So let's do some quick hits. First the Affordable Care Act (it's real name, not Obamacare). It really didn't surprise me a lot about all the web site problems, or other problems after people enroll. The goal of this legislation was not to provide affordable care, it wasn't so you could keep you plan or doctor, or any of the other minutia. It was all about control. It was, and some said it up front, a move towards single payer systems as they use in countries like Britain, and Canada. But knowing that there would be backlash from the center, as well as the right, meant that it would not pass.
The shrinking middle class. For more than a decade, it seems there has been pressure on the middle class. It is not tax policy, although that is part of it, it isn't laziness on the part of the people. It is rather the loss of traditional middle class jobs to developing countries. And part of that is because of labor unions, and part is because of corporate greed, and part is because we as consumers don't care. All we really want is cheap stuff. Until that mood changes, and we demand value, the middle class will continue to shrink.
Lack of local and small startups. Drive through your town, and look at the strip malls and shopping centers. Note all the empty businesses. There is no concerted economic effort from Washington, to State Capitols, to City Halls to build that base. Our system seems to be broke, there is no leadership from our politicians, as long as they get paid, it seems they don't see a problem.
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Unemployment. This is still a massive problem. Food Stamps are way up, disability claims are way up, which means people are losing income. Without their required income, how can we keep our houses up, buy new cars, or even eat out? Recently Joe Biden was touting the stimulus of several years ago. Yet work force participation is way down over traditional levels.
Inflation. What no one seems to be talking about. The price of gas is up. The price of hamburger is up. The cost to heat and cool our homes is up. Salaries are stagnant. Inflation will continue, it has to if government wants to keep borrowing, and the Fed seems obliging. Isn't less income through wage stagnation and inflation an unwritten tax?
Green energy companies, despite government props are failing. It seems the government feels they can encourage things that the people don't want in big enough quantities to make them productive. I love electric cars, but would not buy one because of the range and lack of infrastructure. Besides driving to the store or work, occasionally we like to vacation, usually by car, that would be difficult with a Chevy Volt.
People are mad. I like to read comments after a story I read. But it seems everyone is mad. Teabaggers this, Obummer that, there is no civility on either side of any issue. There is a claim that there is a large middle that can go either way, depending on perception, how do they expect to educate people to their way of thinking? It is dialog, and decent debate that will move us forward, not partisan bickering. And before you say your side isn't bickering, look at the comments.
Taxation. Believe it or not, we are taxed much much more than King George ever taxed us. And we kicked him out of our country through revolution. Yet without the high taxes government is levying, there is no money to buy votes at election time. And we are all bought. Every cycle, your congressman runs on what he has done for his or her district. That money comes from taxes. Our founders worried about taxes, and wrote the Constitution such as that it took an amendment to institute the income tax. And that was just about 100 years ago. Which seems to correspond to when the decline began... coincidence?
Racism. The real racists are the politicians who pander, but never solve the problems. And this racism is preventing minorities from finding good jobs, so they can move to the middle class. It is the loss of middle class jobs that encourages this racism. I wonder when the people affected by it will demand their representatives do something about it, rather than just campaign on it. Yes racism is brought about by economics, or at least bad economics.
So what is a body to do? We need to reengage in the political process. Stop voting on autopilot. Demand at town halls real answers to questions, not sound bites. Let them know it is not about them, it is about you. Don't be afraid. If you have a middle class job, don't assume you will lose it. Keep your attitude up. Use your income to be happy, because that's when things will start to turn in spite of the politicians.
In the last century there were two pretty good Presidents economically. One said "We have nothing to fear, except fear itself" and the other said "I see America as a shining city on a hill..." We need leadership like that once more. Are you one? Please run!
Spend Wisely!
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