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The politics of divide and conquer continue. Politics of fear, suspicion, even hate are staples of the current landscape. Government and politicians want us to fear; without fear they cannot rule.
We have heard of “class warfare,” the “politics of envy,” the “1%” who is gouging the rest of us, and more. Some say Wall Street is the enemy, others point to Main Street. Some say the wealthy are taking undue advantage, others say that 25% or more of Americans pay no taxes. The rhetoric is over the top, overheated and incendiary. We all should pray that we cease to make political issues of virtually all topics, no matter how trivial, and begin to live again as a unified American people.
America has long been idolized as the land of opportunity. There was a feeling that anyone had a chance to make it big. Has the American dream be deferred, delayed, or even denied to the current generation? There seems to be much evidence that income disparity between lower, middle and upper classes has widened; that the poor are getting poorer, the middle class staggering, and the rich continue to amass more wealth. Unfortunately for those who deny it, there is solid evidence that the social cleavage of income disparity is rapidly accelerating, that upward mobility has been stymied.
A viable middle class and a clear opportunity for upward mobility have been hailed as the cornerstones upon which a strong democracy is grown. The recent implosion of the equities market cost many a huge number their retirement funds as 401Ks and like investment programs dwindled in value. For many, their home is their most valuable asset. Home values also plummeted creating greater vulnerability among the middle class denying many the retirement they anticipated. A rebound in stock prices and home values that may take 5-10 years to restore these folks to the point where they are once again whole is too late. Many, who previously considered themselves prudent investors, find that retirement is a myth and that working well into their “golden years” a reality. The situation for those less wise is even direr, and we may have created an entirely new welfare class among baby boomers as they near retirement.
Younger workers are finding jobs less available, wages lower, and the prospects of advancement obscure. Even jobs, once considered as providing teens entry into the workforce, are unavailable as they are now held by older workers desperate to survive. A recent Time cover queried “CAN YOU STILL MOVE UP IN AMERICA?” Chances of achieving the dream are growing slimmer as the article in that issue documented. As early as five years ago America led the world in the key areas that influenced upward mobility; we have fallen to eighth. Disparity in income has grown, and recent polls indicate that more than 60% of Americans find it a matter of concern.
According to Time, “Pathways to the Dream” have numerous determinants — sex, race, family's economic status and education. Behavior, educational achievement, and other factors add elements to the equation. The pathways have become filled with roadblocks. Advancement requires a continued level of achievement beginning as early as the school years and continuing well into one's career. Roadblocks are not imaginary; jobs are not available, education is lacking, and job advancement and job creation stalled.
Even our local Daily Sentinel noted in a front page article on Jan. 17, “Local tea party, occupy groups see common ground about divide.” An unsustainable income gap between classes is not an issue created by a “socialist” president; it is a reality becoming more evident on an almost daily basis. Those who hold to that latter belief will soon become somewhat befuddled when strongly right-leaning politicians take up the banner of income disparity. Will they, at that time, continue to see the issue as “class warfare,” the flames of which are fanned by leftists?
We look to Washington, D.C., to fix this as it is perceived their policies were the genesis of the growing income inequity. The 99% and the Tea Bag groups realize that government policy is accelerating the income gap. Our wishes will go unfulfilled as we look at the current crop of presidential aspirants and realize that one was paid $30,000 per hour as a consultant and another earns an average years' salary for a single speech.
Leaders and hopeful leaders are out of touch with the electorate and are somewhat baffled by the fact we are outraged. No, we do not envy the rich; we decry policies that favor the rich.
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Jim Hoffman is a local real estate broker and investor who is trying to move from semi-retired to retired. He needs to retire to devote more time to unpaid interests such as skiing, camping and fishing.
We have heard of “class warfare,” the “politics of envy,” the “1%” who is gouging the rest of us, and more. Some say Wall Street is the enemy, others point to Main Street. Some say the wealthy are taking undue advantage, others say that 25% or more of Americans pay no taxes. The rhetoric is over the top, overheated and incendiary. We all should pray that we cease to make political issues of virtually all topics, no matter how trivial, and begin to live again as a unified American people.
America has long been idolized as the land of opportunity. There was a feeling that anyone had a chance to make it big. Has the American dream be deferred, delayed, or even denied to the current generation? There seems to be much evidence that income disparity between lower, middle and upper classes has widened; that the poor are getting poorer, the middle class staggering, and the rich continue to amass more wealth. Unfortunately for those who deny it, there is solid evidence that the social cleavage of income disparity is rapidly accelerating, that upward mobility has been stymied.
A viable middle class and a clear opportunity for upward mobility have been hailed as the cornerstones upon which a strong democracy is grown. The recent implosion of the equities market cost many a huge number their retirement funds as 401Ks and like investment programs dwindled in value. For many, their home is their most valuable asset. Home values also plummeted creating greater vulnerability among the middle class denying many the retirement they anticipated. A rebound in stock prices and home values that may take 5-10 years to restore these folks to the point where they are once again whole is too late. Many, who previously considered themselves prudent investors, find that retirement is a myth and that working well into their “golden years” a reality. The situation for those less wise is even direr, and we may have created an entirely new welfare class among baby boomers as they near retirement.
Younger workers are finding jobs less available, wages lower, and the prospects of advancement obscure. Even jobs, once considered as providing teens entry into the workforce, are unavailable as they are now held by older workers desperate to survive. A recent Time cover queried “CAN YOU STILL MOVE UP IN AMERICA?” Chances of achieving the dream are growing slimmer as the article in that issue documented. As early as five years ago America led the world in the key areas that influenced upward mobility; we have fallen to eighth. Disparity in income has grown, and recent polls indicate that more than 60% of Americans find it a matter of concern.
According to Time, “Pathways to the Dream” have numerous determinants — sex, race, family's economic status and education. Behavior, educational achievement, and other factors add elements to the equation. The pathways have become filled with roadblocks. Advancement requires a continued level of achievement beginning as early as the school years and continuing well into one's career. Roadblocks are not imaginary; jobs are not available, education is lacking, and job advancement and job creation stalled.
Even our local Daily Sentinel noted in a front page article on Jan. 17, “Local tea party, occupy groups see common ground about divide.” An unsustainable income gap between classes is not an issue created by a “socialist” president; it is a reality becoming more evident on an almost daily basis. Those who hold to that latter belief will soon become somewhat befuddled when strongly right-leaning politicians take up the banner of income disparity. Will they, at that time, continue to see the issue as “class warfare,” the flames of which are fanned by leftists?
We look to Washington, D.C., to fix this as it is perceived their policies were the genesis of the growing income inequity. The 99% and the Tea Bag groups realize that government policy is accelerating the income gap. Our wishes will go unfulfilled as we look at the current crop of presidential aspirants and realize that one was paid $30,000 per hour as a consultant and another earns an average years' salary for a single speech.
Leaders and hopeful leaders are out of touch with the electorate and are somewhat baffled by the fact we are outraged. No, we do not envy the rich; we decry policies that favor the rich.
---------------------------------
Jim Hoffman is a local real estate broker and investor who is trying to move from semi-retired to retired. He needs to retire to devote more time to unpaid interests such as skiing, camping and fishing.
