The real news in America is that the poverty rate is the highest that it's been in the fifty years since they started tracking such things. One in seven Americans now officially lives in poverty. And the demographics are remarkably egalitarian... in plain speak, it doesn't matter whether you have a degree or not. More and more people with advanced degrees and great looking resumes are now turning to shelters to feed their families.
Not being an economist, I have no idea when a recession crosses the line and becomes a depression. But this economy is looking more and more dastardly. We're all affected by it, some more than others. The exception seems to be the very wealthy. The upper few percent of Americans are doing remarkably well. They still conduct their lives much as they always have. Maybe even a bit more lavishly. And one gets the sense, not only from them but in general, that the rest of us now exist primarily to serve them.
This is not what the American Dream was sold as. And for all the opportunities that we still have in this country, more and more of those opportunities are slipping away for the average person.
Obviously this is going to lead to class resentment. How could it not? And that is the one thing that politicians fear, while at the same time they play on it to their own advantage. Because they. for the most part, have always served the interests of the very wealthy, while pretending to do otherwise.
There are going to be no solutions from our two party system. It has driven us into this ditch, as the Great Corporatocracy drives both of them. Yet it is so ingrained as part of America, I doubt that it will ever be jettisoned. Which doesn't bode well for our future. We're stuck with two perennially bickering political parties that hold each other hostage and accomplish little if anything in our interest.
The only way out of the ditch is for us to dig ourselves out. But, more and more, people are just deciding they really don't need the bus any way, and walking away.
I like this! Please step away from the bus! And Let's just start walking! Thinking the reason for this poverty rate is prices. I believe that 1 out of 7 americans living in poverty sounds about right. It is still pretty shocking and sad though. More folks seem to be struggling now more than i have ever noticed or maybe now i am just paying more attention. Due to the fact that we have also have been struggling as well. This is what i think is going on. Prices are high and wages are low. If ya make between $7-$10 hour. You have to work an hour to pay for dinner for that day. Work an hour for you gas to get to work etc. If you throw in more people that you are supporting. Then your barley managing. You'll have to basically work 10 hours a day and 7 days a week. Seems to be the only way to make some headway. Anyway this is what i see mostly these days in the lives of the local commoner. I could be wrong but, you have to bring in a big check to make it. Rent is high, groceries etc. And pray that you don't get sick or hurt while exhausting yourself to the breaking point. Or time to start doing without some things. And some things could turn to food or basic essentials. It is apparent that a recession must still be going on. Depression, not sure? would be interesting to find out.
ReplyDeleteTrue,it would take an awful lot of suffering on behalf the American people before any changes to the great corporatoracy or political system would begin. It is our foundation. Is very hard to tear out and rebuild a foundation. But evident to me too that it is failing most of us. In the meantime, i love watching the colbert report & the daily show make fun of alot of this political bullshit, (i mean craziness.) The laughing at it is the only thing to help the pain and keep from crying or becoming depressed. Dudettely speaking of course, to all you dudes out there.
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