Is it possible to have a strong Middle Class without Government help?

[BioHawk]

Too many monopolies.

Yup.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

You just contradicted yourself.

No, you see things only right or left. It's not hard. You don't have to be partisan.

 

[Finance85]

No, you see things only right or left. It's not hard. You don't have to be partisan.

You contradicted yourself. It seems you see two different things.

You are correct. I see some things only left and some things only right. The folks here that claim to be independent or center left, really aren't.

 

[Hans81]

Like I said the other day, if Republicans wouldn’t threaten Social Security and Medicaid, and at least pretend to care about them, they would never lose elections. Instead they embraced the crazy evangelical right instead of telling them to STFU.

Some brave politician(s) will have to eventually tackle the issues/problems within the current Social Security system. It’s not a left or right issue, but simply a mathematical problem. Due to America’s aging population there are fewer working people paying into SS, resulting in SS trust fund running lower & lower on $. Therefore, if no changes/tweaks are made to the current SS system, projections show that around year 2035/36, SS recipients will get about 75% of their full payments. I understand that no politician wants to sound this warning bell as it would likely hurt their election, or re-election chances. However, it makes no sense to just put head in sand/kick the can down the road. If some action(s) are made soon (such as, bumping up the retirement age by a year and/or having increased SS taxes for higher earners) then full SS payments could continue for recipients.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

You contradicted yourself. It seems you see two different things.

You are correct. I see some things only left and some things only right. The folks here that claim to be independent or center left, really aren't.

It depends on the issue. Middle class can be vey creative and industrious and need a level playing field.

I vote R if I vote, but for ecample the estate tax exemption Federal and tgmhe zero rate state is a hinderence to lower, low middle and middle class.


In farms it is a barrier. As an example where I disagree. We dont get as much land for sale anymore compared to before...in part due to the examptions. Farms are being bought by a handful of still family farms, but very few.

 

[joelbc1]

If government assistance is required is the middle class strong?

The “middle class” needs government assistance every bit as much as corporate America depends on it for their success. Both need the “protection” of the legislative branch to attempt to keep the other side at bay….they two are the antithesis of each other socially and financially.

 

[Rifler]

Please with all your brilliance explain why the middle class has struggled more and more since the 1980s.

Easy, the global economy,.. The core of what used to be a majority of the US middle class was forced to compete with cheap labor from third world countries, manufacturing jobs moved off shore, people invested in the market made a killing off of the increased profits, while hourly wage earners saw their middle class life styles slip away,.. This has also been one of the primary drivers of wealth disparity in our country.

 

[Rifler]

I disagree. You need unions to help move that forward. Otherwise, corporations don't have enough incentive for that to happen. It's "we the people" coming together.

Don't really disagree,.. What makes you think that unions aren't an element of a level playing field?

 

[Bulldogs1974]

if anyone thinks there would be a strong middle class without the government they would have to believe corporations will always do the right thing for the workers. An altruistic business/corporation will never exist. Monopolies would exist without the government and kill the middle class.... how's the middle class in mother russia..... i'm sure some of our comrades can fill us in...

 

[joelbc1]

I disagree. You need unions to help move that forward. Otherwise, corporations don't have enough incentive for that to happen. It's "we the people" coming together.

There is no level playing field possible…business lives “bigness” and monopolistic policies…the “middle class” needs protections from the former…