I hope I don't offend too many here but it comes

[mmonk]

Last edited Thu Jan 28, 2016, 09:05 PM - Edit history (1)

from a realization drummed into my consciousness by this primary of a real progressive finally having support after around 40 years in the desert and is facing a hostile two party system and the probability of America returning to a great middle class that made it such a great economic power post depression through the seventies is slim. That saddens me greatly. You see, the great middle class did not come into being without progressive taxation, regulation, and fair trade as opposed to free trade as defined by today (repatriation of corporate jobs and money). As Waylon Jennings said before his death, he saw a great country before it started its decline. I just wanted to say that and give a hat tip to those fighting against the odds to try and bring it back. Have a nice evening and may the odds be forever in your favor.

[daleanime]

1. It may be slim....

but it is there.

[Recursion]

2. It also helped that every other industrialized country had been bombed to oblivion

The postwar white prosperity was an aberration

[Fumesucker]

4. America is much more productive now than then

The difference is that far more of the productivity goes to the top tier of income earners now than in the past.

[Recursion]

5. Yep. And since white males no longer have a stranglehold on good jobs

the pay for those jobs has come down.

[Armstead]

6. So what is your recommendation?

Just say ":Screw it we'll be in feudal times soon enough."

[Recursion]

12. A minimum income (nt)

[Armstead]

13. Interesting idea-- makes Bernie sound moderate, though

[Fumesucker]

7. You'll have to connect those dots a bit better than that

[Recursion]

8. Not really. The labor pool size quadrupled for decent jobs

In the 1950s women and minorities were locked out of the jobs that made the postwar white middle class possible. That's not true anymore. The labor supply went up, so the cost of labor went down.

[Fumesucker]

9. That chart is productivity per worker

Try again.

[Recursion]

11. What does that have to do with anything?

Labor cost isn't based on productivity; it's based on supply.

[Fumesucker]

14. Hence the opposition to raising the minimum wage to a reasonable sum

That's one of the functions of a progressive government, ameliorating the harms of unrestricted capitalism.

The money is there, the elites are practically drowning in it.

[Recursion]

16. I'd like it at about $25

Better yet, scrap it, and institute a minimum income

[angrychair]

3. The young have seen it now

Innovators. Idealist. Dreamers. Radicals. The new thinkers. The free thinkers. Progressives. America hate you. Dreaming is foolish. Be careful. Only do what is safe. Only do what is easy. That is good. That is right.
From the Party of "Hope" to the Party of "Nope" in 8 short years.

Welcome to their America.

[liberal_at_heart]

10. The good news is many of the young reject that message. They know change can happen

because through social media they have seen change happen. They have made change happen. Just as we have seen the decline in organized religion I believe with the new generation we will see the decline in our current organized two party system.

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. The two parties are already out of favor.

29% claim to be Democrats

26% actually admit to being Republican

43% are Independents

After this election, those Dem and Repub numbers are going to PLUMMET. They cannot survive with those numbers.

PROGRESSIVES/INDEPENDENTS are the future. We need to immediately start a strong Progressive Party.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[liberal_at_heart]

18. Glad to see so many identify as Independent. I know I now identify as Independent.

Obama's education policy was the last straw for me. Now if a Democrat wants my vote they have to earn it and prove they deserve it with a proven voting record.

[mmonk]

15. Note: I made a few grammatical adjustments.