What Caused The Shrinkage of America's Middle Class? (Congress, salary, statistics)

[Kirdik]

Originally Posted by EinsteinsGhost

Because they are fools.

So the unions don't drive the cost of labor up?

[Old Gringo]

The corporate take-over of America.

For some reason, you left that off your silly "poll."

[EinsteinsGhost]

You can't be an ideologue and claim to build and keep the middle class strong. America gave up on it in the 1970s, and went back to the 1920s design, which was destined to kill the middle class. Even as recently as 1980, the bottom half of America's populace was able to contribute 7% of the nation's total federal income tax. It used to make 18% of the nation's total income. Fast forward to 2010, and we're down to about 10% of total income and about 2% of total federal income tax.

Originally Posted by Kirdik

So the unions don't drive the cost of labor up?

Not any more or less than corporate greed. In fact, most countries America has been losing its business to, have strong union presence. But they have a lot more than that, including cheaper labor, socialized services and pragmatism to benefit from opportunities.

[padcrasher]

The middle class over the last thirty years is responsible for their predicament.

They allowed for the weakening of unions, they refused to make the rich pay their fare share of the budget.

Now the gap between rich and poor is the greatest in our Nation's history.

And they still vote for these politicians who will cut their medicare and Social security even more.

[padcrasher]

Originally Posted by Kirdik

So the unions don't drive the cost of labor up?

unions do drive the cost of labor up....who claims otherwise?

FACT:

The countries with the highest unionization rates in the Word have the highest standard of living in the World

[TempesT68]

Originally Posted by EinsteinsGhost

Because they are fools.

Correct and you can see from the parrots just gawking the common fox news/far right wing propaganda talking point "the unions!" without even explaining themselves, as to why i'll give some facts as simply as possible for them to understand, though the truth is not something the right likes to hear.

Right wing propaganda talking point "Jobs are being sent overseas because of "greedy unions" - BIG false.
Only about 7% of private sector jobs are union. Of those that are union, the overwhelming number of those jobs can't be outsourced like electricians, HVAC, construction, pavers, welders, etc,.. The jobs that are being outsourced are mainly entry level factory positions that are very rarely union.
The lone fact is the right and big corporations don't give a damn about the people or america, just maximum profit for themselves and their cronies.

[PanTerra]

Government.

Carter: Economic Stagnation Explained, at 30,000 Feet - Bloomberg

[Quick Enough]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

as we all should know, the US is no more a nation of productivity. It shifted from a system of manufacturing to a system of service industries. What destroyed America's manufacturing base?

Too much emphasis on getting a college education. College grads do not want "middle class" type jobs.

[alphamale]

There is no shrinking middle class.

We have a fluid economy.

Poor today, middle class tomorrow.

Middle class today, wealthy tomorrow.

Wealthy today, poor tomorrow.

Choose not to participate in recessions.

[alphamale]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

as we all should know, the US is no more a nation of productivity. It shifted from a system of manufacturing to a system of service industries. What destroyed America's manufacturing base?

Did you know (obviously not) that America is still the leading manufacturer in the world?

The think that shrunk America's manufacturing base was the rising economies of Asia.

When you hire someone to do labor for you, do you look for the highest priced labor, or the lowest?

Do you build a factory where you will be crushed by regulations, unions and taxes, or where there are none?

It's not real complicated.