The middle class
Besides the fact that college tuitions have shot up greatly, many middle class students no longer go to their first or second choice colleges, they go to public institutions instead, because they cannot afford to do otherwise. Some public institutions are pretty good, but many lack updated facilities. Many families that used to have well paying manufacturing jobs lost them in the last twenty years. If they were able to get new jobs, these jobs often paid 30% less than what they were making. Add on higher gasoline prices, and rising health care costs, and I would say that the middle class is “taking it in the shorts.”
Commerce City
This letter has not been edited.
WOW what great information.
I was part of the middle class in the 70's and I will have to admit that I am a lot better off now than I was then. I bet that the middle class today looks a lot different than it did in the 70's just by the make up of the people in it. Credit card debt is a choice people make to get things now rather than wait and save up for them, as we did in the 70's. Of all the people I still associate with from the 70's all have moved up the ladder and nobody stayed where they were 35 years ago.
Middle class kids in the 70's were happy to go to state institutions of higher learning back then and designer everything was not the norm as it is today. Tution goes up because so do the cost of running the schools.
My advice to those in the situation you are painting for themis, work harder and promote yourself. If you want to move up the ladder do so on your own. Go get some more knowledge or start your own business. the ability to be in the top 1% is given to everyone with only a few taking advantage of getting it.
Great Advice Bob, The Colorado dream,
"Work Hard, abid by the Rules, and you will suceed" Then the gov't will come along and change the rules. Corporations that are owned by the "Top 1%" won;t hire anyone that got education because they cost to much. And when you start your own business they will make sure they will price you out of business. I guess we're all just lazy bums that just won't do those jobs, yea at lower wages. The secret to becoming a "Top 1%er" is the great American secret. Its to beleve that ignoring the law and breaking the law is the same thing.
Then by all means please believe your example and continue to stay where you are and be miserable. To my knowledge the government can not take way your dream and if you believe that some other corporation is out to get you, then you have not realized what the American dream is about.
I have learned two things this year for running my business. 1. That paying the new higher minimum wage will be a great benefit to any worker I do hire. I have never believed in starting even the most unskilled worker at minimum wage but my mind was changed by the last election. BTW I do hire a lot of people with education and even encourage others to gain more knowledge to advance with in the company or consult with them on the process of creating a business if they want to start one.
2. I must be really doing something wrong as there is not one of the top 1% of any corporation trying to put me out of business, and I even follow the laws, but I get hired to do business with these corporations. Thank you very much for the advice and I will begin to work on a business plan that will lead to failure as you suggest will happen if I try.
When I was growing up, my Dad worked full-time, while my Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
Now my wife and I both work full-time just to make our modest mortgage and pay bills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we're the rule rather than the exception.
The problem isn't that people can't wait to purchase unneeded goods and resort to high interest credit cards (I have no debt other than my mortgage).
The problem is that the costs of housing, and medical care and education have gone up dramatically in the last 30 years, while real wages have gone down.
Go watch a documentary called "Born Rich" if you want to see how a large portion of the top 1% got where they are. Its available from the Denver Public Library, thanks to our tax dollars.
Even in spite of confiscatory taxation, the American economy abounds with opportunity for advancement. Small business starts and ownership are at an all-time high. For an American to gripe about lack of opportunity indicates lack of initiative. Rather than gripe about someone not offering you a wage that is high enough, go start your own business. It is unfortunate that two incomes are required today to pay the bills. At a total tax take of 55%, most households must have two wage earners. But with a good education, hustle, and living within one's means, many families have found they can live well on one income.
Posted by Gary on February 1, 2007 07:53 AMBut Gary doesnt the government owe me a comfy living and all the goodies the hard working people have? I am glad I followed your advise years ago and started my own business. I think its the hard work and hustle that stops a lot of people from moving on as it is real east to sit back and complain about what others have and you lack.
Posted by Bob on February 1, 2007 09:04 AMBut Gary doesnt the government owe me a comfy living and all the goodies the hard working people have? I am glad I followed your advise years ago and started my own business. I think its the hard work and hustle that stops a lot of people from moving on as it is real east to sit back and complain about what others have and you lack.
Posted by Bob on February 1, 2007 09:05 AMI have a good education (4 year degree) Plus enormous amounts of time and money in additional professional training. My wife has a masters.
You can talk all the personal responsibility BS you want, it dosen't jive with the facts. You think G.W. Bush got where he is because he is the best and the brightest? His entire life has been about being bailed out by family money and connections.
By the way, there is no 55% tax rate, and go check the facts on small business failures, its pretty grim.
Posted by Monte on February 1, 2007 08:06 PM