Problem with our economy

[Riot]

My parents were the successful children of successful immigrants, the first created "middle class", lucky enough to "work hard" and reap the upwardly mobile rapid success available in the 1950's, 1960's, etc.

Then in my lifetime, I've gone from my 20's - 30's, where hard work would move you up the ladder as far and quickly as you wanted, with good jobs, great pay, where every job offered, even menial ones, had a pension, health insurance, etc. offered to you, savings accounts paid 5% at least, and you knew you'd retire safely with your savings, your pension, and Social Security ...

... to the 1990's and 2000's, where salaries have dropped, bennies are few, jobs are few, growth is impossible, saving is useless in a basic savings account. The same things: housing, utilities, food - cost the same percentage of a basic salary as it did 40 years ago.

The economic differences and opportunities between the first half and second halves of my adult working life is like night and day.

You young whippersnappers have no idea how awesome it was 30 years ago!

But, that still leaves elderly like my parents and other elderly relatives, who retired from very successful upwardly mobile lives before it all fell apart, who think nothing has changed since how it was when they worked, and that poverty and lack of success now can be due to only laziness.

Nope. The deck is completely stacked against workers now. Take away pensions, healthcare, zero life insurance, no vacation, longer hours (America works longer hours that many other first world countries for less) destruction of unions, demonization of workers as moochers.

Unbelievable. I don't know how most under the age of 35 can even possibly have a very good life in America any more. You will either be lucky enough to be born into an upper class, or you'll be a worker bee, struggling for work your whole life. Even being a doctor or lawyer or other professional won't assure you of being able to obtain an upper middle class lifestyle nowadays - you'll be paying that off your whole life.

BUT - if any of you think the Republican Party, the party who oversaw this massive transfer of wealth, and enabled and encouraged it, is on the side of those 47% of Americans who now are at or near poverty, you are dead wrong, and putting your trust into the people that stole your future from you in the first place. Believe me - I was along for their ride and helped them do it.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Riot

My parents were the successful children of successful immigrants, the first created "middle class", lucky enough to "work hard" and reap the upwardly mobile rapid success available in the 1950's, 1960's, etc.

Then in my lifetime, I've gone from my 20's - 30's, where hard work would move you up the ladder as far and quickly as you wanted, with good jobs, great pay, where every job offered, even menial ones, had a pension, health insurance, etc. offered to you, savings accounts paid 5% at least, and you knew you'd retire safely with your savings, your pension, and Social Security ...

... to the 1990's and 2000's, where salaries have dropped, bennies are few, jobs are few, growth is impossible, saving is useless in a basic savings account. The same things: housing, utilities, food - cost the same percentage of a basic salary as it did 40 years ago.

The economic differences and opportunities between the first half and second halves of my adult working life is like night and day.

You young whippersnappers have no idea how awesome it was 30 years ago!

But, that still leaves elderly like my parents and other elderly relatives, who retired from very successful upwardly mobile lives before it all fell apart, who think nothing has changed since how it was when they worked, and that poverty and lack of success now can be due to only laziness.

Nope. The deck is completely stacked against workers now. Take away pensions, healthcare, zero life insurance, no vacation, longer hours (America works longer hours that many other first world countries for less) destruction of unions, demonization of workers as moochers.

Unbelievable. I don't know how most under the age of 35 can even possibly have a very good life in America any more. You will either be lucky enough to be born into an upper class, or you'll be a worker bee, struggling for work your whole life. Even being a doctor or lawyer or other professional won't assure you of being able to obtain an upper middle class lifestyle nowadays - you'll be paying that off your whole life.

BUT - if any of you think the Republican Party, the party who oversaw this massive transfer of wealth, and enabled and encouraged it, is on the side of those 47% of Americans who now are at or near poverty, you are dead wrong, and putting your trust into the people that stole your future from you in the first place. Believe me - I was along for their ride and helped them do it.

Well stated.

[richard burch]

when you have a 2 party dictatorship thats what happens.

keep voting them in.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by jms62

Well stated.

Aside from the obvious omission of the Clinton Presidency of course. And the fact that this current president will do absolutely nothing about the continued transfer as he is beholden as well.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

Aside from the obvious omission of the Clinton Presidency of course. And the fact that this current president will do absolutely nothing about the continued transfer as he is beholden as well.

Yet Obama has actually done things in opposition to what you say. How do you account for that?

It's all faked Ninja distraction?

[my miss storm cat]

I liked reading your post. It was nice to have some insight as to why you think the way you do or portray yourself in the light that you do.

Originally Posted by Riot

Nope. The deck is completely stacked against workers now. Take away pensions, healthcare, zero life insurance, no vacation, longer hours (America works longer hours that many other first world countries for less) destruction of unions, demonization of workers as moochers.

Unbelievable. I don't know how most under the age of 35 can even possibly have a very good life in America any more. You will either be lucky enough to be born into an upper class, or you'll be a worker bee, struggling for work your whole life. Even being a doctor or lawyer or other professional won't assure you of being able to obtain an upper middle class lifestyle nowadays - you'll be paying that off your whole life.

If you can compose something so rational as the above why on earth can't you understand that, for some, Romney - by virtue of not being Obama - is the one who offers hope?

We know what the next four years will be like with the current administration.

We're all bettors here, right?

I'd rather chance the unknown, faults and all, because to me Mr. Obama is terrifyingly awful.

The past four years has showed me nothing in terms of why he should have another (four).

Isn't that understandable? Even if you don't agree you do get it, don't you?

[Danzig]

just saw some of the latest headlines about the polls-that fla and va are a statistical tie for example.
with all romney's gaffes, he's still right there. that should speak volumes about the complete unhappiness with where this country has gone the last four years. and what's up with biden's remarks that the middle class has been 'buried' the last four years (he's right by the way-but it's been longer than just the last four)? i'm surprised they still have him out and about speaking without his remarks being prepared in advance-talk about your loose cannon.

[Danzig]

http://news.yahoo.com/whats-bringing...154734351.html

this could be great news if enough companies make this move. here's hoping.

[Danzig]

when it all originally went south:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...t-passed-in-us

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by Danzig

when it all originally went south:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...t-passed-in-us

at least they were trying to pay for the war. different story in 2003.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

at least they were trying to pay for the war. different story in 2003.

true. too bad tho the 'temporary' measure didn't turn out that way. we'd all have been better served all these years had they paid for that war, and then reverted.
but once you turn that money siphon on, good luck turning it off.

also, too bad that we are so much quicker to war these days then we were back then.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

If you can compose something so rational as the above why on earth can't you understand that, for some, Romney - by virtue of not being Obama - is the one who offers hope?

Because Romney's policy promises are exactly a continuation of that transfer of wealth, literally embracing every GOP policy that has destroyed this country and put us into massive debt over every GOP presidency since 1968, and Obama's policies and laws implemented have actually been the opposite of that?

[Riot]

59 Congress Members Get An "F" on First-Ever Inequality Report Card
—By Josh Harkinson
| Wed Oct. 3, 2012 3:00 AM PDT

Forty eight representatives and 11 senators earn an "F" on a new report card that ranks lawmakers based on how well they address income inequality.

All of the failing grades went to Republicans.

The "Inequality Report Card," published today by the Institute for Policy Studies, looks at how lawmakers voted on dozens of bills that would, among other things, raise taxes on the wealthy, restrict the use of offshore tax havens, increase the minimum wage, and strengthen labor unions.

The report gives the worst combined grade to Arkansas' congressional delegation and the best to Vermont's.

Too bad Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described socialist, isn't as exportable as Bill Clinton.

None of the senators earning an "F" grade come from the nation's five most equal states.

Lawmakers' scores on the report card correlate loosely with how much income inequality exists in their home states. California and New York rank among the highest for income inequality but employ lawmakers that earn, on average, a B- for their friendliness to the middle class.

None of the senators earning an "F" grade come from the nation's five most equal states.

The report also looked at whether rich members of Congress tend to favor the 1 percent, but it seems that their votes depend more on party than pocketbook.

The 10 wealthiest Democrats earned grades ranging from a "B" to "A."

The best grade earned by a wealthy Republican was a C-minus.

[ Editorial note: Yes, the two parties clearly are not the same, and do not have the same vision for America, do they? Romney vs Obama - it's not an equal choice]

Mother Jones
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012...-congressmen-f