Amazon 7 #1 July 23, 2011 MMMMMM TRICKLE MMMMMMMM OOOPS no trickle for you middle class America http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/us/10iht-letter10.html?_r=3 Way of the World Getting by Without the Middle Class By CHRYSTIA FREELAND | REUTERS Published: June 9, 2011 NEW YORK — The big mystery in the United States today is why the job crisis is not at the center of the political and economic debate. After all, the numbers — and the human tragedies they reflect — could not be bleaker. Nearly 14 million Americans — 9.1 percent of the working population — are unemployed. That’s just a couple of a million shy of the populations of Greece and Ireland, Europe’s two problem children, combined. Another 8.5 million would like to work full time, but can only find part-time jobs. A further 2.2 million have been so discouraged by the grim labor market that they have given up looking for jobs altogether. It is hard to blame them — those still actively looking for work have been unemployed for an average of 39.7 weeks. These are cruel numbers, and they depict an unemployment crisis that is deeper and more sustained than at any time since 1948, when records first started to be kept. Yet the debate in Washington is focused on deficit reduction, rather than job creation. The news media are following the same playbook. A recent database analysis by The National Journal found that over the past two years, the leading newspapers in the United States had dramatically shifted their attention from unemployment to the deficit and were now publishing more than three times as many stories about the budget as they were about jobs. Politicians and pundits on the left have begun warning that this relative indifference to joblessness is worse than a crime, it is a mistake. In a blog post this month, Robert Reich, the former labor secretary, said that “the economic burdens of America’s vast middle class may be catching up with the Street.” Unless more jobs are created soon, he warned, “American consumers will not have enough purchasing power to buy what the private sector can produce.” But the reality may be even more chilling: Perhaps U.S. business is learning to get by just fine, thank you, without middle-class U.S. consumers. And while that may be good news for chief executives and shareholders, it could be the beginning of a new and socially wrenching political logic that leaves the great American middle behind. Wall Street, which is paid for smarts, not sentiment, has this figured out. In a newspaper interview this month, Robert C. Doll, chief equity strategist at BlackRock, the largest money manager in the world, pointed out that the fortunes of U.S. companies and the fortunes of the country as a whole were diverging: “The U.S. stock market and the U.S. economy are increasingly different animals.” Mr. Doll’s explanation for the shift was the increasing importance of international markets rather than the domestic one — of the rising middle class in emerging markets, rather than the stagnating one back home. He said that over the next five years, 70 percent of the incremental earnings of S.&P. 500 companies would come from outside the United States. Among the most high-ranking executives, capitalizing on that shift has become standard operating practice. Speaking this week in Washington at an Ernst & Young conference on emerging markets (disclosure note: I moderated some sessions), Steve Taylor, a senior executive at the energy and water company Nalco, explained, “In most cases, it is dismantling something you have in mature markets to build in emerging markets. So you have to take that step. It is very painful, but you have to take that step.” The move to consumers from emerging markets is just part of the story. Within the United States, the advertising agencies on Madison Avenue are discovering that the age of the American mass consumer may be drawing to an end. Instead, a new white paper by Ad Age, the industry’s trade journal, argues that growing income inequality means the only buyers who count are those at the top. “Simply put, as the discrepancy between the rich and poor has become more and more stark, a small plutocracy of wealthy elites drives a larger and larger share of total consumer spending,” the paper concludes, citing research that shows the top 10 percent of U.S. households account for nearly 50 percent of all consumer spending. “It appears that mass affluence may be a thing of the past — and that luxury marketers should reconsider how their products appeal to elite consumers.” It is hard to overemphasize the importance of this business shift from the U.S. middle class to the rich at home and the hundreds of millions graduating into the middle class in the emerging markets. Twentieth-century American capitalism was built on what you might call the Henry Ford model — generously compensated workers (Ford paid double the existing rate) created a mass middle class that bought the products of the country’s entrepreneurs. That virtuous circle made the United States the world’s economic behemoth, and created a society and a political discourse defined by a proudly acquisitive middle class — the United States’ much admired and much maligned consumer culture. But today, for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, that link between keeping up with the Joneses and the rising value of the Dow Jones industrial average may be breaking. Unemployment remains stuck above 9 percent, but since March 2009, when stocks hit their post-crisis bottom, the Dow has risen more than 85 percent. When the chief of General Motors, Charles E. Wilson, told a Senate confirmation hearing in 1953 that he believed that what was good for the country was good for G.M. and vice versa, he took some flak for uttering such a self-serving line. But we all remember it because Mr. Wilson captured something axiomatic about the connection between the fortunes of U.S. business and the welfare of the country as a whole. The creative destruction of 21st-century capitalism seems to be requiring U.S. companies to learn to prosper with fewer U.S. workers and with fewer U.S. middle-class consumers. We do not know yet how American democracy — where the middle class has the votes, but the business class has the money — will respond to this tough new economic logic. Chrystia Freeland is global editor at large at Reuters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #2 July 23, 2011 eat the rich! (or they'll eat us)stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #3 July 23, 2011 Will a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. Truth, God is not fair and life is not fair, be grateful.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #4 July 23, 2011 QuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. Truth, God is not fair and life is not fair, be grateful. Just trying to let those who believe in TRICKLE to know where their TRICKLE they have been waiting for really is. They are some of those George referred to as being able to fool them ALL of the time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frankyspanky 0 #5 July 23, 2011 QuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. No a free society with a limited and transparent government will. Listen to Ron Paul, he is the only one that can say it how it is.Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces. Ron Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #6 July 23, 2011 Quote No a free society with a limited and transparent government will. Listen to Ron Paul, he is the only one that can say it how it is. He is gaining popularity in my area. I like what he says and how he thinks.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 177 #7 July 23, 2011 We have had a socialist nation for years. No one cared before Fox News started ramping up their attack machine against the president. Making corporations and wealthy pay a bit more. Not socialism. Reducing Medicare, medicaid, ss, not socialism. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frankyspanky 0 #8 July 23, 2011 QuoteHe is gaining popularity in my area. I like what he says and how he thinks. Great. Ron Paul holds the true hope and change everyone expected out of Obama... Obama is a teleprompter bullshit artist flipping a bitch on everything he says; Ron Paul speaks from his mind and his heart and has done so for decades. Just vote for him yourself and Urge others to just listen to him and make up their own minds.Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces. Ron Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #9 July 23, 2011 QuoteWe have had a socialist nation for years. No one cared before Fox News started ramping up their attack machine against the president. Making corporations and wealthy pay a bit more. Not socialism. Reducing Medicare, medicaid, ss, not socialism. It's about jobs not redistributing the money.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 177 #10 July 23, 2011 No president. None, will be able to create jobs in our new global economy. Corporations are sitting on almost two trillion cash. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #11 July 23, 2011 QuoteNo president. None, will be able to create jobs in our new global economy. Corporations are sitting on almost two trillion cash. Until the right wing figures out that the true anti-americans out there are the rich and the corporate masters who have bought the politicians there will be no push for jobs. George and his buddies have fooled them all of the time.. just like he told em... and all of George and his PNAC buddies are laughing at all the rubes who put them in power and made all of them richer have gone laughingall the way to the banks that were to big to fail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frankyspanky 0 #12 July 24, 2011 Quote Until the right wing figures out that the true anti-americans out there are the rich and the corporate masters who have bought the politicians there will be no push for jobs. Who are you going to vote for?Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces. Ron Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frankyspanky 0 #14 July 24, 2011 QuoteNo ideaUnsure Ron Paul is right wing though he stands for the things you seem to stand for... Go figure. Most of all of the two party system is in bed with the corporations, they have to be, left or right...except Ron Paul... I hate to sound like a scratched record, but his principals seem to be a solution to pretty much all the major problems we face. No one else has the guts to stand for that... Bring the boys home and end the Fed... Problems solved (long term)! You can’t put a band aid on a compound fracture and expect it to do anything.Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces. Ron Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #15 July 24, 2011 QuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. .NO, they're saying too MANY people have too LITTLE money. Read the article. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #16 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. .NO, they're saying too MANY people have too LITTLE money. Read the article. Well, all I am seeing is that Democrat and Republican are two heads on the same snake. We need to take our country back if we want to maintain our freedom and our liberty. An old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong."Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #17 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. .NO, they're saying too MANY people have too LITTLE money. Read the article. Well, all I am seeing is that Democrat and Republican are two heads on the same snake. We need to take our country back if we want to maintain our freedom and our liberty. An old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong." RIIIIIIIGHT.. and I dont suppose it bothers you in the slightest.. who holds the purse strings and is really financing the tea baggers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #18 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. .NO, they're saying too MANY people have too LITTLE money. Read the article. Well, all I am seeing is that Democrat and Republican are two heads on the same snake. We need to take our country back if we want to maintain our freedom and our liberty. An old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong." RIIIIIIIGHT.. and I dont suppose it bothers you in the slightest.. who holds the purse strings and is really financing the tea baggers In my area, we are financing ourselves. It is grassroots organization. The two-headed snake is financed by Wall Street and the World Bank, IMO. Add: The 912/Tea Party people I know are veteran bikers.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #19 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. .NO, they're saying too MANY people have too LITTLE money. Read the article. Well, all I am seeing is that Democrat and Republican are two heads on the same snake. We need to take our country back if we want to maintain our freedom and our liberty. An old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong." RIIIIIIIGHT.. and I dont suppose it bothers you in the slightest.. who holds the purse strings and is really financing the tea baggers In my area, we are financing ourselves. It is grassroots organization. The two-headed snake is financed by Wall Street and the World Bank, IMO. Add: The 912/Tea Party people I know are veteran bikers. The Truth Will Set you FREE Look up the rather ill named "Americans for Prosperity" which should really be prosperity for the Koch Brothers and the governors who are bought and paid for by them, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #20 July 24, 2011 QuoteAn old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong." It is both, actually, so long as the thing you're doing wrong is legal. I'm not defending wrong-doing at all, if it is wrong it is wrong. But within the realm of a free society you can act like an asshole as long as you keep it technically legal. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #21 July 24, 2011 Quote The Truth Will Set you FREE Look up the rather ill named "Americans for Prosperity" which should really be prosperity for the Koch Brothers and the governors who are bought and paid for by them, AFP http://www.conservapedia.com/Americans_for_Prosperity I fail to see the negative. How about the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). http://www.conservapedia.com/ACORN Isn't George Soros a major contributor and player in the ACORN strategy? Add: This article seems a bit more objective and balanced than Pickled Politics. http://www.conservapedia.com/Tea_PartyLook for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #22 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuote The Truth Will Set you FREE Look up the rather ill named "Americans for Prosperity" which should really be prosperity for the Koch Brothers and the governors who are bought and paid for by them, AFP http://www.conservapedia.com/Americans_for_Prosperity I fail to see the negative. How about the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). http://www.conservapedia.com/ACORN Isn't George Soros a major contributor and player in the ACORN strategy? Add: This article seems a bit more objective and balanced than Pickled Politics. http://www.conservapedia.com/Tea_Party Of course you do.... but as long as you cant see your rather large strings they have you hanging by.... nothing will change... Enjoy the delusion of freedom they have built for you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #23 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteWill a socialist form of government produce a stronger blue collar nation? I just wish some politician would tell me how that is going to work. All they seem to know to say is capitalism is wrong because too many people have too much money and, it's not fair. No a free society with a limited and transparent government will. Listen to Ron Paul, he is the only one that can say it how it is. I think certain freedoms are the cause of our problems. People, and organizations, are free to invest and spend pretty much as they wish. What we are experiencing is the consequence of USA not being a very attractive market. Not attractive as a labor pool, not attractive as a customer. Welcome to the globalization of labor & capital. Such a joke that the politicians promise improvement; improvements they have little influence to make. Our situation (working class) is going to remain shitty for a very long time, at least a decade, maybe a couple generations. Until we become relatively attractive (cheap) as a labor pool, what incentives do people have to invest here or hire here? How many promised dates for improvement have come and gone so far? I think 2 or 3. I've heard end of 2011 thrown out a few times. Gimme a fucking break." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #24 July 24, 2011 Quote Of course you do.... but as long as you cant see your rather large strings they have you hanging by.... nothing will change... Enjoy the delusion of freedom they have built for you. You see, that is where you are misjudging me. I do not have a delusion of freedom. I have a foreboding of the downfall of the America I love. And, all I see is infighting instead of pulling together to win our country back. The 912/Tea Party people are making an effort. The other side is just bitching. Get out your USAF scrapbook and think about who you were when you were serving. That's what I do. If I have a delusion of freedom it comes from that experience in my life.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 58 #25 July 24, 2011 QuoteQuoteAn old saying from a TV political commentary, "Liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not the right to do what is wrong." It is both, actually, so long as the thing you're doing wrong is legal. I'm not defending wrong-doing at all, if it is wrong it is wrong. But within the realm of a free society you can act like an asshole as long as you keep it technically legal. I think you are right. Where do we find leadership? The intellectual elite and the banking people are jerking us around like rag dolls on a chain. We suck up their BS like chocolate milk through a straw, wipe our mouths and ask for more. Where is the American leadership?Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
