The focus for my blog entry this week is this article: “This phenomenon of “jobs polarization” is perhaps most assiduously studied by David Autor, an MIT economist. His research demonstrates that employment growth over the past three decades has steadily gravitated toward low-skill jobs.” This is an example of what is discussed in our textbook on page 51 regarding polarization. The textbook states, “the ‘we versus they’ perspective on most issues, and the “all or none” strategy of winning at all costs have all contributed to a polarized nation.” Nothing can polarize a nation more than the economy. The middle class had become too powerful in the heyday of unions in the 1960’s and 1970’s. By having such economic and therefore, political power, the middle class started feeling more comfortable to protest and make their voices heard. The Women’s Movement and the Civil Rights Movement made the “powers that be” uncomfortable, and the middle class has become eviscerated through jobs being sent overseas. Good paying, livable wage jobs such as factories, teachers, civil workers and the like have been eradicated by the millions and replaced with service industry, part-time jobs. Recently, while sitting in the Pit here on this campus, I overheard two students talking about their plans for the upcoming summer. One student lamented to the other, “I have to look for a job. I just got laid off from Arby’s.” Our textbook discusses American values of freedom and free enterprise. What freedoms do broke, underemployed citizens have? Scrambling for part time, minimum wage jobs? I only hope that our examinations of the political systems can spur change at least in our area.
~Debbie
Debbie:
I like what your article is about this week and then view you have taken in regards to it. It is hard to believe that at one time the middle class of the United States, the working class and the largest class off citizens had such a large say in what went on in government yet today the smallest portion of the United States, the top one percent have much more say than the other 99%. The top 1% percent make the laws and mostly by means of corruption in politics. It should be one person one vote however with our politicians willing to sell their souls for cash and lavish gifts, it has never been easier to separate the haves and the have not’s in our society. When the average citizen or can no longer be heard over the roar of currency and political gifts being exchanged in the United States we obviously have a serious problem in this country. The unfortunate thing is that greed has gone so far in this country and because the lawmakers are put in political office by the wealthy individuals and corporations of America there will never be put in place deterrence doctrines that will assure that deviant behavior is sanctioned in such a manner as to make sure our lawmakers cannot be bought and the rest of us will continue to suffer because of it.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/14/news/companies/ceo-pay-cuts-pay-increases/
I couldn’t agree more Debbie. All the controversy about raising the minimum wage and finally paying women an equal wage has gone on far too long as a red herring from the real issues. The wealthy 1% and the majority of Republicans scream about welfare fraud and the Affordable Healthcare Act to avoid their smokescreen of greed. Americans would actually be able to support themselves and their families given a fair wage and the jobs that we once proudly held. It is disgraceful that our government points accusations at the working class and paints us all with the same brush of “laziness.” Only a handful of people have actually been convicted of welfare fraud while millions of dollars of EPA fines on big corporations and their political connections are looked at with a blind eye. Millions of middle class families have gone without basic healthcare needs for decades because of the outrageous premiums and the insurance companies’ legal right to deny coverage. Americans don’t want hand-outs; we want equal pay for our hard work and to be able to pay the exorbitant medical bills (that are out of our control) when our loved ones are sick. The government has successfully duped Americans into blaming the wrong people for our mutual plight; they scoff at us while we fight amongst ourselves. This week’s news about CEO of Gravity, Dan Price, is an example that Americans are noticing who is responsible for our lack of resources-overpayment to corporate management and special interest groups; it is not the hard working middle class Americans. Perhaps there is hope if one man is willing to take a 90% cut in pay so his employees will regain their pride and dignity that comes with a wage commensurate with effort. I believe Dan Price’ example will spread to others of like-mindedness. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead