Trouble ahead for the American middle class

Free Republic | may 16, 2006 | jim shirreffs

[ketelone]

"Ever wonder why the rich want to flood the usa with uneducated poor from totarian nations?"

Hmm... tot-arian nations would be those that are run by infants?

[Alberta's Child]

It's worth noting that these industries in which "only a handful of companies compete" are actually among the least profitable industries in the U.S.

One of the defining characteristics of the U.S. over the last 50-60 years is that small companies generally offer far better growth potential than large ones.

[talleyman]

Shiny side out, shiny side out - the tinfoil hat should be shiny side out...

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The Republican Party is the party of the middle class not, as the Democrats would have it, "the party of the rich."

The richest senators are Democrats, the owners of newspapers are Democrats, and Warren Buffet and Bill Gates and other limo liberals are Democrats. Limo liberals definitely do use the Democratic Party to wield the poor (defined as anyone who is willing to be patronized as "poor" by rich Democrats) against the middle class.

[jpsb]

Most societies had a small middle class. It was mainly the professionals that the wealthy needed. Doctors, lawyers, priests, etc, and merchants in societies that allow merchants.However these (merchants) were purged from time to time should they gain to much wealth.

[Alberta's Child]

The cost of health care is killing the middle class . . .

This is really a myth. What is "killing the middle class" is that our expectations for health care far exceed our ability to pay for it.

[redgolum]

Very interesting and truthful.

In researching history, one thing that pops out at me is that the various "red" revolutions, from France to Russia to Spain, all came from the dissatisfied upper crust and lower class, and often went against the middle class.

Similar trends are shaping up here.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Haven't you heard? Since Chicago outlawed goose pate, the super rich are eating the livers of middle class children.

[mc6809e]

Workers overseas are cheaper because their cost (and standard) of living is lower.

In other words, they gouge the American public much less than American workers.

[Rippin]

This is really a myth. What is "killing the middle class" is that our expectations for health care far exceed our ability to pay for it.

O.K., how about the way we pay for health care is damaging competitiveness and depressing wages and discouraging entrepreneurism, and discouraging legal hires, and causing the middle class to be dissatisfied with decent wages when they have no health benefits. It will soon be close to 20% of GDP. Too much.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Only a hand full of companies now "compete" in many industries. Take the oil industry as an example.

That's funny. I think Exxon/Mobil has 8% of the gas market in the US. No competition there.

[jpsb]

"In researching history, one thing that pops out at me is that the various "red" revolutions, from France to Russia to Spain, all came from the dissatisfied upper crust and lower class, and often went against the middle class. "

Yes that is exactly right and it is true of the freer societies of the ancient world also.

[sinkspur]

Very thoughtful.

It is, if you're a class-warfare Democrat.

Or a Bircher.

[sinkspur]

Hmm... tot-arian nations would be those that are run by infants?

ROFLMAO!!!

[jordan8]

You misidentify the ruling class, a common mistake. It isn't the super rich but what James Burnham called the managerial class, the bureaucrats in the government, academia, and, above all, the medias. The self-described intellectual elite. Most are upper-middle class, though some may be filthy rich. Certainly a large part of their motivation is the never ending struggle to prove their moral and intellectual superiority over the middle class and to separate themselves from that dreaded swamp. It is more about status than wealth. Someone posted an essay by Tom Wolfe that has some interesting points on this subject.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The Heritage Foundation? Nothing from EPI showing wages have dropped 30% since 1972?

[A. Pole]

In other words, they gouge the American public much less than American workers.

American workers ARE the American public. Higher wages mean higher standard of living and bigger consumer market.

Economy is not a zero sum game - lower wages can lead to the contraction of economy and lower profits for the well off.

[Fruitbat]

It is my understanding that many millions in Asia are becomming wealthy via manurfacturing. Am I mistaken?

No, I never said that you were. But I guarantee you that it's not the average line worker.

Am I mistaken that millions have become wealthy, perhaps many tens of millions, and again, depending upon our definition of "wealthy," in the service sector/industry?

Have you seen government pay scales recently as well?

Either way, I'm sure that if we use the definition of "wealthy" that you apply to chinese manufacturing workers and managers, my side of this argument will fare extremely well.

[Mase]

The cost of health care is killing the middle class and its all government generated in one way or another.

Employers are absorbing much of the increase in the cost of benefits, especially healthcare, which is why total compensation for all workers is increasing.

See post #35 for a better description.

[Gay State Conservative]

The wealthy in this country have nothing to gain from destroying the middle class.Nothing! Quite the opposite is true,in fact.

The "victims" of this country,almost all of whom vote democRAT,believe that they do.