Display:
If I was feeling cynical, I might remark that one of the hallmarks of the middle class is the avoidance of collective action (as Mig LQD'd, "...wary of revolution".

Good thing I'm not cynical, huh?

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Sun May 31st, 2009 at 04:47:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That's a fair point. But the middle class lifestyle is based on avoidance of involuntary extremes.

Once those extremes stop being involuntary, you're left with a group of people who are smart, capable and angry.

Probably three quarters will decide to blame themselves and fall into depression and despair.

The remainder will rediscover solidarity and turn into something you really don't want in your state.

All it takes is exactly one competent and charismatic leader, out of millions of potentials, and you have an interesting situation.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun May 31st, 2009 at 05:03:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
All it takes is exactly one competent and charismatic leader...

And all that charismatic leader would have to do is to inform himself as to how things were in his state 100 years ago, how and why they changed, and what they could again be.  Start with Henry George and Mason Gaffney.

Perhaps when the majority of those who fancy themselves as "middle class" economically are in extremis they will consider being so gauche as to actually take concerted action to secure their and their children's future.  But then, perhaps not.


As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun May 31st, 2009 at 05:27:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series