One little thing about the Dem Convention that is bugging me...

[Union Thug]

All the speakers tonite have talked about the middle class, middle class squeeze, etc. Conspicuously, at least for me, is the total lack of reference to the working class.

Am I being too sensitive or does anyone else feel a little disenfranchised?

BTW - Theresa is wonderful. I've never heard her deliver a speech before tonite.. wow.. two thumbs WAY UP! :-)

[CaTeacher]

1. no--I have

noticed this too.

[WillyBrandt]

2. The reason is that the working class identifies itself as middle class

It's an American quirk of rhetoric, and not -- in my mind -- reflective of anything deeper.

[never_get_over_it]

3. Because it plays

to the vast majority who are, want to be or think they are in the middle class! They want to reach the undecideds who are probably most likely middle class or think they are.

[BlueCollar]

4. the middle class

is the working class

[Union Thug]

7. Well, I would disagree...

The guy 40 year old guy who lives in the house next to mine and drives a truck for local deliveries at about 9/10 bucks an hour is certainly not what I would consider middle class. The guys working on the shop floor at Genie a few miles from here making 9/10 dollars an hour are certainly not middle class. Nor are the women working in the local child care center for 8.50/hour, or the janitors... etc.

[DemWitch]

8. But they might consider themselves middle class...

and that's why I think there is so much of the middle class squeeze talk going on... someone who makes 75K a year isn't as squeezed as someone making 25K, but both consider themselves middle class...

[jdj]

11. yeah, it's what you consider yourself to be, just like

bourgeois upper middle class college students drop down a rung and out of college to do manual labor because they like to say they have to "pay the man", never realizing or admitting that they are "the man".

[noahmijo]

12. Those you described would be poor class to me

The class that most likely does not pay taxes or very very little taxes.


The truth is the majority of Americans, middle America if you will, make enough to support themselves and their families, maybe not always with many luxories but you know they can afford a decent place, food, education ect, but also pay enough taxes to at least be irritated when April comes around.

I wholeheartedly think that we must address those at the lower rung of the income level and they should be shown the spotlight and actions should be taken assist them in getting out of that position, however the fact of the matter is they will not decide this election because they do not make up the majority of the voting population.

[Mel]

15. thing is if we get four more years

of Bush there will be a lot more people hanging out with me in that lower rung!
BTW it sucks here but hey I decided to get over it and fight for not having more people join me here in the lower rung! I only wished the ones that where a little higher up would feel my pain and work with me too. I would love to be able to pay more than very very little in taxes it would mean I was earning more and that's a good thing. Hell, if being irritated in April at tax time was all I had to be irritated about I'd be pleased!

Signed a lower rung person that will help decided this election. ;) Here's to hoping there aren't more joining me here in the lower rung. See me :hi: I could be your fate if we don't stop Bush

[aquart]

16. But, perhaps, with a little less condescension?

Because that statement is dripping with it. Sorry, but it is.

[Mel]

18. thank you aquart

you know it's really really hard at times for me not to have a chip on my shoulder when people sneer down their noses you didn't do that and I thank you!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. "...most likely does not pay taxes or very very little taxes."

Wrong.

FICA
Sales taxes
Gas taxes
If lucky, property taxes
Motor vehicle taxes
State income tax
Federal income tax
...

[FlaGranny]

22. Most of us, even though

we don't make a lot of money consider ourselves middle class, and I believe it is because we've gone through life always with a roof over our heads (and even managed to own our own homes). We have been educated and continue to educate ourselves. We have sent our kids to college. My husband and I have never earned more than $60,000 with both of us working, but we have managed to do all these things. We go out to the theater, dinner. We have two cars. We have decent clothes. The only thing we can't afford is regular glitzy vacations. Hell, our parents considered that rich. They remembered the depression.

[TeacherCreature]

5. I thought Obama addressed the issue of the poor

I thought he did a great job with that. However I agree, as a party we have forgotten the poor in our national goals.

[bowens43]

6. the middle class IS the working class........

[Bill Wade]

9. Well, if the middle class is considered the working class, then my

upcoming point is, well, pointless.

I'm thinking they are targeting the middle class because it is their time and money that is most needed to win the election. Working class folks typically don't have a lot of money to throw into political campaigns and typically don't follow politics as say someone who may have the money or ability to get involved.

[qwlauren35]

20. Very, very true.

My husband is "working class". He thinks that sending money to political candidates is less important than keeping up my nails. Not that he thinks keeping up my nails is important... he just considers it a pathetic waste of money.

We ended up having an "agreement" about how little I can donate financially to candidates. And it's not much. We probably would have had a different agreement if I hadn't given so much to Dean. But I don't know...

But I think it's very important to realize that a lot of "poor" people vote. Those who are fighting to get off welfare, those who are working-poor, those who are new citizens and struggling - they vote.

We'll just have to see if they "get it"... No, the poor don't need tax breaks. They need INCOME. As long as the Dems speak to both groups somehow, it will all work out.

I listened to a Kerry/Edwards speech recently, and they spoke of the "middle class" and "hard-working Americans" (or something like that). They just didn't say "working-class". They may have decided to avoid the term. I'll have to see if I can get some feedback on this.

[teresafan]

10. I agree

I'm poor and want free heathcare, transportation and all the good things most Americans take for granted.

[shraby]

13. Fewer and fewer Americans are

being able to take health care and transportation for granted. That all needs to change..for the better and it certainly isn't on the Republicans agenda.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

14. Not to say you're nitpicking,

but you're nitpicking. I think the Dems' message is clear that they're looking out for working families.

[InkAddict]

17. No longer speaking to me as Middle Class--

too little, too late for rescue from the "household unemployment limbo level", not poor enough for legal aid, food stamps, Medicaid, help w/utilities. Too poor to support a family of three that includes a disabled chronically/terminally dependent 87-yr-old. I fear the coming of winter. I'm holding out from choosing my poison: foreclosure?, bankruptcy?, divorce?, Russian roulette? I can't support the very basic needs of my family on faith-based prayers and rhetoric alone. I've already made choices between occasional air-conditioning and meds, bathing/flushing versus gasoline. I can't make someone hire another body. The convention is merely an inspiring yet distracting stress-buster, sort of like Laura's pets. Here's hoping that a change in November will help someone; domestic terrorists have stolen my life and I feel violated.

[qwlauren35]

19. Yup...

I have written to the Kerry campaign and very specifically pointed out that constant talk about the middle class is actually OFFENSIVE to many African-Americans, who are proud to be "working class".

Perhaps I have to say it a few more times. But it's probably too late for the convention speeches.