Middle class faces extinction

The News-Press ^ | June 15, 2003 | JANE R. JOHNSON, N. Fort Myers

[Willie Green]

The worst thing that the politicians have done to this country was to sign NAFTA. The Republicans and Democrats are both to blame. The companies in this country said that unless they went overseas for cheaper labor costs, their companies would not survive. At first, I thought if they only sold to the people overseas, it would be all right. So the companies erected plants overseas but then they started closing their plants in America. Now they manufacture overseas and export to America and we have to import the products to be sold here. No wonder our imports are higher than our exports.

[Mamzelle]

Class envy--?

Well, I see at close range a lot of rich people trucking in illegal aliens to spread their mulch, swab their pools (and toilets.

All because they like servants who are abject and humble, "muchas gracias, padron."

Yup--I like them less and less. My taxes go to pay for their health care (via the ER) and my kids go to schools who struggle to deal with non-English speakers. And the rich enjoy the servitude.

Envious? nope. Resentful as H*ll? Yup.

[FITZ]

Yes ---the mobs don't just rise up on their own, they get stirred up by one of the bourgois trying to take the power away from another bourgois. That's why revolutions usually don't change things unless like with the example of the American or French Revolutions, somehow the direction turns to a middle class society ---very rare in history. In most revolutions or coups, the mobs are just useful during the overthrow but they don't usually gain anything.

[Susannah]

I know exactly one person who earns about $2 million a year. He lives in New York and with federal, state and local taxes he pays 62% of his income in taxes. He also employs others and pays property taxes on two residences. I'm certain that he would be glad to give his tax cut to anyone who would like to pay his tax burden.


It's a statistical fact that when people pay less taxes they donate more to charities. Most are able to take a tax deduction for donations....although, I believe there is a limit to how much you can donate tax-free.

[evilC]

They told you wrong. The upper class is independently wealthy ---they can work like some of the Kennedys do but they don't have to. Middle class are all the people who need their paycheck, they work for an income, they work for their lifestyle which can be comfortable but when the paycheck stops, the lifestyle stops.

Which was exactly the point being made, that middle class people may be comfortable but still need to watch their budget. The description quoted was meant to be a humorous description rather then an in depth analysis of the "class structure" in the United States.

[FITZ]

Technology can only create so many "new" jobs, before it does away with FAR more jobs than it produces. Top that off with sending jobs overseas, and we are in for one heck of a problem.

Plus education for so many is lacking, they aren't being prepared for much but factory jobs only they're expecting to have technology jobs, they'll be lucky if they can get a hamburger flipping job. What I find alarming is how many working people now are also very government dependent ---they get food stamps, Medicaid, government provided housing just like the non-working. Self-determination is going out the door.

[evilC]

I hope your daughter enjoys her future career as a maid.

..... or accountant or architect or financial advisor.

[evilC]

I hope your son enjoys his career as a gardener. Perhaps you can hire him, now, to show him what he has to look forward to.
See also reply 153

... but as a member of the middle class I can't afford a gardner ... don't even have much of a garden. Now maybe if I paid less taxes.....

[FITZ]

How many hard-working folks do you know who are suddenly going to start up a multi-million dollar manufacturing business?

Yes ----we can all look hard and manage to find one or two rare individuals who were able to do just that ----but we have to look at what is happening with the majority. In the not-so-distant past, a guy with a high school diploma could find a steady job, support a wife and family, buy a home which he could pay off in 15 years. That was middle class. The average person ---not just the rare genius could obtain a comfortable lifestyle, a certain level of security, he was more or less self-determining.

Just like we have to keep in mind what has happened in other countries ---like WWI and WWII Germany ---what was happening with the AVERAGE person to make them turn to a leader like Hitler. They don't have to necessarily be starving to get to a dangerous level of discontent.

[FITZ]

As much as I hate to see universal health care, I'm tired of my family's health and wellbeing being hitched to my husband's employer.

Me too ---- but I'm a bit optimistic personally on this one ---for one we're already paying for the health care of those who won't/can't pay ---so we have universal health care now. Yes the government can destroy our health care system ---it will destroy it, but if you're quite healthy it won't matter to you personally. I haven't seen a doctor in years ---I realize I probably should get a checkup but I know I have no illness. I feel I need health care for the catestrophic stuff though.

[MissAmericanPie]

I suppose they feel that building a world wide market by creating a middle class in more populace nations such as China will be good for their bottom line. After all one of the CEO's of Boeing statement that "Americans are not entitled to their standard of living", is a most telling comment that should be redressed by tax paying Americans stating that just because Boeing manufactures aircraft does not entitled them to tax payer funded military contracts.

It seems big money corporations think catering to an American middle class of a few million is not as financially rewarding as building a middle class in China with a population of over a billion with stolen American jobs. Our sell out government offer's us no protection via tariffs and, if they ever get around to it, it will be far too late to do any good. Those that can afford stocks seem to think this is all a great idea also, but the end will be the same, the weakening of America and the on coming war between the "free world" and China.

[FITZ]

by creating a middle class in more populace nations such as China

They aren't building a middle class in China ----they pay them dirt wages, slave labor maximizes corporate profit.

[MissAmericanPie]

Slave wages look real good to the Chinese population as opposed to no wages. Had you rather sell a hundred million toasters to the middle class of the USofA for 40 bucks or a billion toasters to the emerging middle class in China for ten dollars per toaster, knowing you can increase the price of a toaster as the middle class there emerges?

[dfwgator]

As much as I hate to see universal health care, I'm tired of my family's health and wellbeing being hitched to my husband's employer.

Why should employers pay for employee health care?? It is another factor that makes American workers too expensive to hire. Government regulations make hiring American workers too difficult, especially for small businesses. They need to structure the tax code such that hiring more US workers results in tax breaks for the company, instead of punishing them for hiring more workers.