Will the middle class rebel against the top 1% and demand action?

[User157088589849]

I think we are coming to a crossroads with salaries and benefits. We can't continue to live in a society where consumption/debt is the driver of growth. We can't continue to live in a work environment where the top 1% continues to increase their salaries above inflation without justification while the rest of the workforce don't. Union representation is finding it harder to get its voice heard with the swelling of hr staff and middle managers preventing changes for salaries to increase.

I just think we have all the ingridents for a massive moment in history where society says enough and something historical is about to happen in the next decade. It just can't continue as it is, as the system that provided consumption can no-longer replace the gap in salaries.

[Vosem]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No f**king way.

[King]

The middle class thinks they're rich and the only thing holding them back is taxes and government regulations.

[rejectamenta]

Clearly not. After decades of psychological warfare, and in some segments physical warfare, we are an entirely conquered people.

[anvi]

The middle class thinks they're rich and the only thing holding them back is taxes and government regulations.

This is both sad and true.  "Sad and true" these days is, I know, a tautological description, but still.

[memphis]

The middle class thinks they're rich and the only thing holding them back is taxes and government regulations.

This is both sad and true.  "Sad and true" these days is, I know, a tautological description, but still.

It's true for white people. Non-whites have no such illusions.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government. At least here in the US we have 89% living in nice houses, making salaries that are just enough to get buy and live a relatively luxurious life, with 10% only living in poverty and 1% at the top not completely controlling the government.

Granted, legitimate arguments about health insurance rates and education can be made about the middle class, which may be weakening right now. Universal healthcare and a basic form of universal higher education are likely to be achieved in the next decades. But the American middle class IS educated enough to know that tearing down the rich to our level is not constructive at all, and that a "middle class revolution" is flat out pointless. While a major movement among the middle class may occur, it won’t be about the one percents salaries as much as it will be about the increasing problems with the necessities the middle class deals with in everyday life.

[The Free North]

The country is far to complacent to even think about 'rebellion' or something like that, which is awfully sad. The government no longer fears us.



The best we can do is a bunch of social rejects not showering for a few days in parks across urban america. But that never gets anywhere for obvious reasons

[Associate Justice PiT]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government.

     This is an important idea. In parlance, the middle class refers to a group possessed of a certain degree of affleunce. Even if they are being held back by the upper class, they largely benefit from peace and stability in society. For them, rebellion or revolution is a very bad thing. They have little to gain and everything to lose from any real degree of civil unrest.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government.

     This is an important idea. In parlance, the middle class refers to a group possessed of a certain degree of affleunce. Even if they are being held back by the upper class, they largely benefit from peace and stability in society. For them, rebellion or revolution is a very bad thing. They have little to gain and everything to lose from any real degree of civil unrest.

Revolution at the ballot box, not a violent revolution.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

4 In 5 US Adults Face Near-Poverty, No Work For At Least Parts Of Their Lives

http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-poll-4-in-5-us-adults-face-near-poverty-no-work-for-at-least-parts-of-their-lives-2013-7

The issue of income inequality will only grow more and more pressing as the gap continues to widen.

[DC Al Fine]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government.

     This is an important idea. In parlance, the middle class refers to a group possessed of a certain degree of affleunce. Even if they are being held back by the upper class, they largely benefit from peace and stability in society. For them, rebellion or revolution is a very bad thing. They have little to gain and everything to lose from any real degree of civil unrest.

Revolution at the ballot box, not a violent revolution.

Nationalizing an oil well by popular referendum or violence still leads to oil companies wanting to GTFO.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Hopefully... Though sometimes, things need to get really bad in order to trigger a real change.

(and yeah, the only legitimate rebellion in a democracy is through vote)

[7,052,770]

It won't happen as long as people until poor rural whites stop listening to their klansmen in the pulpit, telling them to vote against their self interest because Jesus says so.

[All Along The Watchtower]

The middle class thinks they're rich and the only thing holding them back is taxes and government regulations.

The "middle class" doesn't have one collective consciousness.

[pbrower2a]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government. At least here in the US we have 89% living in nice houses, making salaries that are just enough to get buy and live a relatively luxurious life, with 10% only living in poverty and 1% at the top not completely controlling the government.

Because the top 1% now relies heavily upon threats to what people have as the consequences of their middle-class efforts. Our 1% might not yet have the power to send dissidents to labor camps, torture chambers, mental wards, or execution pits -- but they seem to be working on that. It is enough for those elites to use poverty as a threat. 

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Enhancing the power of the elites to deny us what we have earned through our efforts will create misery -- not happiness. More people are becoming poor as elites enrich themselves. Executives are being paid well for treating subordinates badly, squeezing competition, and getting concessions from the  government.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government. At least here in the US we have 89% living in nice houses, making salaries that are just enough to get buy and live a relatively luxurious life, with 10% only living in poverty and 1% at the top not completely controlling the government.

Because the top 1% now relies heavily upon threats to what people have as the consequences of their middle-class efforts. Our 1% might not yet have the power to send dissidents to labor camps, torture chambers, mental wards, or execution pits -- but they seem to be working on that. It is enough for those elites to use poverty as a threat. 

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Enhancing the power of the elites to deny us what we have earned through our efforts will create misery -- not happiness. More people are becoming poor as elites enrich themselves. Executives are being paid well for treating subordinates badly, squeezing competition, and getting concessions from the  government.

Your entire post is a hodgepodge of ridiculous hyperbole, paranoia, and entertaining allegations that I would expect only from the typical teabagger.  The irony about this is that you likely posted it from a very new Apple laptop, didn’t you?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Blondie, why do you have a libertarian avatar?

[Indy Texas]

Can't the middle class (which includes me) be happy that we have what we have and don't live in a country where 99% of the people live in tin shacks while the top 1% lives on plantations and controls the army and government. At least here in the US we have 89% living in nice houses, making salaries that are just enough to get buy and live a relatively luxurious life, with 10% only living in poverty and 1% at the top not completely controlling the government.

Granted, legitimate arguments about health insurance rates and education can be made about the middle class, which may be weakening right now. Universal healthcare and a basic form of universal higher education are likely to be achieved in the next decades. But the American middle class IS educated enough to know that tearing down the rich to our level is not constructive at all, and that a "middle class revolution" is flat out pointless. While a major movement among the middle class may occur, it won’t be about the one percents salaries as much as it will be about the increasing problems with the necessities the middle class deals with in everyday life.

You sure you don't want to do that math again? Or did you use the same calculator Paul Ryan used for his budget?