Article about jobs vs deficit priorities

[LuisDantas]

Why Washington Doesn't Care About Jobs | The Nation

I particularly liked this excerpt:

There is only so much social distance a society can take. The social science literature shows that as social distance increases, trust declines and aberrant and predatory behavior increases. The basic mechanisms of representation erode, and the social fabric tears. “An imbalance between rich and poor,” Plutarch warned, “is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”

Do you feel the article is sound? Any comments?

 

[Revoltingest]

I think the article has a lot of merit. It really resonated with me, since I just visited the DC area recently, & was amazed at the incredible
building boom in northern Virginia, which is in the greater DC area. I wondered where they get all the money for new highways everywhere,
big new buildings, & pricey restaurants. But of course I knew....every April 15th, the bill comes due.

 

[Sunstone]

Do you feel the article is sound? Any comments?

I think the article is, unfortunately, quite sound. The author could add quite a few facts and studies to his argument, too. I've seen a ton of evidence in support of his contention that, for political purposes, we face at least two separate Americas today. And that has been a fear of mine for some time -- that this country is either going to fall or (much more likely) lose its representative governments in all but their names due to that divide in America. It is for that reason, I have advocated redistributive and protective measures to strengthen the middle class and reduce the divide between the super rich and the rest of us.

 

[LuisDantas]

I have the same feeling as well. It is alarming to see evidence of both a strong desire for more jobs and a strong fear of "socialism" in the USA's political scene. Some sort of colision course seems to be unavoidable.