The New York Times
June 10, 2005
Losing Our Country
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Baby boomers like me grew up in a relatively equal society. In the 1960's America was a place in which very few people were extremely wealthy, many blue-collar workers earned wages that placed them comfortably in the middle class, and working families could expect steadily rising living standards and a reasonable degree of economic security.
But as The Times's series on class in America reminds us, that was another country. The middle-class society I grew up in no longer exists.
Working families have seen little if any progress over the past 30 years. Adjusted for inflation, the income of the median family doubled between 1947 and 1973. But it rose only 22 percent from 1973 to 2003, and much of that gain was the result of wives' entering the paid labor force or working longer hours, not rising wages.
Meanwhile, economic security is a thing of the past: year-to-year fluctuations in the incomes of working families are far larger than they were a generation ago. All it takes is a bit of bad luck in employment or health to plunge a family that seems solidly middle-class into poverty.
But the wealthy have done very well indeed. Since 1973 the average income of the top 1 percent of Americans has doubled, and the income of the top 0.1 percent has tripled.
Why is this happening? I'll have more to say on that another day, but for now let me just point out that middle-class America didn't emerge by accident. It was created by what has been called the Great Compression of incomes that took place during World War II, and sustained for a generation by social norms that favored equality, strong labor unions and progressive taxation. Since the 1970's, all of those sustaining forces have lost their power.
Since 1980 in particular, U.S. government policies have consistently favored the wealthy at the expense of working families - and under the current administration, that favoritism has become extreme and relentless. From tax cuts that favor the rich to bankruptcy "reform" that punishes the unlucky, almost every domestic policy seems intended to accelerate our march back to the robber baron era.
It's not a pretty picture - which is why right-wing partisans try so hard to discredit anyone who tries to explain to the public what's going on.
These partisans rely in part on obfuscation: shaping, slicing and selectively presenting data in an attempt to mislead. For example, it's a plain fact that the Bush tax cuts heavily favor the rich, especially those who derive most of their income from inherited wealth. Yet this year's Economic Report of the President, in a bravura demonstration of how to lie with statistics, claimed that the cuts "increased the overall progressivity of the federal tax system."
The partisans also rely in part on scare tactics, insisting that any attempt to limit inequality would undermine economic incentives and reduce all of us to shared misery. That claim ignores the fact of U.S. economic success after World War II. It also ignores the lesson we should have learned from recent corporate scandals: sometimes the prospect of great wealth for those who succeed provides an incentive not for high performance, but for fraud.
Above all, the partisans engage in name-calling. To suggest that sustaining programs like Social Security, which protects working Americans from economic risk, should have priority over tax cuts for the rich is to practice "class warfare." To show concern over the growing inequality is to engage in the "politics of envy."
But the real reasons to worry about the explosion of inequality since the 1970's have nothing to do with envy. The fact is that working families aren't sharing in the economy's growth, and face growing economic insecurity. And there's good reason to believe that a society in which most people can reasonably be considered middle class is a better society - and more likely to be a functioning democracy - than one in which there are great extremes of wealth and poverty.
Reversing the rise in inequality and economic insecurity won't be easy: the middle-class society we have lost emerged only after the country was shaken by depression and war. But we can make a start by calling attention to the politicians who systematically make things worse in catering to their contributors. Never mind that straw man, the politics of envy. Let's try to do something about the politics of greed.
E-mail: krugman@nytimes.com
Friday, June 10, 2005
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Janice R Brown, wrong for the Court
Janice R, Brown…wrong for the Appeals Bench
By Bruce H, Scrooggins
6/7/05
In responce to: Mr, Sessions, you say she mainstream in her dissents, and in her majority decisions, and she comes to the only decisions possible, and you say she's an African American, and she's for Affirmative Action, and Civil Rights, and that she's against discrimination.
Lets look at her positions, one at a time: her position as a citizen, are outside the mainstream in all of these situations, she’s shown she believes this, and she will, when given sufficient power, she will act on her belief’s, and this is a chance, many in America do not want to take, and many in the Black community do not want at all.
Janice R, Brown has no fair and equitable answer for past discrimination, Generations of Institutional Racist Discrimination, and the answers she, and America has come up with was, she would strike down, many civil rights laws, just to as you call it, “to be fair,” and you say as it is now, right now America is discriminating against one group, and you leave it, Left unsaid as to who this group is, (White Men) as the Black groups were discriminated against for all of those Centuries, is what is being left unsaid. Mr. Sessions, you and other who complain about Affirmative Action, offer more of the same discrimination, you say, America has advanced a long ways, since Affirmative Action was first implemented, and it’s time to return to equally weighting people in America, question how can America return to something America was never, in the begining.
Since California has implemented Pro 409, I believe it is… Minorities enrollments in the California College, and University systems, have dropped, as well as the changes in Michigan, and all because the past system has been replaced with this new system, and advancement was what was needed, not falling back, and you have no answer for how to keep the level of advancement moving up, before this change, but all Black America knew this was going to happen, and Janice R, Brown knew this was going to happen, but even she had no idea how not, to lose the position of advancement of Black people, her only answer was, it’s a level playing field, look at what I did, even though she made it, on her decsion on an unbalanced playing field, she knows the field is not even close to being a level field today.
J R, Brown knows many minorities still need Affirmative Action, too keep those who are, still today in positions of effectual power, from abusing the less fortunate, and most nulnerable citiszen of our nation, these people, won’t hire, or loan finances to a majority of minorities, who continue to be past over, even though they are qualified minorities, they are red-lined heavily, over policed, targeted by gangs, and drug dealers, under Educated, and constantly advised to drop out of school at early ages.
J R, Brown knows these systemic built in problems, of Institutional Racisim, and the variety of stumbling stones in the Black community of America, she believes today that Black America will be treated fair, in all endeavors, I believe she's nieve.
Yes Blacks can, and have made great strides, and there’s an argument for not being treated as a victim… now know this, there is a big difference in just saying you’re a victim, and being victimized, and that is the truth of the black community as a whole, many are victimized by there circumstances, simply put, the life they live and the place they find them selves is out of there control, and full of stumbling blocks, that are institutional, and physcological. Many drop out of the struggle, before they get the training, or drop out due to poor motivation, from family, community, and a lack of resources, what with service cuts, and with service increases in cost, we have today many working poor, who are not home, due to long work hours, tied to low pay, and a loss of buying power, and continued benefit increases each year, their just not home, and many times there unable to support their children, and motivate them closely and daily.
Black and Brown America, are most likely to be arrested, killed, and not get and education, or a job in America, and when these Americans due get a job, the majority are underemployed, and the first fired, which translates into two jobs, and neither jobs pay a working, living wage, what with all the cost of living going up and wages staying the same, staggnated, lock into a dead end job.
J R, Brown knows these systemic problems, that are out of minorities control, and minorities, they look to our elected officials, to put in place help for the systemic problems of the past that have had a built in effect on the minority future, and a reverse effect on the majority that have for tens of hundreds of year used this system to advance, to build, and keep, and past wealth on for generations, and it's not just wealth, it's also control, they pass on to successive generations, and the advantages are immense, over these hundreds of years, they have built in institutional control, and numerous legacies of advantages in international Finance, and Education. Now Affirmative Action cannot do anything about a 350 year HEAD start on owning people and land, and building institutions.
Janice R, Brown compromised to get where she is today, and it’s a practice use by all in life, but is it the only way to advance, or get what you desire, and more importantly, is it the way for minorities here in this 21st Century America. I say "no," to all, but will Americans who are in positions of EFFECTUAL POWER, agree to do the right thing? well the answer to my question is, and has been, and will continue to be “NO,” so minorities will continue to negotiate with the power elite for there humanity, and that is the shame of all America, we will, demand a fair playing field, and receive and offer to compromise on some small improvements in the living necessities, Educations, Jobs, And Finance.
What we deserve is a piece of the American pie, why? Because we Blacks were used to build the foundation, of the greatest Nation on earth, and were never paid for it, and we will continue to beg for our share from a Country who dose not believe we deserve anything, but some crumbs, and continues to say to us every day, you can go to school, all you’ve got do is work hard and you can make it, just like any other American. All the while the real power, the controlling power elite, shares nothing, and the Government goes on year after year reinforcing, there hold on the poor, and the workers, plying some with dreams of becoming a mover and shaker.
Janice R, Brown knows staying in the middle and making decisions for the majority of power elite would put her in there favor, and having her radical ideas about social engineering, would be well received, by the those in power, but would offer "NO," real answers to those who suffer from that very control, she supports.
Janice R, Brown, like Justice Thomas has made very little decisions for the advancement of the minority, I' am talking about Blacks and Browns, Justice thomas has followed the Right Conservative Repulican thinkers, and he has been a waste for real change in this Country, and Janice would be, somewhat more of the same, she would not be and activist when and where it would count.
She would continue to tow the Rights Line, and carry there water, and instead of being bold, an living up to the Constitution, as it was written, she would be a failure.
America was set up with the right words, but America... it has not lived up to it words, what it did in the beging was and continues be a supporter of the wealthy, and have done this in words and deeds, but she has not nearly been as much of a supporter of the poor as the words in that Constitution says, and when you say one thing in your Constitution and support something entirely different for centuries, and only begrudgingly make minor changes, and mostly changes since the 60’s, and in the late 20th century, and then in the early 21st century, seek to erode those small advancements, and the power elite use a hard working black women who had to compromise her way to where she is today, and she stays just on both sides of the middle, so as to be acceptable to just enough, to appear to have a majority, it was and is a balancing act worthy of a prize, but not a prize that minorities will give her, she’ll receive no prize from Blacks and Browns.
The prize Black America seeks is a just, and fair playing field, and America has said, “It’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,” but we can sit down with you, and talk about a COMPROMISE.
Compromising your way to the top is not what America needs on the Appeals court bench, America needs the TRUTH of the WORDS in the CONSTITUTION, made real, not negotiated, America said one thing, and then supported another way of life for a select few Americans, and supported the exploitation of the enslaved uneducated poor for centuries, and the courts, and the government, was and is incapable of doing the right thing by those wronged for centuries, after being the over all enforcer of this travesty of Humanity.
Vote No to more of the same, VOTE no to Janice R, Brown
P.S. And you know many in America say "I never had any slaves, so I don’t feel I owe anything," and your right, but the Government you live under, and was born under and into, was wrong in the past and has not set it right to this day, but I won’t try to beat you with words into seeing my way about it, I’ll leave it to your heart, and your God, Please read Jeremiah Jer 22:13 "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;"
A little commentary; and you could say slaves were not employed, but I say, that is a interpretation that fit mans convenient thinking, not God’s intent for ALL men.
Commentary: Jeremiah 22; Verse 13. Not only did Jehoiakim tax the people ( 2Ki 23:35 ) for Pharaoh's tribute, but also took their forced labor, without pay, for building a splendid palace; in violation of Lev 19:13 Deu 24:14, 15 . Compare Mic 3:10 Hab 2:9 Jam 5:4 . God will repay in justice those who will not in justice pay those whom they employ.
America is the most splendid palace, I know of that man has built on earth, but there is a palace of the heart, a palace of the heart, not made with mans hands.
Bruce H, Scroggins
By Bruce H, Scrooggins
6/7/05
In responce to: Mr, Sessions, you say she mainstream in her dissents, and in her majority decisions, and she comes to the only decisions possible, and you say she's an African American, and she's for Affirmative Action, and Civil Rights, and that she's against discrimination.
Lets look at her positions, one at a time: her position as a citizen, are outside the mainstream in all of these situations, she’s shown she believes this, and she will, when given sufficient power, she will act on her belief’s, and this is a chance, many in America do not want to take, and many in the Black community do not want at all.
Janice R, Brown has no fair and equitable answer for past discrimination, Generations of Institutional Racist Discrimination, and the answers she, and America has come up with was, she would strike down, many civil rights laws, just to as you call it, “to be fair,” and you say as it is now, right now America is discriminating against one group, and you leave it, Left unsaid as to who this group is, (White Men) as the Black groups were discriminated against for all of those Centuries, is what is being left unsaid. Mr. Sessions, you and other who complain about Affirmative Action, offer more of the same discrimination, you say, America has advanced a long ways, since Affirmative Action was first implemented, and it’s time to return to equally weighting people in America, question how can America return to something America was never, in the begining.
Since California has implemented Pro 409, I believe it is… Minorities enrollments in the California College, and University systems, have dropped, as well as the changes in Michigan, and all because the past system has been replaced with this new system, and advancement was what was needed, not falling back, and you have no answer for how to keep the level of advancement moving up, before this change, but all Black America knew this was going to happen, and Janice R, Brown knew this was going to happen, but even she had no idea how not, to lose the position of advancement of Black people, her only answer was, it’s a level playing field, look at what I did, even though she made it, on her decsion on an unbalanced playing field, she knows the field is not even close to being a level field today.
J R, Brown knows many minorities still need Affirmative Action, too keep those who are, still today in positions of effectual power, from abusing the less fortunate, and most nulnerable citiszen of our nation, these people, won’t hire, or loan finances to a majority of minorities, who continue to be past over, even though they are qualified minorities, they are red-lined heavily, over policed, targeted by gangs, and drug dealers, under Educated, and constantly advised to drop out of school at early ages.
J R, Brown knows these systemic built in problems, of Institutional Racisim, and the variety of stumbling stones in the Black community of America, she believes today that Black America will be treated fair, in all endeavors, I believe she's nieve.
Yes Blacks can, and have made great strides, and there’s an argument for not being treated as a victim… now know this, there is a big difference in just saying you’re a victim, and being victimized, and that is the truth of the black community as a whole, many are victimized by there circumstances, simply put, the life they live and the place they find them selves is out of there control, and full of stumbling blocks, that are institutional, and physcological. Many drop out of the struggle, before they get the training, or drop out due to poor motivation, from family, community, and a lack of resources, what with service cuts, and with service increases in cost, we have today many working poor, who are not home, due to long work hours, tied to low pay, and a loss of buying power, and continued benefit increases each year, their just not home, and many times there unable to support their children, and motivate them closely and daily.
Black and Brown America, are most likely to be arrested, killed, and not get and education, or a job in America, and when these Americans due get a job, the majority are underemployed, and the first fired, which translates into two jobs, and neither jobs pay a working, living wage, what with all the cost of living going up and wages staying the same, staggnated, lock into a dead end job.
J R, Brown knows these systemic problems, that are out of minorities control, and minorities, they look to our elected officials, to put in place help for the systemic problems of the past that have had a built in effect on the minority future, and a reverse effect on the majority that have for tens of hundreds of year used this system to advance, to build, and keep, and past wealth on for generations, and it's not just wealth, it's also control, they pass on to successive generations, and the advantages are immense, over these hundreds of years, they have built in institutional control, and numerous legacies of advantages in international Finance, and Education. Now Affirmative Action cannot do anything about a 350 year HEAD start on owning people and land, and building institutions.
Janice R, Brown compromised to get where she is today, and it’s a practice use by all in life, but is it the only way to advance, or get what you desire, and more importantly, is it the way for minorities here in this 21st Century America. I say "no," to all, but will Americans who are in positions of EFFECTUAL POWER, agree to do the right thing? well the answer to my question is, and has been, and will continue to be “NO,” so minorities will continue to negotiate with the power elite for there humanity, and that is the shame of all America, we will, demand a fair playing field, and receive and offer to compromise on some small improvements in the living necessities, Educations, Jobs, And Finance.
What we deserve is a piece of the American pie, why? Because we Blacks were used to build the foundation, of the greatest Nation on earth, and were never paid for it, and we will continue to beg for our share from a Country who dose not believe we deserve anything, but some crumbs, and continues to say to us every day, you can go to school, all you’ve got do is work hard and you can make it, just like any other American. All the while the real power, the controlling power elite, shares nothing, and the Government goes on year after year reinforcing, there hold on the poor, and the workers, plying some with dreams of becoming a mover and shaker.
Janice R, Brown knows staying in the middle and making decisions for the majority of power elite would put her in there favor, and having her radical ideas about social engineering, would be well received, by the those in power, but would offer "NO," real answers to those who suffer from that very control, she supports.
Janice R, Brown, like Justice Thomas has made very little decisions for the advancement of the minority, I' am talking about Blacks and Browns, Justice thomas has followed the Right Conservative Repulican thinkers, and he has been a waste for real change in this Country, and Janice would be, somewhat more of the same, she would not be and activist when and where it would count.
She would continue to tow the Rights Line, and carry there water, and instead of being bold, an living up to the Constitution, as it was written, she would be a failure.
America was set up with the right words, but America... it has not lived up to it words, what it did in the beging was and continues be a supporter of the wealthy, and have done this in words and deeds, but she has not nearly been as much of a supporter of the poor as the words in that Constitution says, and when you say one thing in your Constitution and support something entirely different for centuries, and only begrudgingly make minor changes, and mostly changes since the 60’s, and in the late 20th century, and then in the early 21st century, seek to erode those small advancements, and the power elite use a hard working black women who had to compromise her way to where she is today, and she stays just on both sides of the middle, so as to be acceptable to just enough, to appear to have a majority, it was and is a balancing act worthy of a prize, but not a prize that minorities will give her, she’ll receive no prize from Blacks and Browns.
The prize Black America seeks is a just, and fair playing field, and America has said, “It’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,” but we can sit down with you, and talk about a COMPROMISE.
Compromising your way to the top is not what America needs on the Appeals court bench, America needs the TRUTH of the WORDS in the CONSTITUTION, made real, not negotiated, America said one thing, and then supported another way of life for a select few Americans, and supported the exploitation of the enslaved uneducated poor for centuries, and the courts, and the government, was and is incapable of doing the right thing by those wronged for centuries, after being the over all enforcer of this travesty of Humanity.
Vote No to more of the same, VOTE no to Janice R, Brown
P.S. And you know many in America say "I never had any slaves, so I don’t feel I owe anything," and your right, but the Government you live under, and was born under and into, was wrong in the past and has not set it right to this day, but I won’t try to beat you with words into seeing my way about it, I’ll leave it to your heart, and your God, Please read Jeremiah Jer 22:13 "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;"
A little commentary; and you could say slaves were not employed, but I say, that is a interpretation that fit mans convenient thinking, not God’s intent for ALL men.
Commentary: Jeremiah 22; Verse 13. Not only did Jehoiakim tax the people ( 2Ki 23:35 ) for Pharaoh's tribute, but also took their forced labor, without pay, for building a splendid palace; in violation of Lev 19:13 Deu 24:14, 15 . Compare Mic 3:10 Hab 2:9 Jam 5:4 . God will repay in justice those who will not in justice pay those whom they employ.
America is the most splendid palace, I know of that man has built on earth, but there is a palace of the heart, a palace of the heart, not made with mans hands.
Bruce H, Scroggins
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