And now the libertarians will pile on to say it's all the fault of the workers.
The fact that productivity has increased a lot faster than wages; that we have a growing income gap as the rich get richer; that are laws are there to help the richest; that the safety net is getting ripped to pieces. None of that will matter. They will blame the worker.
I agree, the american dream is dying. It's a shame, because I think our country works best when there is a strong middle class and not too big of income disparity.
And now the libertarians will pile on to say it's all the fault of the workers.
The fact that productivity has increased a lot faster than wages; that we have a growing income gap as the rich get richer; that are laws are there to help the richest; that the safety net is getting ripped to pieces. None of that will matter. They will blame the worker.
I agree, the american dream is dying. It's a shame, because I think our country works best when there is a strong middle class and not too big of income disparity.
The American Dream has always been out of reach for the uninspired and complacent who thought of it as the American Birthright. It is not a birthright.
Well now the American dream is out of reach of everyone except those with specialized jobs.
Examine that productivity angle just a bit. It is usually not the worker that became more productive by adding skills, but the tools that the employer provides to that worker requiring less skills. Consider a retail store, that used to have a simple cash register, a person to operate it (keying in the price of each item) and perhaps another to constantly inventory the stock for reorders and to stock the replacement items and affix price tags to each them. By using a computerized cash register that scans the product bar codes the cash register now does more work and the employees now do less work - yet productivity increased. The cashier no longer has to look at items and key in the prices, the inventory on hand is automaitcally maintained and the stocker no longer has to affix prices to each item placed on the shelves.
80 Percent Of U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Unemployment: Survey
Can't say I'm surprised by the numbers. The average American has been relegated to an expendable asset that is of little value. Sucked dry to make way for increased top level profits, they have little to no weapons or means to fight back. More and more the future of the U.S. looks to be one of two highly polarized and distant groups. In the top group you have those with an in demand, specialized skill set (doctors, upper IT specialization, lawyers), they will live something that looks like the American dream, the top 20%. Then you have the "average" American, the bottom 80% more and more will be in a living hell of limited income and options. This includes construction workers, all service jobs, basically everything that doesn't require some kind of college degree or highly specialized training, anything common is just another crap job. I can imagine this will seep into even some traditionally moderately higher paying, skilled jobs that are declining such as machining. Twenty-something bucks an hour for machining will look good for people making 10-15 and those kinds of jobs will likely be highly sought after thus bringing down their wages eventually.
The legendary U.S. middle class American dream has been demoted to the history books, seeya later, you won't be coming back.
Yep, and it cost the employer a bloody fortune to re-tool but it pays dividends in terms of efficiency and it had better because there needs to be a return on the investment.
It's out of reach for people who accept low-end jobs and never bother to do something more valuable. And people who engage in business for themselves aren't limited to what job some corporation needs filled. If you think the American Dream is taking some unskilled job at Wonder Widget plant, getting raises every year for no good reason and retiring with a fat pension 35 years later as floor manager of the bottle washing department; a position you arose to merely by showing up for work most days and staying there a long time, then you probably are right... your dream is dead.
The American Dream isn't handed to anyone on a silver platter. It also isn't a one-size-fits-all Dream.
Many are reaching their dreams, when they look at it realistically.
Now go and compare it to the 'dream' of other first world nations, and you'll see quite a difference...
Well now the American dream is out of reach of everyone except those with specialized jobs.
Compare it with the 50's and 60's where the average man with an average job could support his family and live the American dream. Contrast that with now, wife and husband both working and living at near poverty levels.
This isn't the 50's or 60's, it's a different world... try comparing apples to apples.....
US population, 1950: 150,697,361
US population, 1960: 179,323,175
US Population, 2010: 308,400,408
What does population have to do with anything?
This isn't the 50's or 60's, it's a different world... try comparing apples to apples.....
US population, 1950: 150,697,361
US population, 1960: 179,323,175
US Population, 2010: 308,400,408
1/2 the population. Virtually no automation. One of the few manufacturing countries in the world. Those were "the good times".
I'll also venture that success was a little house and a Buick. Now it's a McMansion and a Beemer.
That figure, 80%, sounds unrealistic to me but anything is possible.
In 1960, the minimum wage was $1 per hour.
The American Dream has always been out of reach for the uninspired and complacent who thought of it as the American Birthright. It is not a birthright.
Exactly. How many of those 80% who whine about being a paycheck away from poverty bother to take night classes, get a second job, cut spending, push hard to start a business during their off hours or do anything at all to better their prospects? Very few. Most Americans rest on their laurels, whine about how unfair it is, and watch the newest reality show which is probably something based on making fun of someone.
And now the libertarians will pile on to say it's all the fault of the workers.
The fact that productivity has increased a lot faster than wages; that we have a growing income gap as the rich get richer; that are laws are there to help the richest; that the safety net is getting ripped to pieces. None of that will matter. They will blame the worker.
You guys are missing the point, that IS what the middle class is, they are average. They are increasingly getting less and less for their contribution to the American engine. This is not an argument about how to get more or how to get rich. It is a story about what the average American's prospects are.
I imagine most of the people in this thread are average? Are you not?
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