprised? Nope...to be expected

[MrB]

This is how Obama is "focusing on the middle class":

[central_va]

Since the Feds just print or create money by fiat, they no longer need middle class tax dollars. So now we are to be gotten rid of.

[Awgie]

When EQUALITY is your goal, it is always easier to undermine those who are higher on the economic ladder, then it is to raise those who are at the bottom.

Those at the very top of the ladder are generally insulated from BigGov extortion. Those in the middle are the most vulnerable, and most likely to suffer loss of economic status when BgGov steps in to “Level the playing field.”

Those at the bottom are complacent and entrenched in lives of BigGov handouts and are very unlikely to take advantage of real incentives and opportunity to lift themselves up.

So it inevitably occurs that in a quest for EQUALITY BigGov only accomplishes the lowering of economic standards for the vast middle.

As a Physical Therapist I know that it is almost impossible to lift someone off the floor, who is unable or unwilling to help. In order to rise up from the floor, they have to assist and contribute their maximum effort.

There are no BigGov plans assist those at the bottom to finish high school, to avoid drugs and alcohol, to only have children when married. These are the basic elements that maximize upward mobility.

We need a serious conversation in this country about the pit falls of pursuing EQUALITY. Our main focus should be LIBERTY.

[Savage Beast]

The strategy is simple: Destroy the middle class. Offer the lower class womb-to-tomb government benefits. Luxury and absolute power for the small ruling oligarchy--and especially the Emperor.

It's an old, old strategy.

It worked for Julius Caesar and established the Roman Imperium (one of mankind's most dubious achievements.)

Who among those power hungry parasites in Washington does not salivate at the thought of seizing control of the U.S.A. and all its wealth and power?

Which of them does not see himself on the throne of the new Imperium?

And remember, American people: The second Roman Emperor was the monster Tiberius. Caligula was third. Nero was fifth.

And among those salivating are a potential Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao...

[Army Air Corps]

The reality of “leveling the playing field” with respect to income in Obama’s world.

[crusher2013]

He had the gall to talk about “Middle Class Economics” in this state of the union message.

What a fraud.

It was all about handouts and nothing about Pro-Job policies.