Reform or Revolution?

[JOEBIALEK]

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?

[Crys]

I've been, at various times, so poor and down on my luck that I was sleeping on the street, up to solidly middle class. What concerns me is that being solidly middle-class now, with my husband and I combined making the most in a year that we've ever made, we're still not living as well or meeting our obligations as well as we have when we were arguably poorer. What would be an actual living wage keeps going up at a rate that actual wages are not keeping up with. I have no difficulty believing in a widening gap; I see it all around me every day.

I think the country at large is too apathetic for a revolution to happen now and the people at the top are too self-interested to let real reform happen without a revolution. I don't know that even a Napoleon could get a revolution going here, today. Why? Because the public at large wants someone else to do it for them. It's not enough to just stand on a soapbox and create outrage, not anymore. You can see that kind of anger by looking at any political website or publication or even just by sitting in a coffee shop for long enough. But all these people talking about how angry they are... are doing nothing to change things. They'll "support" change, by putting bumper stickers on their cars (just like those stupid yellow Made-in-China-I-support-killing-all-our-young-adults-for-oil ribbons that are plastered everywhere are supposed to be doing something for our soldiers) or by posting on their websites and blogs... but most of those people shy away when you start looking for people to actually DO something.

I think we might already be past the point of "critical mass". I can't see any way out of this, not one that's going to happen anyway, that doesn't involve violence, either in word or deed. But when it does happen, I doubt that there will be enough people willing to DO something for it to make a difference.

[Rex]

I agree with Crys...we've become a nation of apathetic victims. Noone wants to take responsibility for thier lives or actions.
We attend public schools which teach the religon of the goverment..and if you haven't gotten it yet, goverment is run by big money. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND...we no longer are taught, rather programned. We don't teach our children to think or show them how to solve problems. We program them to handle things exactly how they want them too.
Gradually the goverment reasons onto law, unreasonable and useless laws. think about it..the "Unpatriotic act of 911" steps on every individual freedon granted by the constitution, but instead of being a patriot when standing up for yourself, you are labeled an unpatriotic person, belittled and branded because you disagree, and Now they want to make the permenant...yeah listen to George..he hasn't lied to us yet....
Next time you're pulled over and are asked if they can search your car.. try standing up for your 4th and 5th amendment right... I'll bet you hear "if you don't have anything to hide" god I love that rheotoric, so much for innocent until proven guilty.
Case in point, and I neither defend nor implicate the Man, Micheal Jackson, it doesn;t matter that he was found not guilty on all charges, he was guilty in most peoples eyes, before the trial even began. The goverment had thier public relations department in full bloom. Like Martha Stwewart, thrown to the wolves to sate the public. Covered the fact that Enrons execs got off of most charges, or the fact that we never should have been in Iraq., and don't get me started on Afghanastan, it's all about money and control, but as long as the public gets fed a line of ****, they'll accept anything.
well I got off on a rant, but the problem runs deeper than just the topic, it boils down to the fact that once you have the money, all that is left is power, and money buys power.
Drug dealers and poor people.. I disagree with that totally, what "poor drug dealers see is but a pitance of what is made, but again it is a diversion. As long as we the people are kept diverted and arguing amongst ourselves, they can pretty much do what the want and get away with it.
I'll shut up now
Thanx for listening
Rex

[JOEBIALEK]

good points...

[goofycow]

You want to help the poor? Maybe we could start by overhauling our public schools. Make teachers personally accountable for results. Go back to teaching kids how to actually read. Take away their calculators and make them do math the old fashsioned way. Reward kids for their hard work. Stop being politically correct with worrying so much about self esteem! Once these kids have learned the basics, they can move on to college. Maybe after getting a good education, these kids can get the high tech, good paying jobs in this country. Outsourcing might no longer be needed. Face it, the job market is changing. Old technology is fading away. In my simple little world, it boils down to personable responsibility.

Yes, we can give the poor all the special programs and help in the world. It is how the poor deal with this help that matters. Maybe we could offer them a life skills course. Just my opinion...

[Kris10]

I agree with goofycow, kids need to be taught life skills. Kids walk out of high school or college not knowing how to balance checkbooks, apply for credit, interview, buy a home or find healthcare. These are not things that should be learned by trial and error; the results can be disastrous!

However, I do think that parents, not teachers, should bear the majority of accountability for a child's education. If schools are failing, teach at home. TVs or video games can't be expected to raise children, yet they are a common scapegoat when children fail. Parents need to be involved!

[L]

Yeah and maybe it would be really cool to emulate the failing Texas Schools. Wisconsin students have consistently tested tops in ACT scores for the last 15 years. This state's SAGE and 4k programs are incredibly effective. We have excellent schools in this state. Unfortunately, the current effort within the state legislature is to maintain (if budget is considered) an inaffordable transportation budget while SLASHING funds to schools - all the while loudly proclaming a RAISE for schools :roll: . I guess that state legislators have learned a few tricks from national politics. Isn't there an old adage- If it's not broken don't fix it.? Well our schools arent' broken, but the fix is in.
Until now, one of Wisconsin's best exports has been the well educated, good solid citizens that are products of our schools. The underfunding of our University System guarantees this will continue.