How many different strata of our society don't get it? Re the auto industry private jet trips...

[NRaleighLiberal]

One of the challenges of any society is developing a common understanding of others. Conservatives - literally, those who conserve (as in hoard, greed, etc), whether it is in politics (Reagan and Bush I and McCain and all of their famous examples of not understanding that not everyone has 8 or 10 or 12 homes, that many people struggle to pay for the basics) or business (any industry CEO that has money to burn - be it on lavish lifestyles, private jet transportation, etc) - seem to be pathologically unable to "get it". Their arrogance is just stunning - a huge disconnect originating from ego and greed. As we continue to lose the middle class, pushing most people down, and few up - one of Obama and his administration's major challenges is to try to reverse the current caste system operating in America, and getting worse.

Having been laid off from my corporate Pharma job recently, the two worlds are in stark contrasts for me now - pondering how we are going to make it on one hand, and being so familiar with the level of people in industry that have far, far, far more than they need, continue to want more, but express surprise that there are those that have far less than they do.

This is a problem for all of mankind's history. What to do about it? Can a Democratic administration chip away at this? Time will tell, but I do think that Obama is the one leader who can start us in such a direction.

[JDPriestly]

1. Obama could start by sending his children to public schools.

Public education, elementary through high school, is the great leveler. It brings health, hope and opportunity to all families. It makes all children more realistic about themselves. George Bush was the product of private schools -- the most elite of them. So is Obama, but Obama worked with ordinary people and went to Columbia which is a school that draws students from various economic strata. He also attended Occidental College in Northeast L.A. It is private, but at least now it focuses on serving a diverse student body to the extent possible. Occidental is near my home, and I sometimes attend events there. I see lots of rich kids there, but also kids from other socio-economic groups.