I had the opportunity the other day to watch a most enlightening program broadcast by UCTV. The one-hour program was called "How Unequal Can America Get Before We Snap?" presented by President Clinton's former labor secretary Robert Reich.
"Inequality of income, wealth, and opportunity in America is wider now than it's been since the 1920s, and by some measures since the late 19th century. Yet the nation seems unable or unwilling to do much of anything to reverse these trends. What happens if we allow the trends to continue? Will they "naturally" reverse themselves? Or will we get to a point where disparities are so wide that we finally find the political will to take action? Alternatively, will the disparities themselves grow so wide as to discourage action, by fostering resignation among the losers and indifference among the winners? And if the latter, where will it all lead?" SOURCE: Goldman School of Public Policy UC, Berkley
The presentation made excellent use of economic graphs to demonstrate how large of a gap has developed between the upper class and the middle class (not to mention the lower class) with regards to income, wealth, and opportunity in the United States between the years 1962 to the present. The trends are alarming to say the least. The speaker correctly points to birthright as the beginning of the disparity that allows for advantages in everything from diet and healthcare to education and connections. Being born into a middle-class family myself, I have truly benefited from my birthright in terms of these advantages right from the starting gate. Some people would argue that many a poor person has risen up by their "own boot straps" but I would argue that in today's society, most (not all) poor people can only rise up with a good pair of athletic shoes or a willingness to sell drugs. Otherwise they have to remain content with working in the service industry for comparatively lower wages than their upper-class counterparts. Mr. Reich further points out that one of the elements keeping our society glued together is the belief or perception by the lower class that opportunity in this country still exists and that if one is willing to work hard, they can be successful.
The speaker talks of two potential outcomes for this growing disparity. He uses the metaphor of the rubber band to illustrate his point. Our society will either "snap back" with a series of reforms supported by all three classes and the government to regain a sense of fairness when it comes to income, wealth, and opportunity in the United States. This has occurred at least once before in the history of our country during a time referred to as the progressive movement. The other potential outcome is for our society to "snap break" whereby this country exists with two entirely different societies. The problem with the latter outcome is that it often leads to the arrival of a demagogue who plays upon the emotions of the middle and lower classes all for the hidden intention of personal gain. We have seen this all too often in history with the likes of Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler, Lenin etcetera. Mr. Reich suggests somehow that the upper class are not a group with malicious intent but rather are nothing more than a naive self-indulgent class of people who don't know any better. Here I beg to differ. I believe the upper class is guilty of a careless disregard for their fellow countrymen. They have the arrogance to believe they are superior and deserving of extravagance regardless of how they attained it and regardless of how it affects the rest of society. Once again, history shows us what happened to those monarchs who behaved the same way. Do I think there will be a violent revolution in this country? I hope not. Do I prefer a new progressive movement over even a peaceful revolution? Absolutely. My fear however, is that we are already rapidly approaching the point of "critical mass" beyond which there is no turning back. The question today before the American people is what are YOU prepared to do?
I cannot predict what will happen next or how far we have come and/or whether we can mend our society enough to keep it. However, as I previously posted, I do believe that there are serious issues that might fall way beyond our(lower and middle class) reach. It will almost take the impossible to bring our society back to equilibrium- a place where we are all at least satisfied with the outcome of our endeavors.
We should be prepared to do whatever it takes to make the society we live in significantly better for ourselves and others, now and for our future.
Right now the nation of the United States is not contrary to common opinion really feeling the full brunt of the economic crisis. I believe that there is about 3/4 quarter more to come. By that I mean an economic shock of some kind that would throw the stock market off so much that the plunge protection team, Timmothy Geithner and the Federal Reserve would not be able to offset it.Pensions would immediately be affected, there might be a bank that would freeze up and revenue would plunge further for states.Instead of the trickle down it would be systemic shocks that happen in different areas.
How that goes I don't know but it is instructive that corporate holders of stock(insiders, CEO's, board members)are selling rather than buying.Meaning dropping the ball and looking at exits. Steven "Obama is Hitler" Shratzman is making interesting moves with his hedge fund, Soros has closed shop. There is a lot of billionaire type real estate quietly being put on the market. One must ask why?
Further the manipulation can only extend so far. It has not enabled the employment rate to drop no matter what the lamestream media spins.But the safety net is still there due to revenue and those still working.But with further economic contraction the tax donkey(middle class)breaks down.
Right now Europe is in the hot seat. The IMF will request $300 billion of tranche aid to help out which will come vis a vis the US taxpayer. My aplogies, but you don't have a choice there.You are on the hook.
After that from what I've heard the Obama administration will be on the hook for the cuts.
Probably because the Republicans have been baying at the moon any cuts by Democrats will seem reasonable in response. The real fact is though ALL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS are committed to the austerity dance. It's just that some want to do the waltz and lull the populace and others want a frenzied can-can and kick em to the curb while saying that it's all for the best and Jesus or the Constitution(take your pick)deems it so.
What set off Tunis/Egypt was the direct food inflation of wheat prices that soared due to speculators fleeing the money printing of quantative easing by the US Federal Reserve.For years people had been unhappy in those countries but when food gets scarce people change.
The guy lighting himself on fire was the straw that broke the camel's back.It will be the same here as history repeats itself and the American Ruling Class is resembling more and more the French Court of the Versailles.
The challenge of the US elites who are aware that there is no money to offset commitments in the future is to sell shared sacrifice(the eat the peas argument)while maintaining the status quo. Fortunately for them the mainstream media is on board and able to still fragment and divide.Plus both conservative and liberal religous authorities can argue the personal responsiblity mythos. A lot of Americans are very religous and will believe that ultimately.They also have the option of creating another boogy-boogy terrorist enemy. Some say Pakistan is being set up for this. I don't know.
My belief is when the social security cuts, welfare cuts, and all other cuts become law that's when the brown stuff starts flying. I've been told the armed forces are prepared and on stand by in some cities already.This is a fact as I recently while looking for a job in the tech sector chanced on a website hiring for a local southern california base in counter insurgency and interrogation. That is not for Iraq or Afghanistan but here, so the armed forces are being enabled to affect order should things get out of hand. THis is a given.The Homeland Security which is really an umbrulla over which the national security state intelligence holds power is quietly in the background hovering, collecting and listening. If you think that it's stopped or lightened up you are dreaming and will get a rude awakening in the future.
That is my take on the future. I would like to see more of the Occupy protests to really have an education effort in these areas. I was pretty ignorant myself in 2008 but did make an effort to delve deep after that.It's not expected that everybody can be informed on everything but it would be helpful if there was focus more in some of these areas.
I believe that is quite true Joe and Nodlon, yes, I expect much of that to be educated guessing and closer than the presumptions from dot gov sources. I do not think U.S. politicians have the RIGHT to impress a European (or any OTHER country) bailout on U.S. taxpayers. At this economic time, I find that distinctly unPatriotic! They have overpresumed their employment and the employers forgot they should have the control. Public servants, however, have exempted themselves from U.S. laws, including Treason, via the Ethics Committee, their "justice". Wolves guarding the wolves! "The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson "There is in the nature of government an impatience of control that disposes those invested with power to look with an evil eye upon all external attempts to restrain or direct its operations. This has its origin in the love of power. Representatives of the people are not superior to the people themselves." - Alexander Hamilton - Federalist Paper No.15, 1787 “If Tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy” James Madison Just one of many forefather quotes I have warning us of foreign wars: "Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all... The Nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest ... Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world." - George Washington, Farewell Address, 17 Sept. 1796
I am fully aware that taxpayers are still renting and paying maintenance to one of Halliburton divisions (located now in Yemen and Caymen Islands, so taxpayer profits to that corp and it's divisions and subsidarys can no longer be traced to U.S. politics) for enough PORTABLE PRISON CAMPS in each state to hold about 1/2 of the population. These went in place and will stay in place with the renewal of the Homeland Security Bill, with it's "free market"(?) CLOSED AND NO BID contracts (like the prison camp one). I know city clerks and other local employees have trained to be police, as they expected the people to get upset over the tyranny legalized by the Homeland Security Bill and Patriot Act, and that is part of the legislation, that they must do the training, including signing in for regular shooting practice even when rest of training is completed.
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done! And I am Caesar." 100 BC to 44 BC.
Especially when it seems that there are two possible outcomes (snap back or break), it's important to recognize the ways in which both outcomes can be avoided. They often are, and this is because the people prepared to benefit the most from one of them and the people prepared to benefit the most from the other put tremendous effort into preventing the unfavorable outcome. The only cooperative result is to avoid both outcomes.
So imagine that rubber band doing something else. It could become mushy and all the potential energy stored in its elasticity could slowly leak out without the band shrinking. It could harden into an unbreakable and unstretchable ring. It could become thinner and thinner to the point where its contiguity hardly matters. I haven't put any effort into what these possibilities might translate to in the sense of the economic disparity, but I wanted to point out the possibilities that are not being addressed by the analysis of Mr. Reich.
Especially when it seems that there are two possible outcomes (snap back or break), it's important to recognize the ways in which both outcomes can be avoided. They often are, and this is because the people prepared to benefit the most from one of them and the people prepared to benefit the most from the other put tremendous effort into preventing the unfavorable outcome. The only cooperative result is to avoid both outcomes.
So imagine that rubber band doing something else. It could become mushy and all the potential energy stored in its elasticity could slowly leak out without the band shrinking. It could harden into an unbreakable and unstretchable ring. It could become thinner and thinner to the point where its contiguity hardly matters. I haven't put any effort into what these possibilities might translate to in the sense of the economic disparity, but I wanted to point out the possibilities that are not being addressed by the analysis of Mr. Reich.
One of the things that needs to be outlawed in corporate America is the use of nepotism {favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit}. This has led to most companies being led by some of the most incompetent people. It is no longer true that the "cream always rises to the top". There also needs to be regulations requiring promotion only through completing the layers of tasks one wants to supervise.
One thing must be exceptionally clear to us all. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Whether we desire either reform or revolution we must therefore understand that the next step along either path must be a Constitutional Convention.
We tried simply electing Presidents, appointing Judges and Congresscritters/senators. We did that under FDR and look where it got us? Glass-Steagal lasted until it was repealed by Grahm-Lech-Biley under Clinton. So we must understand that we are fighting not just the battles of now, but the battles of tomorrow. For ever since 1980 we have been suffering the reprocussions of a sustained campaign to dismantle civil democratic society and replace it with, what at this point I imagine can only look like a Neo-Feudal global corporate state.
So before we can do anything, we must call for a full constitutional convention. We must revise out elections system and publicly finance it, ban all gifts to officials and anyone related to them or an array of other similar prohibitive measures to ensure compliance with the people's will.
But that was just my idea. In the end, either way, whatever choice we make we must first convene a convention. No change we make shall last if we do anything less, and history has born witness to that.
any thoughts
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
well?
well?
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
well?
I cannot predict
Submitted by Desal on
I cannot predict what will happen next or how far we have come and/or whether we can mend our society enough to keep it. However, as I previously posted, I do believe that there are serious issues that might fall way beyond our(lower and middle class) reach. It will almost take the impossible to bring our society back to equilibrium- a place where we are all at least satisfied with the outcome of our endeavors.
We should be prepared to do whatever it takes to make the society we live in significantly better for ourselves and others, now and for our future.
Make your own statement.
Good Post
Submitted by nodlon75 on
Right now the nation of the United States is not contrary to common opinion really feeling the full brunt of the economic crisis. I believe that there is about 3/4 quarter more to come. By that I mean an economic shock of some kind that would throw the stock market off so much that the plunge protection team, Timmothy Geithner and the Federal Reserve would not be able to offset it.Pensions would immediately be affected, there might be a bank that would freeze up and revenue would plunge further for states.Instead of the trickle down it would be systemic shocks that happen in different areas.
How that goes I don't know but it is instructive that corporate holders of stock(insiders, CEO's, board members)are selling rather than buying.Meaning dropping the ball and looking at exits. Steven "Obama is Hitler" Shratzman is making interesting moves with his hedge fund, Soros has closed shop. There is a lot of billionaire type real estate quietly being put on the market. One must ask why?
Further the manipulation can only extend so far. It has not enabled the employment rate to drop no matter what the lamestream media spins.But the safety net is still there due to revenue and those still working.But with further economic contraction the tax donkey(middle class)breaks down.
Right now Europe is in the hot seat. The IMF will request $300 billion of tranche aid to help out which will come vis a vis the US taxpayer. My aplogies, but you don't have a choice there.You are on the hook.
After that from what I've heard the Obama administration will be on the hook for the cuts.
Probably because the Republicans have been baying at the moon any cuts by Democrats will seem reasonable in response. The real fact is though ALL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS are committed to the austerity dance. It's just that some want to do the waltz and lull the populace and others want a frenzied can-can and kick em to the curb while saying that it's all for the best and Jesus or the Constitution(take your pick)deems it so.
What set off Tunis/Egypt was the direct food inflation of wheat prices that soared due to speculators fleeing the money printing of quantative easing by the US Federal Reserve.For years people had been unhappy in those countries but when food gets scarce people change.
The guy lighting himself on fire was the straw that broke the camel's back.It will be the same here as history repeats itself and the American Ruling Class is resembling more and more the French Court of the Versailles.
The challenge of the US elites who are aware that there is no money to offset commitments in the future is to sell shared sacrifice(the eat the peas argument)while maintaining the status quo. Fortunately for them the mainstream media is on board and able to still fragment and divide.Plus both conservative and liberal religous authorities can argue the personal responsiblity mythos. A lot of Americans are very religous and will believe that ultimately.They also have the option of creating another boogy-boogy terrorist enemy. Some say Pakistan is being set up for this. I don't know.
My belief is when the social security cuts, welfare cuts, and all other cuts become law that's when the brown stuff starts flying. I've been told the armed forces are prepared and on stand by in some cities already.This is a fact as I recently while looking for a job in the tech sector chanced on a website hiring for a local southern california base in counter insurgency and interrogation. That is not for Iraq or Afghanistan but here, so the armed forces are being enabled to affect order should things get out of hand. THis is a given.The Homeland Security which is really an umbrulla over which the national security state intelligence holds power is quietly in the background hovering, collecting and listening. If you think that it's stopped or lightened up you are dreaming and will get a rude awakening in the future.
That is my take on the future. I would like to see more of the Occupy protests to really have an education effort in these areas. I was pretty ignorant myself in 2008 but did make an effort to delve deep after that.It's not expected that everybody can be informed on everything but it would be helpful if there was focus more in some of these areas.
I believe that is quite true
Submitted by Laura on
I believe that is quite true Joe and Nodlon, yes, I expect much of that to be educated guessing and closer than the presumptions from dot gov sources. I do not think U.S. politicians have the RIGHT to impress a European (or any OTHER country) bailout on U.S. taxpayers. At this economic time, I find that distinctly unPatriotic! They have overpresumed their employment and the employers forgot they should have the control. Public servants, however, have exempted themselves from U.S. laws, including Treason, via the Ethics Committee, their "justice". Wolves guarding the wolves! "The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson "There is in the nature of government an impatience of control that disposes those invested with power to look with an evil eye upon all external attempts to restrain or direct its operations. This has its origin in the love of power. Representatives of the people are not superior to the people themselves." - Alexander Hamilton - Federalist Paper No.15, 1787 “If Tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy” James Madison Just one of many forefather quotes I have warning us of foreign wars: "Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all... The Nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest ... Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world." - George Washington, Farewell Address, 17 Sept. 1796
I am fully aware that taxpayers are still renting and paying maintenance to one of Halliburton divisions (located now in Yemen and Caymen Islands, so taxpayer profits to that corp and it's divisions and subsidarys can no longer be traced to U.S. politics) for enough PORTABLE PRISON CAMPS in each state to hold about 1/2 of the population. These went in place and will stay in place with the renewal of the Homeland Security Bill, with it's "free market"(?) CLOSED AND NO BID contracts (like the prison camp one). I know city clerks and other local employees have trained to be police, as they expected the people to get upset over the tyranny legalized by the Homeland Security Bill and Patriot Act, and that is part of the legislation, that they must do the training, including signing in for regular shooting practice even when rest of training is completed.
"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done! And I am Caesar." 100 BC to 44 BC.
Watch out for false dilemmas
Submitted by dscotese on
Especially when it seems that there are two possible outcomes (snap back or break), it's important to recognize the ways in which both outcomes can be avoided. They often are, and this is because the people prepared to benefit the most from one of them and the people prepared to benefit the most from the other put tremendous effort into preventing the unfavorable outcome. The only cooperative result is to avoid both outcomes.
So imagine that rubber band doing something else. It could become mushy and all the potential energy stored in its elasticity could slowly leak out without the band shrinking. It could harden into an unbreakable and unstretchable ring. It could become thinner and thinner to the point where its contiguity hardly matters. I haven't put any effort into what these possibilities might translate to in the sense of the economic disparity, but I wanted to point out the possibilities that are not being addressed by the analysis of Mr. Reich.
Watch out for false dilemmas
Submitted by dscotese on
Especially when it seems that there are two possible outcomes (snap back or break), it's important to recognize the ways in which both outcomes can be avoided. They often are, and this is because the people prepared to benefit the most from one of them and the people prepared to benefit the most from the other put tremendous effort into preventing the unfavorable outcome. The only cooperative result is to avoid both outcomes.
So imagine that rubber band doing something else. It could become mushy and all the potential energy stored in its elasticity could slowly leak out without the band shrinking. It could harden into an unbreakable and unstretchable ring. It could become thinner and thinner to the point where its contiguity hardly matters. I haven't put any effort into what these possibilities might translate to in the sense of the economic disparity, but I wanted to point out the possibilities that are not being addressed by the analysis of Mr. Reich.
do NFL players deserve their
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
do NFL players deserve their salaries?
Well i love football
Submitted by LastChance on
and would filp if the players went on strike so lets leave the NFL out of this
nepotism
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
One of the things that needs to be outlawed in corporate America is the use of nepotism {favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit}. This has led to most companies being led by some of the most incompetent people. It is no longer true that the "cream always rises to the top". There also needs to be regulations requiring promotion only through completing the layers of tasks one wants to supervise.
The path to either lies through Constitutional Convention
Submitted by Fallout2man on
One thing must be exceptionally clear to us all. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Whether we desire either reform or revolution we must therefore understand that the next step along either path must be a Constitutional Convention.
We tried simply electing Presidents, appointing Judges and Congresscritters/senators. We did that under FDR and look where it got us? Glass-Steagal lasted until it was repealed by Grahm-Lech-Biley under Clinton. So we must understand that we are fighting not just the battles of now, but the battles of tomorrow. For ever since 1980 we have been suffering the reprocussions of a sustained campaign to dismantle civil democratic society and replace it with, what at this point I imagine can only look like a Neo-Feudal global corporate state.
So before we can do anything, we must call for a full constitutional convention. We must revise out elections system and publicly finance it, ban all gifts to officials and anyone related to them or an array of other similar prohibitive measures to ensure compliance with the people's will.
But that was just my idea. In the end, either way, whatever choice we make we must first convene a convention. No change we make shall last if we do anything less, and history has born witness to that.
sf pepper spraying
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57328289/outrage-over-police-pepper-spraying-students/
this is outrageous...the Police are initiating the violence
Excellent video! Thank you.
Submitted by revengetube on
I can't believe it was 2005. Robert Reich is such a genius. A national treasure that man.
excellent thoughts
Submitted by Joe Bialek on
excellent thoughts
In my opinion, the movement needs a philosophical edge.
Submitted by KayakerBob on
Read my comments on the link above and respond.
KaykerBob
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