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America divided – this concept increasingly graces political discourse in the U.S., pitting left against right, conservative thought against the liberal agenda. But for decades, Americans have been rearranging along another divide, one just as stark if not far more significant – a chasm once bridged by a flourishing middle class.
Peter Temin, Professor Emeritus of Economics at MIT, believes the ongoing death of “middle America” has sparked the emergence of two countries within one, the hallmark of developing nations. In his new book, The Vanishing Middle Class: Prejudice and Power in a Dual Economy, Temin paints a bleak picture where one country has a bounty of resources and power, and the other toils day after day with minimal access to the long-coveted American dream.
In his view, the United States is shifting toward an economic and political makeup more similar to developing nations than the wealthy, economically stable nation it has long been. Temin applied W. Arthur Lewis’s economic model – designed to understand the workings of developing countries – to the United States in an effort to document how inequality has grown in America.
The 2017 World Economic Forum had the answer: "The people who have not benefited from globalization need to try harder to emulate those who have succeeded," and, "'People have to take more ownership of upgrading themselves on a continuous basis.'"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 23 2017, @01:56PM (5 children)
At this point we've repeated the same arguments ad nauseum. I'm convinced that the problem is really just a layer of bigotry that is now at a semi-unconscious level. The idea of meritocracy and personal responsibility is just some self-justification for these conservatives to continue their hatred and xenophobia. Facts never matter, their counter facts are almost always low level garbage and frequently enough blatant lies they might actually believe.
They are angry about being constantly told they are wrong by the ivory tower snobs, and that anger has been manipulated by high level propaganda. What else can be done about it? Discussion doesn't work. Education (links upon links) doesn't work. The only thing left is to keep pounding the grass roots political movements, the majority of the country is on our side. Perhaps if we can actually reverse this tide of horror the bipartisan politicians have foisted on us, and we start acting responsibly on a global level then maybe these fools will try and assimilate "mentally" hehe. They'll suddenly see the light even though they'll continue their weird smug superiority complex. At least they won't be harming people, just annoying everyone with their smug. May all their children study basket weaving and have consensual bisexual relations.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 23 2017, @03:44PM (4 children)
Or maybe the liberals are wrong in just as many ways.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 23 2017, @03:52PM (3 children)
If liberals are so wrong, then why are blue states usually better off across the board than red states? If not for the taxes paid by the liberal states, the red states would fully devolve into 3rd world quality of life.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snow on Tuesday May 23 2017, @05:21PM (2 children)
Education. Educated people tend to lean toward liberalism. Educated people also tend to make more money.
It's the Conservative Paradox. The very people who have the most to gain from liberal policies are the same people who vote towards the right.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 23 2017, @11:28PM (1 child)
What a brilliant analysis. "Everybody who disagrees with me is stupid! Look, we have studies!" Meanwhile, college campuses are turning out snowflakes that can't handle reality without a safe space and a long list of demands.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 24 2017, @03:01AM
This person right here could use some more education.
Hey object who probably identifies as human, how about unions? Are those good or bad?