I have been hearing/reading about the demise of the middle class for years (decades?) and have kind of shrugged my shoulders. It wasn’t affecting me and my standard of living continued to rise – except when I left my previous career and returned to school 15 years ago. But you raise a really good point. With the polarization of the classes, and the decrease of the middle class, there is an incredible destabilization. Most of my friends who have argued against universal assistance for the poor, are in the middle-class and have never personally experienced the extreme poverty that I’ve witnessed. They, like me, have lived pretty comfortable lives and the chief argument seems to be that those who need assistance are lazy and won’t help themselves.

However, with the demise of the middle class, some are going to win, and some are going to lose. Most of my friends are educated and are standing on the shoulders of some solid familial foundations. They will have better opportunities to succeed, but some articles I’ve posted on Facebook have noted that this current financial crisis will affect millions for decades. I wonder if the tone of some people would change if they found themselves being drug into the abyss, and there was nothing they could do about it?

Those that are being drug into the pit, are crying out for someone, anyone to throw them a life ring. We don’t care if it is from a Democrat, a Republican, the government, the church, or some supernatural intervention. Sure, we could continue to fine-tune the system and the proposals for years, but what happens in the meantime? We cry out in fear and hopelessness.

And it appears that those who are so vociferous in their opposition to universal assistance, are afraid of losing what they have. Could it be, that in the back of their minds, they know they too could end up where others have fallen?

Good points Paul – thanks!

I think part of what is behind this is the erosion of the middle class. In the last year there were a record number of new billionaires created, while at the same time a record number of foreclosures. I have no problem with wealth, but this scenario doesn’t seem to support the ‘trickle down effect’theory. What is does support is the fact that the gap is widening between rich and poor and those in the middle are getting squeezed out.

It appears to me, from various countries that I have visited and lived in, that political stability has a direct relationship to the size and power of the middle class. And poverty (or the threat thereof) is not a stabilizing influence that encourages people to have rational debates about issues that have such a profound effect on their lives. It inspires anger and since when did you see an angry person who was able to sit down and listen and discuss an issue in a rational manner?

I think most of us have similar dreams and ideals for ourselves and our families, so why do we disagree so strongly as to how to achieve those? How can we bring unity back to a country so deeply divided? I think we somehow need to be reminded that we are all really on the same team. If we all pulled together as Americans rather than democrats and republicans in a constant battle to make political headway, then maybe we would make some progress. Misinformation abounds, especially in this internet age and although we in theory should be much better informed than ever before it seems that its becoming so hard to sort fact from fiction that we are all drowning in ignorance because of this. And ignorance causes fear and fear causes polarization.

Thanks for the comment! (We’ve missed your thoughtful replies)

.-= gwalter invites you to read this blog: ..Do Conservatives _no_ Love? =-.

I am all for health care for everyone but darn why do they have to always make it so gargantuan and unwieldy that few have actually read it including the politicians?

And how can someone who is supposed to be responsible to their constituents vote on something that they don’t fully understand?

So the barrier for me to a good discourse is lack of true knowledge on the subject both by myself and those that I might discuss it with. I believe that most of the fear, anger, and down right hatefulness comes from being afraid of the unknown…

And frankly I can understand the fear.

But I do not think it is the end of the US, just another step in its evolution. Just don’t ask me if I like where its going…that is a completely different subject! I do believe that my grandparents would not recognize this country anymore, let alone our founding fathers. OK, signing off before I start a rant of my own, lol! Kim
.-= the inadvertent farmer invites you to read this blog: ..Silent Saturday and a Mouse Update =-.

Good words on remembering history. Thanks!

Because I screwed up with lots of credit card debt, I will be ending up with more phone calls from the companies once the pay check is smaller for the needs. My view of what is important has really changed and I find the way most people react to the ideas comes from having a big ego.

It's been said that if we don't learn the history then we are doomed to repeat history. This is great truth. We have two views that are so in conflict that a third and lasting vision can't be seen. All need to set aside the ego and just be for a while. Then the way will be seen on what we need to do as a nation.
Until then, we can pray for the way forward.