Reform or Revolution? (minority, America, experience, service, verse)

[JOEBIALEK]

I had the opportunity the other day to watch a most enlightening program broadcast by UCTV. The one-hour program was called "How Unequal Can America Get Before We Snap?" presented by President Clinton's former labor secretary Robert Reich.

"Inequality of income, wealth, and opportunity in America is wider now than it's been since the 1920s, and by some measures since the late 19th century. Yet the nation seems unable or unwilling to do much of anything to reverse these trends. What happens if we allow the trends to continue? Will they "naturally" reverse themselves? Or will we get to a point where disparities are so wide that we finally find the political will to take action? Alternatively, will the disparities themselves grow so wide as to discourage action, by fostering resignation among the losers and indifference among the winners? And if the latter, where will it all lead?" SOURCE: Goldman School of Public Policy UC, Berkley

The presentation made excellent use of economic graphs to demonstrate how large of a gap has developed between the upper class and the middle class (not to mention the lower class) with regards to income, wealth, and opportunity in the United States between the years 1962 to the present. The trends are alarming to say the least. The speaker correctly points to birthright as the beginning of the disparity that allows for advantages in everything from diet and healthcare to education and connections. Being born into a middle-class family myself, I have truly benefited from my birthright in terms of these advantages right from the starting gate. Some people would argue that many a poor person has risen up by their "own boot straps" but I would argue that in today's society, most (not all) poor people can only rise up with a good pair of athletic shoes or a willingness to sell drugs. Otherwise they have to remain content with working in the service industry for comparatively lower wages than their upper-class counterparts. Mr. Reich further points out that one of the elements keeping our society glued together is the belief or perception by the lower class that opportunity in this country still exists and that if one is willing to work hard, they can be successful.

The speaker talks of two potential outcomes for this growing disparity. He uses the metaphor of the rubber band to illustrate his point. Our society will either "snap back" with a series of reforms supported by all three classes and the government to regain a sense of fairness when it comes to income, wealth, and opportunity in the United States. This has occurred at least once before in the history of our country during a time referred to as the progressive movement. The other potential outcome is for our society to "snap break" whereby this country exists with two entirely different societies. The problem with the latter outcome is that it often leads to the arrival of a demagogue who plays upon the emotions of the middle and lower classes all for the hidden intention of personal gain. We have seen this all too often in history with the likes of Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler, Lenin etcetera. Mr. Reich suggests somehow that the upper class are not a group with malicious intent but rather are nothing more than a naive self-indulgent class of people who don't know any better. Here I beg to differ. I believe the upper class is guilty of a careless disregard for their fellow countrymen. They have the arrogance to believe they are superior and deserving of extravagance regardless of how they attained it and regardless of how it affects the rest of society. Once again, history shows us what happened to those monarchs who behaved the same way. Do I think there will be a violent revolution in this country? I hope not. Do I prefer a new progressive movement over even a peaceful revolution? Absolutely. My fear however, is that we are already rapidly approaching the point of "critical mass" beyond which there is no turning back. The question today before the American people is what are YOU prepared to do?

[Lintu]

The US was at least as inequal if not more so during the Gilded Age. I think it was the Depression that equalized. I think natural events are more likely to change things than revolution. I don't think that a revolution of that sort would be sustainable in this country.

[Hirohito18200]

I can only comment on my personal experiences. Going to public school in a low income 90+% minority area, I got a chance to see that side of society that would normally be distant from me, at least directly. I observed that the opportunity was not so much denied to the so called "lower class", but rather they chose not to take advantage of it, but rather conform to whatever social pressures influenced them to not achieve. Because of this, they will most likely constitute the "disenfranchised" and "exploited" class that is, I would say, extorted by politicians to rake in the votes. The opportunity is there... in my area there is an AVID program where kids are encouraged to succeed in school and are given tuition assistance for college. At my JC, the a program called TRIO offers up to full financial aid for low income students, regardless of racial background. The TRIO program also guarantees acceptance into any UC with a 2.8 GPA or higher. Many young people take advantage of these offerings, and if you talked to them, they would most likely not claim to be downtrodden by the "evil" upper class. The upper class pays the most in taxes, and their businesses support the economy. The largest portion of taxes goes to entitlements, so the government ensures they are not entirely heartless . Wealth and income are not supposed to be fair; we are not a socialist nation and don't claim to be. I request evidence of some mass denial of opportunity, as I have only seen it forced upon the unwilling. The only thing the rich are guilty of is making money and spending it; if this were not one of the perks to success, then why be ambitious at all? Finally, about the progressive movement, that ensured equal opportunity for all Americans. I do not see how this kind of action could be replicated since there is no longer an evil to be destroyed.

[tkdrocks]

I believe a revolution is coming, but not for the reasons above. It is extremely rare to have an uprising due to disparity of wealth and income.

I believe this country is going to boil over due to the enormous tax burden (some 30 times higher than colonial times) and the complete violation of personal property rights that the Supreme Court put in place last week.

The current tax system needs to be abolished.

[Hirohito18200]

While the tax burden is undoubtedly high, our economy is built on this system and is capable of sustaining it *obviously*. I would say a revolution in our country is impossible, not only because of a lack of motive, but also because of the control the government has on media, and how easily the population can be swayed.

Our rate of taxation is also comparably low to many of our peers in Europe and elsewhere. I know from personal experience that ours is much lower than that of Switzerland, and I know that others are in the same boat.

What data suggests that the tax burden is 30 some times higher? Is this a national average, or applying only to a certain group. I am sceptical simply because this would mean that in many cases, peoples would have been only taxed around one percent, which doesn't make sense.

Side note: what would you propose filling the void with, as a source of revenue for the government, if you were going to abolish the tax system?

[Faminedynasty]

Our tax burden is not especially high for an industrialized democracy. The rich and corporations have it much easier in the United States than in the vast majority of the industrialized world. That is not to say that Americans will not revolt against taxes, they are not generally fond of them. They are fond of driving on paved roads, having schools for their children, and basic protections. Is that to say that the tax system is fair? Certainly not. The rich need to be much more heavily taxed, wages need to be much higher, and we need total employment. We need publically funded elections and a social revolution of the American working class. A "vast redistribution of wealth and political power" as Martin Luther King said. But I doubt that Americans will revolt over economics any time soon, in spite of the vast economic and political inequality that poisons our democracy, simply because the poor are too divided by race to be united by economics, political interest, or much else.

[Faminedynasty]

Goodness, I have become quite the thread killer, haven't I? I apologize, and I resign from RF. Thanks for all the good times.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Faminedynasty

Goodness, I have become quite the thread killer, haven't I? I apologize, and I resign from RF. Thanks for all the good times.

For the record, I read everything Faminedynasty writes with interest.

Concerning the topic, I see neither reform or revolution leading to greater equality in any industrialised nation for some time. The rich control production, the media, and the legislature.

[michel]

Originally Posted by tkdrocks

I believe a revolution is coming, but not for the reasons above. It is extremely rare to have an uprising due to disparity of wealth and income.

I believe this country is going to boil over due to the enormous tax burden (some 30 times higher than colonial times) and the complete violation of personal property rights that the Supreme Court put in place last week.

The current tax system needs to be abolished.

It is extremely rare to have an uprising due to disparity of wealth and income.????????

[Faminedynasty]

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

For the record, I read everything Faminedynasty writes with interest.

Oh, thank you. I withdraw my resignation...Or reapply for the job... Man, I tried, but I think I'm an addict.