Polarized America

Undertoad · 06-23-2006, 07:02 AM

The result is TOTALLY different today.

As little as five generations ago, unemployment was 25%, half of the population was at or near poverty level, taxes took 10-20% of ordinary income and the inequality meant that people literally starved.

Today starvation is unheard of, unemployment is 4.8%, about fifth of the people are at or near poverty level, taxes take 40-45% of ordinary income and the inequality means that the poor can only afford basic cable.

Yesterday an increase in gas price put people in the poor house. Today they get mad and skip their morning latte. Wise up, it is a new world and shit has changed. The social programs you are whining about are in place and have been in place for many decades. If there is still inequality it is not politically solvable. In fact the Democrats are working to reform and remove the programs.

The reason the Ds are not in power is because things have changed and economic issues are irrelevant to most people. Gay marriage is an issue now because so many other issues have been solved. The politics you are pursuing are a long-term loser.

The New Deal is over. And by the way, the USSR was an economic failure. The Chinese are Capitalists. Get used to the new situation or continue to lose.

Pangloss62 · 06-23-2006, 09:08 AM

Every time I hear John Lennon's Imagine, I have to laugh. Imagine is about all you could ever do with this world. Power and wealth is in the hands of the most aggressive (or their heirs). When you combine wealth, technology, and intellectual capital with aggressiveness, you pretty much control the world. Altruism is for losers. Those who don't have the wealth and intellectual capital tend toward fanaticism or are satisfied with the bread and circuses our tacky American culture provides. And it's like a disease. Last time I was in Brasil, for example, I stopped to look at the scene before me: to my left was a McDonalds, to my right was a Pizza Hut, across the street was a Blockbuster, and down the street in the distance was a WalMart. We're doomed by our greed.

Kitsune · 06-23-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Today starvation is unheard of

O RLY?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

unemployment is 4.8%

Sure that doesn't have something to do with how the measurement of unemployment has changed over the years? (Among other things, if you remain unemployed for an extended period, you're no longer counted. As of just several years ago, flipping burgers at McDonald's was changed to 'manufacturing'. Etc.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Yesterday an increase in gas price put people in the poor house. Today they get mad and skip their morning latte.

Good to see you're concerned mostly with the people who had the money to blow on daily lattes to begin with. People who are living paycheck to paycheck see rising fuel prices a bit differently. Really, are you limiting your examples of "how shit has changed" to what you know of the world by watching the middle class from the window of a Starbuck's?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Gay marriage is an issue now because so many other issues have been solved.

Oh, right, right. I guess I was mistaken. Here, I thought it was just a rediculous, emotional hot button that only comes up in election years and appeals to a culture that is constantly looking for the next boogeyman to blame all these "solved issues" on.

06-23-2006, 09:08 AM	#2
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Poloroid Every time I hear John Lennon's Imagine, I have to laugh. Imagine is about all you could ever do with this world. Power and wealth is in the hands of the most aggressive (or their heirs). When you combine wealth, technology, and intellectual capital with aggressiveness, you pretty much control the world. Altruism is for losers. Those who don't have the wealth and intellectual capital tend toward fanaticism or are satisfied with the bread and circuses our tacky American culture provides. And it's like a disease. Last time I was in Brasil, for example, I stopped to look at the scene before me: to my left was a McDonalds, to my right was a Pizza Hut, across the street was a Blockbuster, and down the street in the distance was a WalMart. We're doomed by our greed. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

06-23-2006, 07:02 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The result is TOTALLY different today. As little as five generations ago, unemployment was 25%, half of the population was at or near poverty level, taxes took 10-20% of ordinary income and the inequality meant that people literally starved. Today starvation is unheard of, unemployment is 4.8%, about fifth of the people are at or near poverty level, taxes take 40-45% of ordinary income and the inequality means that the poor can only afford basic cable. Yesterday an increase in gas price put people in the poor house. Today they get mad and skip their morning latte. Wise up, it is a new world and shit has changed. The social programs you are whining about are in place and have been in place for many decades. If there is still inequality it is not politically solvable. In fact the Democrats are working to reform and remove the programs. The reason the Ds are not in power is because things have changed and economic issues are irrelevant to most people. Gay marriage is an issue now because so many other issues have been solved. The politics you are pursuing are a long-term loser. The New Deal is over. And by the way, the USSR was an economic failure. The Chinese are Capitalists. Get used to the new situation or continue to lose.

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